Guide to non toxic lipstick and lip gloss brands made with natural & organic ingredients that are better for your health and the planet.
There’s nothing like a good lipstick to make you feel ready to conquer the world. Whether it’s bright red or shimmery pink; glossy or matte; bold or barely there – the right lip color can boost your confidence, add a spring to your step, or at the very least help a tired mom feel like she’s at least a little bit pulled together – LOL!
But did you know that many popular lipstick brands contain harmful chemicals? That’s the last thing you want to worry about in your crazy, busy life.
Why It Matters
Most of us put on lipstick without ever considering what’s inside the tube. Turns out that’s not such a good idea.
All cosmetics, but especially lipsticks, are notorious for having ingredients that are not very pretty. Independent studies found lead, a neurotoxin linked to learning and behavioral problems, in over 60% of lipsticks tested. Lead is dangerous at very small levels and there is no safe level of exposure, so it’s important to avoid it. And news flash – you wont’ find lead or other heavy metals listed on ingredient labels because they are hidden in other ingredients, usually as part of the coloring.
RELATED: 4 Good Reasons to Buy Natural, Non-Toxic Products for Your Home & Life
Bad actor chemicals in lipsticks include:
- Heavy metals like lead, chromium, cadmium, aluminum, manganese and nickel
- Paraben preservatives linked to breast cancer and hormone disruption
- Phthalates – hormone disrupting chemicals often found in fragrance
- Artificial colors and fragrances
Non Toxic Lipstick and Lip Gloss Brands
I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article. Full Disclosure
Part of my mission to help you find greener, safer, better beauty and personal care products is to share some of the non-toxic brands I’ve used and loved. All of these lipsticks and glosses are free from lead, parabens, petroleum, sulfates, phthalates, nano particles, artificial dyes and synthetic fragrances. And animal testing? No way! It’s easier to choose a brand you know you can trust, than have to read the ingredients list on every product!
Hope you groove on these non toxic lipstick and lip gloss products as much as I do! And please let me know what other brands you love or would like to know more about.
1.) Vapour Siren Lipstick
Why I like it: Made with 70% organic ingredients and 30% pure mineral pigments. Long-wearing formula designed to rival mainstream brands.
Favorite color: Ornate (exclusive to Target.com)
Price: $24
BUY IT
2.) Beautycounter Lip Gloss
Why I like it: Non-sticky formula. All ingredients selected for safety. Teardrop applicator makes it easy to put on just enough.
Favorite color: Peony
Price: $29
BUY IT
3.) Ilia Lipstick
Why I like it: Super luxurious formula that melts into your lips and feels very moisturizing. Color builds with each application. 85% organic ingredients.
Favorite color: Madame Mina
Price: $26
BUY IT
4.) Mineral Fusion Sheer Moisture Lip Tint
Why I like it: Affordable and available locally (Whole Foods, natural food stores). Hydrating formula, nice vanilla-mint flavor and available in lots of colors. EWG Verified and top-rated on the Skin Deep database.
Favorite color: Glisten
Price: $10
BUY IT
5. Noyah Lipstick
Why I like it: Semi-matte formula with staying power. Bamboo packaging means 60% less plastic waste.
Favorite color: Hazelnut Cream
Price: $18
BUY IT
6.) Juice Beauty PHYTO Pigments Lip Gloss
Why I like it: Plant derived, long lasting pigments plus a high shine. Moisturizing and conditioning to lips.
Favorite color: Cherry Red
Price: $24
BUY IT
7.) Beautycounter Sheer Lipstick
Why I like it: Sheer color that goes on SO smooth. Ingredients you can trust. Light vanilla flavor.
Favorite color: Nude and Current
Price: $32
BUY IT
8.) Vapour Plumping Lip Gloss
Why I like it: Ultra hydrating formula also provides a nice shine. 70% organic ingredients.
Favorite color: Mystery
Price: $22
BUY IT
Your turn: What are your favorite non toxic lipstick and gloss brands?
Paige Wolf says
October 12, 2015 at 10:49 amVapour Siren is my absolute favorite too!
Lindsay says
October 12, 2015 at 11:48 amI haven’t tried Vapor Siren yet, and you know I’m a huge fan of Beautycounter. Great write up, thanks!
Lori Popkewitz Alper says
October 12, 2015 at 8:34 pmI haven’t tried many of these. Can’t wait! I use Zuzu lipgloss and love it.
Micaela says
October 16, 2015 at 10:53 amI’ve never hears of Zuzu lipgloss – I’ll have to look for that!
Donna Fountaine says
October 15, 2015 at 11:09 pmI’ll have to look into these. My favorite lipstick brands are 100% Pure and Ava Anderson Non Toxic.
Bettycares says
October 16, 2015 at 4:40 pmThank you for mentioning Mineral Fusion. I love their products. It was hard finding a truly , real natural brand that gives color. Mineral Fusion is it. Have you tried their eye shadow trios? There are a lot of shades to select from and the best – they stay on. Oh, and they have shimmer and mattes colors. Thank you mindfulmomma, you are always on it for those of us who are natural-ites. Love to see more on Mineral Fusion.
