Beauty Packaging Puzzles For Those With Allergies

I thought today we’d play a little puzzle game today. No, we aren’t going back to Nursery. This post is aiming to show just how difficult it can be for someone with allergies to shop. Because of often those of us with allergies have to play the beauty packaging puzzles game.

Recently, while in London, I picked up my favourite makeup wipes, the L’Oreal Paris Skin Perfection Nourishing Cleansing Wipes. I was on the train home and decided to save some time by removing the majority of my makeup on the train, so I had less to do once I’d arrived home.

When I took the wipe out of the packet, I noticed straight away that the texture was different. I was extremely lucky that the wipes structure had been changed. I checked the ingredients before using the wipe on my face. Had the texture of the wipe not not have been different, I could have ended up in great difficulty.

I spent the last hour of my journey with stinging, hot, red hands. I now have to look for an alternative makeup wipe that is moisturising and does not contain ingredients I’m allergic to. Where’s are the beauty packaging puzzles? I here you ask, well let’s take a look at the old and new packaging side by side.

New packaging at the top, old packaging at the bottom

So, there are two differences on these packages. Can you spot them? I didn’t! Here they are for you…

New packaging at the top, old packaging at the bottom

Although the bottom pack is the older version, it says ‘New Pack’. The only other difference is the ‘Extra Soft Cloth’ image. The text is the same, the colour scheme is the same & there is nothing to indicate that the ingredients are any different. Is the back any different?

New packaging at the top, old packaging at the bottom

I think it’s fair to say that the back of the packaging is different – not significantly different, but enough that, when put side by side, you can see that there is a difference. However, it is the front of the pack that people see in store!

Let’s take a look at the ingredients now. This time we’ll start with the original pack and then make a comparison with the new ingredients to see what’s been changed.

Original ingredients: Aqua/water, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Steraate, Cetyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, 2-Oleamido-1, 3-Octadecanediol, Methylparaben, Quaternium-15, Parfum/Fragrance, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal. (FIL B11358/1).

Ingredients: Aqua/Water, Glycerin, Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract/Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Rosa Gallica Extract/Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Prunus Amygoalus Dulois/Sweet Almond Oil, Ammonium Polyacryldimethyltauramide/Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetet, Disodium EDTA, Isopropyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Myrtrimonium Bromide, Parfum/Fragrance, FIL B16-4911/2.

In addition to the sweet almond oil and citric acid that have been added to the new formula the following ingredients are new:

Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract/Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Rosa Gallica Extract/Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Ammonium Polyacryldimethyltauramide/Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Myrtrimonium Bromide, FIL B16-4911/2.

The problem this change of ingredients causes is a difficulty that all people with allergies face to a greater or lesser extent. Those following a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle face similar difficulties. This extends to all products, not just beauty. Prior to being on the FODMAP diet and so not being able to eat dairy, I have eaten Mars bars without realising that the ingredients had changed to include ‘may contain wheat’. This was subsequently removed so I was able to go back to eating Mars bars!

Unfortunately, I don’t have the time or energy to check every the ingredients of every single item in my food shop or when I’m picking up a few of my beauty staples before work. I do my best to check for differences in packaging but it isn’t easy. When companies make their ingredients changes so difficult to spot, these really do turn into beauty packaging puzzles.

I have updated my List Of Main Allergens Found In Cosmetics post accordingly.

Have you experienced beauty packaging puzzles before? What are your makeup wipe recommendations?