MICROSCOPIC COLITIS SUPPORT

I've read the selecting safe cosmetics section and most of the posts have focused on make up and right now, that's the least of my worries.

Has anyone found a lotion that they really like that is gluten free, soy free, and doesn't have harmful chemicals in it? I bought some of the Vanicream Lite Lotion after I was told it is gluten free and soy free, and after I emailed the company and got this response:

Hi Jari,
Our glycerin is 99.7% pure and is derived from the soybean, there are no soybean proteins present in any of our products that contain soybean. That is not to say that someone who is allergic to soybean can safely use products with glycerin. They should patch test with products that contain glycerin, because they may still be able to use them.


These products do not contain soy: Free and Clear(TM) Hair Sprays, free and Clear Hair Styling Gel, Vanicream(TM) Skin Cream, Vanicream(TM) Lite Lotion, Vanicream(TM) Cleansing Bars, Vanicream(TM) Lip Protectant, Vaniply(TM) Ointment, RoBathol(TM) Bath Oil, Vanicream(TM) Sunscreens SPF30 and SPF50+, Diaper Rash Ointment.

But this is the list of ingredients in it:

INGREDIENTS:

purified water, white petrolatum, propylene glycol, cetearyl alcohol, sorbitol solution, ceteareth-20, simethicone, glyceryl monostearate, polyethylene glycol monostearate, sorbic acid, BHT

Polyethylene glycol? really? Isn't that the stuff that is in antifreeze? Yeah, I'm thinking that's really good for my body.

Anyone?

Hi Jari,

Actually, it is ethylene glycol in antifreeze that is toxic. Propylene glycol (which is indeed also used in antifreeze) is considered to be non-toxic, and as if to prove to us how non-toxic it is, the FDA allows propylene glycol to be added to many processed foods, including ice cream, frozen custard, salad dressings, and many baked goods, for example. That said, propylene glycol oxidizes when exposed to air and heat, to form lactic acid (which is highly corrosive). So while I generally view it as a relatively safe ingredient, on the other hand, despite FDA approval, it's not exactly what I would consider to be a risk-free ingredient in food or cosmetic products.

In addition, polyethylene glycol (which is a different ingredient from the other 2 compounds) is not high on my list of favorite ingredients, since it's the active ingredient in cleanout solutions such as GoLytely.

Tex

Jari
I use coconut oil, pure lanolin or pure rosehip oil

not quite the same as a lotion, but the safest way to have a product that is gluten free, soy free, and no nasty additives...