Personal Care Products

A Guide for People Highly Sensitive to Alpha-gal

Personal Care Products and AGS
The Most Problematic Ingredients
The Easy Way vs the Hard Way
The Hard Way
The Easy Way
Cruelty-Free Does Not Mean Mammal-Free
Vegan Is Not a Regulated Term
100% Vegan Personal Care Product Brands
Amazon Shopping Lists
Soaps and Body Washes
Skin Care Products
Haircare Products
Oral Health
Shaving Products
Deodorants and Antiperspirants
Lip Balms
Makeup
Feminine Care Products
Sexual Wellness
Reactions Down "There"
Hand Sanitizers
Two Alpha Gals
AGS and Vegan Support Groups
Shopping Resources
FAQs

Personal Care Products and Alpha-gal Syndrome

Most people with alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) do not need to change their personal care products, but some of us react to micrograms of alpha-gal in mammalian byproducts added to foods, medications, personal care, household, and sometimes even industrial products (57). If you have taken steps to eliminate alpha-gal from your diet, medications, and environment, but you continue to react, you may be one of these highly reactive, alpha-gal super reactors. Switching to alpha-gal-free personal care products may help.

Keep in mind that the vast majority of mammalian byproducts have not been tested for alpha-gal content. We know that some, like gelatin and lanolin, do contain it. It’s possible that some others do not. In the absence of more information, those of us who have reacted to multiple mammalian byproducts tend to avoid them all, out of an abundance of caution.

See Determining Your Alpha-gal Tolerance: First Steps to help you figure out your tolerance to alpha-gal.

Determining Your Tolerance to Alpha-gal: First Steps

A Guide for People with Alpha-gal Syndrome

The Most Problematic Ingredients

Some alpha-gal-containing ingredients are more likely to give you trouble than others. If you focus on these first, you may discover that you don’t need to worry about less problematic ingredients.

Especially problematic ingredients

Ingredients that many people with AGS report reacting to include:

  • Lanolin
  • Gelatin/collagen
  • Carrageenan

Confusing names

All these ingredients can appear in products under many different names, as can their derivatives.

  • It’s impossible to memorize all the different names by which these ingredients may be listed.
  • The easiest way to determine whether a non-vegan product contains one of these ingredients or their derivatives, but lists it under an unrecognizable name, can be to contact the manufacturer.
  • Don’t forget that even vegan products may contain carrageenan, and it, too, can be listed under other names.
    • Watch out for dulse, with is the algae that carrageenan is derived from and which contains it.
    • See the AGI Carrageenan guide (link below) for more information.

Resources

  • Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database and Smart Label can be great resources for screening products for these and other ingredients. Find these and other shopping resources in the Resources section of this page. 
  • Find more information about carrageenan on the AGI Gelatin page.
  • Find more information about carrageenan on the AGI Carrageenan page.
  • AGI Lanolin page: coming soon.
Personal Care Products That May Contain Gelatin

Most people with AGS tolerate gelatin in personal care products, but some do not. Gelatin in oral care products tends to be the most problematic, but many of us react to gelatin in other products as well.

Personal care products that may contain gelatin include, but are not limited to:

  • Oral hygiene
    • Toothpaste (100)
    • Mouthwash (100)
  • Soap
    • Liquid hand soap (100)
  • Skincare products, such as:
    • Facial cleansers (100)
    • Moisturizers and lotions (99,100)
    • Face creams (99)
    • Serums & essences (100)
    • Face masks (100)
    • Facial toners and astringents (100)
  • Hair products, such as:
    • Shampoo (99,100)
    • Hair sprays (99)
    • Styling gel/lotion (100)
  • Cosmetics
    • Nail treatments (101)
    • Creamy cosmetics (101)
  • Sunscreens (99)
  • Bath salts, oil, soaks and bubbles (99, 100)
  • Body wash/cleansers and shower gels (99,100)
  • Exfoliants/scrubs
  • Body firming lotion
  • Nail care
    • Nail polish (100)
    • Nail polish remover (100)
    • Nail treatments
  • Oral care products:
    • Tooth paste (100)
    • Tooth whiteners (100)

Additional gelatin-containing products from the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database*:

  • Find a list of personal care products that contain gelatin here.

