Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.
When you first find out about the toxins in personal care products and cosmetics, it can really freak you out, you think, “great, now I have to ditch everything I love”.
Well, I am happy to tell you that NO YOU DO NOT!
You can still doll yourself up, you can still wear lip color, there are safe options available to you.
We are so lucky because we live in a time when companies are popping up to fill the need we Eco-conscious women have: to have our cake and eat it too. We still want to enhance our beauty, but we want to feel safe doing it.
Toxins Found In Lipstick
- Detectable levels of lead have been found in major brands of lipstick, these levels are small and won’t give you lead poisoning, but I like to avoid this heavy metal as much as I can, as it does accumulate over time.
- Other metals have been found in lipsticks, including arsenic, cadmium, mercury, manganese, chromium, and antimony.
- All of these heavy metals accumulate in the body over time. You are ingesting a large portion of the lipstick and lip gloss you apply, so this is worrying.
- Petroleum products are often used in lipsticks, these are unsustainable and toxic to the body and the environment.
- Parabens such as methylparaben and propylparaben can disrupt your delicate endocrine system and cause irritation.
Five Safe Lipstick Brands
The 5 brands that I recommend are all high-quality, Eco-conscious companies that make safe lipstick. They know that what you put on your lips gets ingested, and they want to make sure that what you are putting on your lips is safe to put in your body.
All of the lipstick brands that I recommend are:
- lead-free
- paraben, nano-particle, petrochemical, and toxin-free
- cruelty-free
- organic and made with natural ingredients
- high-performance
- exceptional quality
The top 5 brands that make safe lipstick are:
I will discuss each of these brands below:
1. ILIA Beauty
“Somebody once said to me, that because its organic its good for you, and it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t work as well as the mainstream stuff – I intend to change their mind.”
Founder Sasha Plavsic created ILIA Beauty after understanding what toxic ingredients were hiding in her lipstick. She started by creating beautiful, modern packaging, then set out to fill them with exceptional products.
Using an ethical-sustainable approach, all of these products are filled with up to 85% certified organic, bio-active ingredients that nourish and rejuvenate the skin.
Sasha is committed to making safe makeup that woman will love. I think she has done a great job. I have used ILIA’s lipsticks, and I love them! They offer great coverage, they come in trendy, flattering colors, they keep your lips hydrated, and they have staying power. [Read: My ILIA Lipstick Review].
ILIA’s Lipsticks Are:
- Made with USDA Certified-Organic Ingredients
- Cruelty-free
- Gluten-free
Available in 10 hot colors:
- Amberlight: Bardot Nude
- Rosette: Light Pink
- Marsala: Brown Nude
- Cinnabar: Brick
- Wild Aster: Berry
- Rococco: Petal
- Knockout: Magenta
- Flame: Fire Red
- Rumba: Oxblood Red
- Ultra Violet: Violet
Try These Beautiful Colors Today and Find Out Why So Many Women Love ILIA!
=> See them at The Detox Market<=
2. Alima Pure
Alima comes from the sufi word Al Alim, which means that divine wisdom encompasses even the smallest things. To us that means that even life’s most trivial details are rich with significance, and that it’s in the process of living life to the fullest that we are our most beautiful.
Alima pure began with a mother trying to find safe cosmetics for her young daughter. She wanted her daughter to have beautiful vibrant makeup to match her vibrant personality, but she wanted the makeup to be healthy.
She began to make her own mineral makeup that was rich, deep and silky. She wanted to share her creations with all women so that they too could have beauty without compromise.
Alima Pure has a wide range of amazing makeup products and has just recently added lipsticks to that list. They are committed to providing sustainable products using minimal ingredients.
Alima Pure has received rave reviews on their lipsticks and they have been flying off the shelves.
Alima Pure’s Lipsticks Are:
- Cruelty-free
- NO parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, phthalates, dimethicone, petroleum, talc, bismuth oxychloride, or nanoparticles
- European BDIH “Certified Natural Cosmetics Seal”
- Gluten-free
- Non-Comedogenic
Available in 4 highly pigmented colors:
- Iris: Warm, earthy rose.
- Lucy: Light, peachy nude.
- Odessa: Cheerful, petal pink.
- Olivia: Vibrant, poppy red.
=> Learn More at The Detox Market <=
3. Nudus
I am an intelligent forward thinking woman making my mark on this world, understanding the value and importance of health. I know what I want and demand only the best. I am making better choices.
Nudus is an Australian company that wants you to look beautiful and feel amazing. Diana Saltoun Goltsman spent 2 years perfecting her lipstick formulas. She lived and breathed lipstick until she created something she could feel great about.
Their pigments are created using pure bio-active color extracts from flowers, fruits, herbs, and minerals. These are combined in a base of organic cold-pressed oils including pumpkin, kiwi fruit, raspberry, pomegranate, argan, and moringa.
Nudus lipsticks are handcrafted in small batches, they are not created by a machine.
Nudus Lipsticks Are:
- COSMOS Organic certified
- Certified by Australian Certified Organic
- Cruelty-free
- NO parabens, pesticides, fungicides, GMO, hydrogenated oils, petrochemicals, and synthetic dyes and fragrances or nano-particles!