Micaela says
October 17, 2015 at 3:00 pmNo, I haven’t tried Mineral Fusion eye shadow yet – I’ll have to check that out!
pam schmidt says
October 17, 2015 at 2:01 pmI have to avoid Iron Oxide in my cosmetics, due to my allergy to IO and Nickel. Iron Oxide is the main ingredient that gives cosmetics their color. Yikes! So I use lipstick by 100% Pure company. http://www.100percentpure.com/ This company offers fruit pigmented make up. Not all of their lip color products are Iron Oxide free. But the fruit pigmented products do the trick for me!
Micaela says
October 17, 2015 at 2:59 pmThanks for the tip about 100% Pure – I’ll have to check them out!
Melissa Brown says
October 22, 2015 at 3:12 pmThis is great information Micaela! Thanks for investigating this important issue and finding some great options for us to use! We just did an article on the harmful chemicals found in our personal products; it is a shame all these chemicals are added and we need to look out for them.
http://agreenleafhome.com/personal-care-products/
Micaela says
October 22, 2015 at 9:51 pmLove that you just wrote about the same issue Melissa! Yes, I look forward to a day when buying decisions are simpler.
Smii says
October 9, 2017 at 10:30 amI use Mineral fusions too and think it is a great brand! What are your thoughts on Burt’s Bee’s lipsticks?
Micaela says
October 9, 2017 at 10:41 amI’ve tried Burt’s Bees and they are not my favorite. They don’t score as well on Skin Deep due to a couple ingredients they use – plus I don’t love the square container – it’s just a bit bulky.
Marcia Murdock says
December 5, 2017 at 8:49 pmI have been using Rhonda Allison face products, Aveda foundation and their nourish-mint rehydrating lip glaze, mineral fusion face powder, Revlon color stay lip liner and Almay eye liner and mascara. I would like your advice on theses products. Are there any I should get rid of ? A girlfriend dust told me about lead in lipstick and I was shocked because I have been tested for metals and my lead is high!! Is there a line of cosmetics that I could trust to be free of all the toxic stuff especially lead?
Micaela says
December 6, 2017 at 12:54 pmHi Marcia – Good question! The best resource for investigating your current products is the Skin Deep database. http://www.ewg.org/skindeep It doesn’t have every product, but you can get some great information from it! As for a great line of cosmetics – I highly recommend Beautycounter because they do testing for heavy metals on their products! I’m not a consultant but here’s my Beautycounter affiliate link: http://bit.ly/2gyFg2Q I also buy cosmetics from Mineral Fusion, Pacifica, & Juice Beauty to name a few! Good luck with your search!
Beth says
August 30, 2018 at 2:40 amIm allergic to any chemicals on lips and on skin..im looking for those products chemical free.
John Richardson says
December 6, 2018 at 12:35 amHi Micaela! Just found out about all the bad stuff in my wife’s lipstick. She uses L’Oreal 620 Mica. I am looking for a similar color that is non-toxic especiallyblead and heavy metal free, paraban free, animal fat free, formaldehyde free, and free of all the other bad stuff. Looking for Christmas presents. John
Micaela says
December 6, 2018 at 9:28 amHow sweet of you to buy a non-toxic lipstick for your wife! I’m not familiar with that color but what I recommend is bringing a swatch of that color on a piece of paper over to a Whole Foods or another store that sells natural beauty products. Then you can look for a similar color! Good luck with it!
Laura says
March 14, 2019 at 9:07 amGreat list Micaela,
I love seeing the more natural lipstick brands getting some spotlight. I’ve got to say I’m swayed towards Noyah – I’m just a sucker for that gorgeous floral packaging! I’ll be sure to check out the Hazelnut Cream shade.
Just to add to your overall point about avoiding harmful ingredients, some other lipstick ingredients like ricinoleic acid & lanolin oil can potentially cause allergic reactions!
We’ve recently published a post that lists some of the ingredients consumers may want to avoid when choosing a lipstick:
https://makeupscholar.com/what-lipstick-made-of/
Thanks again for the great non-toxic brand recommendations!
Laura.
Micaela says
March 14, 2019 at 10:52 amInteresting! I checked on EWG and both ricinoleic acid & lanolin are considered safe with a 1 rating. But I’ve heard some people can be allergic to lanolin.
Laura says
March 14, 2019 at 11:04 amThanks so much for the reply Micaela! And for checking on EWG!
I should have been more specific earlier (sorry about that!), but according to dermatologist Dr. Delwyn Dyall-Smith, ricinoleic acid is the most common lip-product-related cause of allergic contact cheilitis:
https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/contact-reactions-to-lipsticks-and-other-lipcare-products/
Thanks again for the great info and for the reply,
Laura.