See the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database for more information about personal care products that contain gelatin. 

Sources:

  1. Gelatin Manufacturer’s Association of Asia Pacific
    Retrieved from: https://gmap-gelatin.com/gelatin-in-cosmetics/#:~:text=Gelatin%20is%20used%20in%20many,the%20most%20basic%20human%20needs.
  2. One Green Planet
    Retrieved from: https://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/common-cosmetic-ingredients-derived-from-animal-products/
  3. Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database
Personal Care Products That May Contain Carageenan

Most people with AGS tolerate carrageenan in personal care products, but some do not. Carrageenan in oral care products tends to be the most problematic, but many of us react to carrageenan in other products as well.

Personal care products that may contain carrageenan include, but are not limited to*:

  • toothpaste      152 products
  • mask   106 products
  • serums & essences     32 products
  • around-eye cream      29 products
  • facial moisturizer/treatment  26 products
  • moisturizer     25 products
  • facial cleanser 23 products
  • shampoo         22 products
  • body wash/cleanser   20 products
  • exfoliant/scrub           19 products
  • hair styling aide          17 products
  • hair treatment/serum 14 products
  • foundation      12 products
  • tooth whitening          11 products
  • conditioner     11 products
  • bronzer/highlighter    10 products
  • body firming lotion     10 products
  • baby toothpaste         9 products
  • styling gel/lotion         9 products
  • liquid hand soap         7 products
  • bath oil/salts/soak      7 products
  • hair color and bleaching         7 products
  • hair spray        7 products
  • recreational sunscreen           7 products
  • antiperspirant/deodorant      6 products
  • hand cream     6 products
  • daily use with SPF       5 products
  • anti-aging        4 products
  • lip plumper     3 products
  • blush   3 products
  • aftershave      2 products
  • hand sanitizer 2 products
  • makeup primer           2 products
  • foot moisturizer          2 products
  • bar soap          2 products
  • styling mousse/foam  2 products
  • after-sun product        2 products
  • toners/astringents      2 products
  • glitter  2 products
  • 2 products
  • tanning oil       1 products
  • brow liner       1 products
  • baby sunscreen           1 products
  • nail treatment 1 products
  • sunless tanning           1 products
  • lip balm           1 products
  • shaving cream 1 products
  • baby lotion      1 products
  • diaper cream  1 products
  • Personal lubricants
  • Find a list of personal care products that contain carrageenan here.

*Source: Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. Numbers indicate how many of the products in the Environmental Working Group’s database contain carrageenan for each category.

See the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database for more information about personal care products that contain carrageenan.

Other sources:

  1. USDA Carrageen Handling/Processing
  2. Cosing— CosIng is the European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients
  3. Wikipedia: Carrageenan
  4. Dream Brands

Personal Care Products That May Contain Lanolin

Lanolin is sheep’s fat derived from sheep’s wool. Most people with AGS tolerate lanolin in personal care products, but some do not. Personal care products that may contain carrageenan include, but are not limited to*:

  • lip balm           109 products
  • lipstick              77 products
  • brow liner       36 products
  • foundation      31 products
  • concealer        27 products
  • diaper cream  26 products
  • hair styling aide          24 products
  • conditioner     21 products
  • eyeliner          21 products
  • lip balm with SPF        21 products
  • moisturizer     18 products
  • lip gloss           16 products
  • beard care       16 products
  • styling gel/lotion         14 products
  • blush   14 products
  • lip liner            13 products
  • hair treatment/serum 12 products
  • shaving cream (men’s)            9 products
  • body firming lotion     8 products
  • bronzer/highlighter    7 products
  • foot moisturizer          6 products
  • facial moisturizer/treatment  6 products
  • mask   6 products
  • hair color and bleaching         5 products
  • shaving cream 4 products
  • eye shadow     4 products
  • depilatory       4 products
  • facial powder  4 products
  • bar soap          3 products
  • tanning oil       2 products
  • baby lotion      2 products
  • foot cleansing 2 products
  • recreational sunscreen           2 products
  • liquid hand soap         2 products
  • hand cream     2 products
  • exfoliant/scrub           1 product
  • makeup remover        1 product
  • beard oil          1 products
  • makeup primer           1 product
  • baby sunscreen           1 product
  • shampoo         1 products
  • damaged skin treatment        1 product
  • hair spray        1 product
  • mascara          1 products
  • bubble bath    1 products
  • depilatory (men’s)      1 product
  • 1 product
  • cuticle treatment        1 product
  • hair-loss treatment     1 products
  • Find a list of personal care products that contain lanolin here.

