Q. My granddaughter has been diagnosed with coeliac disease. She needs to find a gluten-free lipstick. Can you recommend a brand please? A. According to the charity Coeliac UK, coeliac disease is a lifelong autoimmune disease caused by intolerance to gluten, a protein found in grains, principally wheat, barley and rye. One in 100 people have the condition, which is treated by following a gluten-free diet for life.

Although there is some discussion about whether topical cosmetics can affect people with this condition, lipstick may be different because you may swallow some. However, the charity says ‘it is unlikely that you would swallow enough lip balm of lipstick to cause a problem. If you are concerned, you should contact the manufacturers directly about specific products.’

However, there are anecdotal reports of coeliacs using skin products containing gluten and having adverse reactions.

The charity comments that ‘it is possible to be sensitive to ingredients used in cosmetics but this has nothing to do with coeliac disease specifically. If you experience skin irritation when using any cosmetics, visit your GP.’

If your granddaughter prefers to play safe, the specialist website www.skinsmatter.com covers the issues and features several brands.

NATorigin states on their website, www.natorigin.co.uk, that their lipsticks are ‘gluten free making them suitable for coeliacs’. NATorigin lipsticks, £16.25 each, come in a range of six gorgeous shades and won an award in our consumer trials for The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible.