I used Gabriel Cosmetics years ago, before I was diagnosed with Celiac disease. I think I stopped somewhere in the midst of living in Prague, getting diagnosed, and switching all my products. So you can imagine my surprise and sheer glee when I discovered that they are in fact Certified Gluten Free!!! Their website states:
“Gabriel, Zuzu Luxe and Clean Kids Naturally have been certified gluten-free by the Gluten Intolerance Group. According to GFCO’s website their certification seal, “stands for the independent verification of quality, integrity, and purity of products. Products carrying the GF logo represents unmatched reliability and for meeting strict gluten-free standards. GFCO is the leading gluten-free certification program in the world.”
Gabriel Organics Skincare and Gabriel nail polishes are gluten-free they are not certified.”
Gabriel & Zuzu Luxe are also formulated free of:
- Animal Ingredients
- Coal Tar Derivatives or FD&C agents
- DBP
- Formaldehyde
- Gluten
- Hydrogenated Oils
- Lanolin
- Lead
- Mineral Oil
- Nano/Micro sized particles
- Parabens
- Peanuts & Tree Nuts (Lip Gloss & Cuticle Oil contain Sweet Almond Oil, Banana Smoothie Conditioner contains Shea Butter)
- Phthalates
- Propylene Glycol
- Soy
- Talc
- Toluene
- Sulfa
- Nickel
- Corn
- Castor Oil
What I love is that on each product page, all of the ingredients are listed, and if you hover the mouse over the ingredient, it will show you where it is derived from!!! That is the coolest feature I have ever seen on an allergen conscious website! I did notice that sesame oil appears in some products (such as lipstick) so if you’re allergic to sesame, you’ll still have to watch for that (and almond oil as indicated in the bullet points above). There are also a few ingredients that pop up a fairly non-descript “plant source” label… I looked into it and was told by their team that the products absolutely do not contain gluten, corn, or soy derived ingredients. In the case of the Xantham Gum, for example, it is derived from Aloe Vera instead of the common gluten or corn source.
As for the products themselves, I can tell you that I was very impressed with the quality of the eye shadows, lipsticks, concealers, and powders that I tried. The colours were rich, and the coverage could be easily layered to create different effects. I think that the lipsticks are a bit drier than the Red Apple lipsticks, and they don’t taste as good, but the colours are lovely, and I think they would stay put better than the Red Apple lipsticks tend to. The light concealer was about the right colour for me, and thick enough that it wouldn’t take much to touch up under eye circles or blemishes. I’ve gotten out of the habit of using full face foundation and powder in recent years, and prefer to let my skin breathe as much as possible, but these would be a good option to consider for those who prefer to wear full makeup. I’m hoping to try the liquid eye liner and nail polish in the near future and I’ll report back. I also really like that the majority of their compacts (for powder, blush, and eyeshadow) are refillable, thus reducing waste. Very cool!
It is also worth noting that Gabriel makes an extensive line of facial and body care products, including masks, creams, and shower products. If you’re missing spa days, this might be a great way to recreate that at home!
Have you purchased Gabriel or Zuzu Luxe Cosmetics before? What are your favourite products and colours?