*Source: Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. Numbers indicate how many of the products in the Environmental Working Group’s database contain lanolin for each category.

See the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database for more information about personal care products that contain lanolin.

Personal Care Products That May Contain Glycerin

Glycerin can be derived from plants or mammals. It is a common ingredient in personal care products. Most people with AGS tolerate mammal-derived glycerin in personal care products. Glycerin derived from plants does not contain alpha-gal and should be fine for us. 

Personal care products that may contain glycerin include, but are not limited to*:

  • facial moisturizer/treatment  1617 products
  • moisturizer     1614 products
  • foundation      1575 products
  • mask   1362 products
  • conditioner     1275 products
  • shampoo         1271 products
  • body wash/cleanser   1205 products
  • facial cleanser 1096 products
  • serums & essences     832 products
  • concealer        759 products
  • liquid hand soap         754 products
  • daily use with SPF       676 products
  • bar soap          659 products
  • recreational sunscreen           637 products
  • exfoliant/scrub           598 products
  • hair treatment/serum 540 products
  • body firming lotion     513 products
  • hair styling aide          479 products
  • hand sanitizer 446 products
  • hand cream     414 products
  • toners/astringents      399 products
  • toothpaste      392 products
  • around-eye cream      375 products
  • mascara          331 products
  • hair color and bleaching         319 products
  • makeup remover        242 products
  • styling gel/lotion         241 products
  • eye shadow     236 products
  • antiperspirant/deodorant      234 products
  • makeup primer           229 products
  • bronzer/highlighter    184 products
  • baby lotion      177 products
  • lipstick 170 products
  • BB cream         160 products
  • anti-aging        159 products
  • baby shampoo 147 products
  • brow liner       146 products
  • hair spray        142 products
  • shaving cream 137 products
  • 135 products
  • sunless tanning           133 products
  • mouthwash     128 products
  • bath oil/salts/soak      123 products
  • baby soap       123 products
  • CC cream         119 products
  • eye liner          109 products
  • body spray      107 products
  • baby sunscreen           106 products
  • lip gloss           101 products
  • baby wipes      97 products
  • setting powder/spray 96 products
  • bubble bath    95 products
  • lip balm           94 products
  • detangler        93 products
  • after sun product        82 products
  • foot moisturizer          81 products
  • blush   74 products
  • after shave      69 products
  • tooth whitening          59 products
  • antiperspirant/deodorant (men’s)     57 products
  • baby bubble bath        51 products
  • styling mousse/foam  48 products
  • beard care       47 products
  • shaving cream (men’s)            46 products
  • polish remover           43 products
  • nail polish        43 products
  • glitter  38 products
  • foot cleansing 33 products
  • diaper cream  32 products
  • body oil           32 products
  • baby toothpaste         30 products
  • facial powder  29 products
  • eye makeup remover 28 products
  • pore strips       24 products
  • fragrance for women  23 products
  • muscle/joint soreness 23 products
  • lip plumper     23 products
  • damaged skin treatment        22 products
  • beard cleanser 21 products
  • fragrance for men       19 products
  • lip balm with SPF        16 products
  • skin fading/lightener  13 products
  • foot odor control        13 products
  • nail treatment 12 products
  • other eye makeup      11 products
  • oil controller   10 products
  • hair-loss treatment     10 products
  • tanning oil       9 products
  • depilatory       8 products
  • baby oil           8 products
  • cuticle treatment        7 products
  • lip liner            6 products
  • eyelash glue    6 products
  • beard oil          6 products
  • body art          2 products
  • vapor rubs       1 products
  • hair relaxer     1 products
  • body powder  1 products
  • nail glue          1 products
  • Find a list personal care products that contain glycerin here.

*Source: Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. Numbers indicate how many of the products in the Environmental Working Group’s database contain glycerin for each category.

See the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database for more information about personal care products that contain glycerin.

Learn more about gelatin and carrageenan

Carrageenan

A Guide for People with Alpha-gal Syndrome

Gelatin

A Guide for People with Alpha-gal Syndrome

The Easy Way vs the Hard Way

There are two ways to approach reducing exposure to alpha-gal from your personal care products

  • The hard way: check the ingredients of each and every product you buy for mammalian byproducts and carrageenan.
  • The easier way: switch to vegan products, checking ingredients for carrageenan before buying them.

Many of us blend these approaches, sticking mostly to vegan products, but taking the trouble to research some of our favorite, non-vegan products.

The Hard Way

Screening Non-vegan Products for Alpha-gal

If you choose the hard way, keep in mind:

  • There are over 500 mammalian byproducts, often with difficult names, like.
  • It’s impossible to memorize the names of all the mammalian byproducts.
  • There is no complete list of mammalian byproducts, although most are in the mammalian byproducts database.

How to find out if non-vegan personal care products contain alpha-gal:

  • Use the mammalian byproducts database to look up ingredients in your products.
    • Note that we can’t guarantee we didn’t miss any byproducts.
    • Some byproducts may be listed under a brand name
  • Check the ingredient list for carrageenan, if you react to it.
  • Contact manufacturers and ask them if their products contain mammalian byproducts or carrageenan
    • Keep in mind that they may give you the run-around. Persist!
    • Emailing them can be better than calling them, as people tend to be more careful about the accuracy of information when there is a written record of it.

The Easy Way

Focusing on Vegan Personal Care Products

For the most part, we will focus on the easiest way to eliminate alpha-gal from your personal care products: buying vegan products. Since the ingredients in individual products can change, the emphasis will mostly be on all vegan brands. That way, if the ingredients of a product are changed, they are likely to be replaced with other, vegan ingredients.

Below we list common categories of personal care products, identify some issues that we’ve had with them, and provide some vegan alternatives that are popular in the alpha-gal community.

  • We cannot guarantee the safety of any of the products listed here.
    • Manufacturers can change ingredients at any time
    • These recommendations are from ordinary people like you and me. We’ve tried to verify that they don’t contain alpha-gal, but it’s hard to do and mistakes can be made.
    • Verify the safety of ALL the products listed below yourself, before using them.
  • In addition to the recommendations below, check out the Amazon lists below.
  • Remember to check vegan products for carrageenan, if you react to it!
    • See the AGI Carrageenan guide for more information about carrageenan and the various trade names by which it can be listed.
  • For purposes of this website, our definition of vegan includes products that contain honey and beeswax.

Cruelty-Free Does Not Mean Mammal-Free

Cruelty-free does not mean vegan. Cruelty-free products have not been tested on animals, but they may contain animal-derived ingredients, including ingredients derived from mammals.

Vegan Is Not a Regulated Term

In the U.S., the term “vegan” is not regulated by the FDA and is no guarantee that a product is mammal-free.

  • This means that manufacturers can call their products vegan even when they aren’t.
  • Choose vegan certified products, which have been checked and certified by third parties.
  • To learn more about interpreting vegan labeling, see Darcie Clement’s blog post on this subject here.

100% Vegan Personal Care Product Brands

As with foods, figuring out which personal care products contain mammalian byproducts or carrageenan can be a laborious process. Moreover, manufacturers may change ingredients or switch from plant to animal derived sources of the same ingredient based on supplies. Sometimes a product is produced one way in one part of the country and another way somewhere else. For all these reasons, many of us turn to all-vegan product lines.

Warning: remember to check vegan products for carrageenan, if you react to it.

Some popular all-vegan* brands include:

There is a lot of online information about vegan personal care products. Here is an excellent list:

*Including some brands that are all vegan except for the use of insect products, like beeswax and carmine.

Learn more about vegan personal product brands

PETA's Completely Vegan Beauty and Product Brands

Ethical Elphant’s 2022 Ultimate List of Cruelty-Free & 100% Vegan Makeup & Skincare Brands

Amazon Shopping Lists

See below Alpha-gal Information Amazon lists. These were created with the help of the alpha-gal community and focus on some of their favorite brands.

  • The Starter List includes a few options for most personal care products
    • The products on this list have been carefully selected and for the most part are vegan, unscented, and contain a minimum of ingredients, with the hope that some may work for people with mast cell issues, too.
  • The Hair Products List
    • The hair products list includes scented and unscented products, some with lots of ingredients including herbal extracts, etc.
  • Keep in mind that manufacturers often change the ingredients in products. Please double-check ingredients, don’t rely exclusively on information provided here.
  • Amazon is notorious for selling counterfeit products. Buyer beware!

Shopping for alpha-gal-friendly products is easy with Amazon shopping lists

AGS Amazon Starter List

An Amazon idea list of products that people with AGS have found helpful, including personal care products, cleaning products, permethrin spray, autoinjector bags, etc.

Hair Products

An Amazon idea list of hair products recommended by people with AGS.

Soaps and Body Washes

Soap

Non-vegan soaps are one of the most common personal care products to give us rashes because they are often made with tallow or milk fat.

  • Tallow is fat from cows or other mammals and contains alpha-gal.
  • Examples of soap made with tallow include Dove and Ivory.

Popular vegan soaps:

Find more vegan soaps here.

Body washes

Popular vegan body washes:

Find vegan body washes here.

Antiseptic cleansers

Sometimes healthcare providers recommend the use of antiseptic cleansers before or after medical procedures. Some antiseptic cleansers contain lanolin.

Vegan antiseptic cleanser:

Skin Care Products

Lotions, moisturizers and more

Many lotions contain gelatin, lanolin, and or glycerin in addition to other ingredients.

Popular vegan lotion brands:

Moisturizing creams

Popular vegan moisturizing creams:

Eczema lotion

Popular vegan eczema lotion:

Ceramide therapy, ultra-moisturizing cream for very dry skin:

Sunscreens

Popular vegan sunscreens:

Self-tanning lotion

Haircare Products

Shampoo, conditioner, and other haircare products

Popular vegan haircare brands:

Dry shampoos

  • Find vegan dry shampoos here.

Hair color

Popular vegan hair dye brands for home use:

Vegan salon hair dye brands:

Brushes

Hairbrushes can be made with mammalian hair, for example, boar bristle hair brushes

  • Find a vegan bristle brush here.

    Oral Health

    Toothpaste

    Toothpaste often contains mammalian byproducts, like glycerin, but carrageenan in toothpaste, like Tom’s of Maine, seems to cause some of us the most trouble.

    Popular vegan brands of toothpaste:

    • Hello–by far the most popular brand within the alpha-gal community
    • Find other vegan toothpaste brands here.
    • Remember to check all toothpaste for carrageenan!

    Mouthwash

    Vegan brand of mouthwash:

    Whitening gel

    Shaving Products

    Razors

    Non-vegan razor lubrication strips can contain lanolin.

    Popular vegan razor brands:

      Shaving creams and gels

      Shaving creams and gels may be made with lanolin, mammal-based glycerin, stearic acid, etc.

      Popular vegan shaving creams/soaps:

      Deodorants and Antiperspirants

      Vegan deodorants and antiperspirants:

      Lip Balms

      The Two Alpha Gals, Debbie and Candice, shop for alpha-gal-friendly lip balm.

      Non-vegan lip balms often contain quite a bit of lanolin, as do lipsticks.

      Popular vegan lip balms:

      Makeup

      Vegan makeup brands

      Popular affordable, drugstore vegan makeup brands:

      Popular mid-to-high-end vegan makeup brands

      Find Glamor magazine recommended makeup brands here.

      Find Cosmopolitan magazine recommended makeup brands here.

      Find more vegan makeup brands here.

      Foundation and concealers

      Blush and bronzer

      Lipstick and lip gloss

      Eyes

      Mascara

      Lash extension mascara

      Nail polish

      • Joli
      • Find more vegan nail polish brands here.

       Makeup brushes

      Many make-up brushes are made with mammalian hair

      • Find vegan make-up brushes here.

         

        Feminine Care Products

        Feminine care products: tampons, pads, pantyliners, etc.

        Popular vegan feminine care brands:

        Find more vegan feminine care products here.

        Sexual Wellness

        Personal lubricants

        Personal lubricants can contain mammalian ingredients, like casein, but often carrageenan is the most problematic lubricant ingredient for us. Choose a vegan lubricant, but remember to check it for carrageenan!

        Popular vegan brands of lubricants:

        Lubricants for gynecological and other medical purposes:

        • Some people take their own, alpha-gal-safe lubricant for use during gynecological exams and colonoscopies.
        • Humco plant-based glycerin is a simple option for this purpose.

        Condoms

        “Natural” condoms are made from the intestines of mammals. Intestines have a high alpha-gal content. Avoid them! Even latex condoms can contain casein.

        Vegan condom brands:

        • Skyn is a popular vegan brand
        • Skyn also makes vegan lubricants and other sexual wellness products
        • Lola also makes vegan condoms and other sexual wellness products.
        • Skyn Elite Large condoms are longer and wider than standard condoms.

        Reactions Down "There"

        Yes, it’s a thing. More of us suffer from it than want to discuss it. What can lead to hives, redness, itching, and soreness down “there?” Here are some possibilities to explore that may save you from having to discuss this delicate issue with your healthcare provider:

        • Vaginal capsules and suppositories
          • Vaginal capsules and suppositories, like Monistat ovules, can contain gelatin.
          • Vaginal capsules containing gelatin can even cause anaphylaxis (37).
        • Topical hemorrhoid, imiquimod, or other medical ointments and creams
          • Many of these contain lanolin
        • Toilet paper
          • Many people with AGS report reacting to some toilet paper brands impregnated with mammalian byproducts, including Charmin.
          • Seventh Generation, Scott, and Cottonelle toilet paper are popular brands in the AGS community.
        • Soaps, body washes, lotions, douches, and any other personal care products you may be putting in or around your vagina, genitalia, or anus
          • Switch to carrageenan-free, vegan brands
        • Razors with lubricating strips
          • Lubricating strips may contain lanolin.
          • See vegan razor recommendations above.
          • If you already bought razors with strips, try soaking them overnight. The strip will pop off easily the next day.
        • Feminine care products
          • See recommendations above.
        • Personal lubricants
          • Personal lubricants can contain carrageenan or mammalian byproducts, like casein or glycerin.
          • See lubricant recommendations above.
        • Condoms
          • “Natural” condoms can be made from the intestines of mammals.
          • Latex condoms may contain casein.
          • See vegan condom recommendations above.
        • Bubble bath, bath beads, and anything else you might be putting in your bath.
          • Stick with vegan, carrageenan-free with bath products.
        • Seminal fluid
          • Experts are highly skeptical about reports that some people with AGS react to their partner’s seminal fluid when they eat red meat, yet many people report this in support groups. Make of it what you will, here’s what people who report this tell us:
            • Reactions occur during the first 48 hours after their partner consumes red meat.
            • They do not react when their partner abstains from eating red meat for at least 48 hours.
            • Kissing or oral sex with someone who has consumed red meat can also lead to reactions—not the kind intended.
        • Alpha-gal residue from digested food in excrement
          • What goes in must come out. When you eat foods that contain alpha-gal, a red, sore anus may be the glorious culmination of your reaction.
        • Underwear
          • If you aren’t using alpha-gal-free laundry detergent, fabric softener, or dryer sheets, that may be the problem.
          • Sometimes underwear itself bothers some of us, for reasons that aren’t clear. If you think your underwear is an issue, try a simple, all-cotton brand.
        • If you are a woman, a comfortable place to discuss these kinds of issues can be the AlphaGal Girls Only Facebook group.
        • There is also a group for men, Alpha-Gal Men’s Hangout.

        Hand Sanitizers

        Non-vegan hand sanitizers often contain lanolin.

        Vegan hand sanitizer:

        Two Alpha Gals

        The Two Alpha Gals, Candice Matthis, and Debbie Nichols are the ultimate, alpha-gal lifestyle gurus. Check out their website for shopping tips and brand recommendations, and follow them on Instagram. Every Thursday they shop for alpha-gal-safe foods, personal care, and other products.

        AGS and Vegan Support Groups

        A Caveat About Support Groups

        When asking for information about products in support groups, keep the following in mind:

        • Just because another person with AGS reacts or doesn’t react to a product, does not mean that your experience will be the same.
        • There is a broad spectrum of reactivity in the alpha-gal community: some of us are super sensitive and some of us don’t react to any personal care products.
        • Many people with AGS have other allergies and mast cell disorders which cause them to react to a broad range of allergens and other triggers in addition to alpha-gal.
        • Due to the delayed nature of alpha-gal reactions, it can be hard for people to figure out what they are reacting to. Sometimes people attribute reactions to the wrong thing.
        • Many vegans are lax about what’s in the products they buy. It’s very common for products that aren’t strictly vegan to be recommended in vegan support groups.

        AlphaGal Support Nonpublic Facebook group

        The main AGS support group

        AlphaGal Girls Only Facebook support group

        A women-only AGS support group

        Alpha-gal Safe Foods and Products Facebook group

        A group where members of the alpha-gal community share product recommendations.

        Vegan and Cruelty Free Makeup, Hair, and Beauty Facebook group

        Shopping Resources

        Resources for screening personal care products for mammalian byproducts and/or carrageenan

        Mammalian Byproducts

        Use this guide and database to help you figure out if ingredients are derived from mammals or not.

        Double Check Vegan

        Vegan ingredient checker: Is it vegan? Copy and paste a whole list at once of ingredients from a beauty product, household cleaner, snack, nutritional supplement, etc, or type a single ingredient into the free vegan ingredient checker form below and click “search.”

        INCIDecoder

        Search by product or ingredient.

        EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database

        Search EWG’s cosmetics database for an ingredient, brand or product.

        Is It Vegan?

        Scan the UPC bar code to see if the product is vegan, vegetarian, or neither.

        SmartLabel

        SmartLabel® gives you easy and instantaneous access to detailed information about thousands of food, beverage, personal care, household and pet care products. You can find this product information in many ways – smartphone, computer, telephone. 

        Facebook vegan shopping groups

        Vegan Target Facebook Group

        New Vegan CostCo Facebook Group

        Vegan Aldi (USA) Facebook Group

        Vegan Walmart Facebook Group

        Other personal care product shopping resources

        Thrive Market

        A popular source of vegan foods and other vegan products. Warning: not all products are vegan. Use the vegan search function. Remember to check products for carrageenan, if you react to it. 

        Our Favorite Personal Care Products

        People with alpha-gal syndrome share their favorite personal care products.

        FAQs

        Answers to frequently asked questions about personal care products

        More coming soon!

        What’s a vegan brand of toothpaste for sensitive teeth?

        Try Hello sensitivity relief toothpastes.

        What’s a good vegan, ultra-moisturizing cream for very dry skin in cold weather?

        Body:

        • Ceramedx. People describe it as a great vegan substitute for Cerave.

        Face:

        More Information:

        VegNews: The 8 Best Hydrating Skincare Products

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