Available in 9 smashing colors:
- 27 Kisses Is A Universally Flattering Pink-mauve That Is Well Suited For Everyday Wear
- Survivor Encourages You To Paint Your Pout & The Town In Its Statement Fuchsia Pink
- Fairy Tales Is A Dreamy Creamy Peach, Appropriate For Bringing Warmth To Your Face In All Seasons
- Dirty Diana (A Tribute To Legend Michael Jackson) Is A Confident & Bold Red Reminiscent Of A Rich Bordeaux
- Halo Is A Semi-matte Light Rose Color With A Hint Of Frost To Make You Feel Uplifted & Beautiful
- Naked Is A Subtle Neutral Shade To Show Your Softer Side. Naked Can Be Worn Alone Or As A Base For Nudus’ Brighter Shades
- Precious Is A Delightful & Playful Pink Known To Brighten Any Old Day
- Just Like Jade Boasts A Dusty Plum Shade With Subtle Shimmer, Making It A Unique Addition To Your Lipstick Repertoire
- Bitter Sweet Is A Uniquely Striking Shade Of Red Orange
Try Nudus Lipsticks Now!
=> Shop Nudus On Amazon <=
4. Au Naturale
Au Naturale is an opportunity for women to guiltlessly indulge in an adventure with color, and make a beautiful statement to the world.
Founder Ashley Prange started Au Naturale in order to bring organic, modern, principled makeup to a cosmetics industry run amok with toxic chemicals and shady ethics. She believes that no one should have to sacrifice their health for beauty.
Au Naturale gives 10% of its profits to Zambia Open Community Schools (ZOCS).
These lipsticks nourish and moisturize with avocado oil, cocoa butter, and macadamia nut oil. Au Naturale has a very low hazard rating on the Skin Deep Database, meaning that it is a safe lipstick.
Au Naturale Lipsticks Are:
- Organic
- NO Parabens, nano-particles, lead, bismuth oxychloride, or carmine
- Gluten-Free
- Vegan
Available in 13 beautiful colors:
- Cha-Cha: a bright red with pink undertones.
- Elsa Luisa: a true matte plum.
- Innocence: a lavender pink nude.
- Marrakesh: a warm pink nude.
- Primrose: a warm soft pink with subtle luminosity.
- Sangria: a bright cool pink.
- Spanish Rose: a deep matte red.
- GH Rose Glow: a dusty rose with a hint of golden shimmer.
- Ambition: a burnt red with mauve undertones.
- Charm: a deep matte plum.
- Grace: a soft blush pink.
- Spirit: a muted terracotta.
- Plume: a vibrant fuchsia pink with cool undertones.
Try this Safe Lipstick Brand Now
=> Shop Au Naturale’s Website <=
5. Vapour Organic Beauty
VAPOUR embodies the beliefs of its founders – beautiful, glowing skin without compromise.
Vapour Organic Beauty started in New Mexico by a team of women experienced in the use of organic ingredients. Eric Sakas, previous President of Kevyn Aucoin Beauty, encountered the Vapour foundation prototype and fell in love.
Eric used his voice to bring this revolutionary product to the world. Now Vapour Beauty offers many products, all with the commitment to performance and purity.
I absolutely love Vapours products. They make THE BEST foundation I have ever used (click here for the review). Their Aura Multi-Use Blush is an amazing, all-purpose product (click here to read my review). What I love most about Vapour’s makeup is the dreamy texture they all have. They are so light and fluffy, like a cloud. They are my ultimate favorite natural makeup brand.
Vapour Organic Beauty Lipsticks Are:
- Free of irradiation, nanoparticles, petroleum, phthalates, parabens, or toxic ingredients.
- Cruelty-free
- ‘Champion’ Safety status from the Environmental Working Group and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
- 100% natural. 70% organic ingredients and 30% mineral pigments and essential oils
- Non-Comedogenic
- Free of lab-created FD&C or Lake Colorants
Vapour Siren Lipstick is available in a variety of colors:
- Au Pair: rich velvet berry
- Courage: classic cherry
- Dare: rich plummy brown
- Naive: cool café au lait
- Purr: the perfect baby pink
- Tempest: intense and deep coral
- Tryst: universal neutral red
Join the Thousands Of Women Loving Vapour’s Lipsticks
=> Shop Vapour at The Detox Market<=
My Favorite Brand
Out of the 5 above, I choose Vapour Organic Beauty. I love the feel of their lipsticks and I love the large color selection.
Want more Brands?
Here is a list of some other brands that meet our criteria of being all-natural and color-rich.
Conclusion
There you have it, 5 safe lipstick brands. You can be sure any of these brands will be amazing to use and wear. These are companies you can trust – companies that are not pretending to be “natural”, they actually are – this is the cream of the crop.
You can rest assured knowing that the lipstick you are wearing isn’t going to give you cancer or disrupt your hormones. You can feel good knowing that you are supporting sustainable and ethical practices.
Your choices are helping make a difference in the world, by choosing a different path – a different lipstick, you are supporting a sustainable and ethical future. What you put on your mouth matters – and you know it.
Now go show the world your lips!
p.s there are affiliate links in this post, the small commission I earn goes to my lipstick fund 🙂
Any Questions or comments? Please leave them below, we love to hear your thoughts 🙂
Yours In Beauty,
Andrea
Great overhaul – really enjoyed reading!
Thanks Choosy Chick! Glad you stopped in!
I am interested in the Alima pure brand with red/prune / majenta shades of lipsticks. Where do I place the order please?
Hi Hya, thanks for your question 🙂 On the Alima Pure website, they say that they are going to have their Velvet lipstick back in stock this fall, but I am still not seeing them available. For now, you can buy their lip tints at The Detox Market. Otherwise you can leave your email with The Detox Market and they will notify you when the lipsticks are back in stock :).
Do they have any store or shop in Melbourne. I cannot order online. I am interested in Vapoup Brand. Thanks
Yes you can get Vapour Beauty at Content Beauty & Wellbeing, they have free international shipping 😀
Opps, I just read that you cannot order online! It looks like Vapour is available in stores in Pyrmont, Sydney, and Annadale. You can look at Vapour’s List of Retailers here.
I didn’t know so much about lipstick brands, which are safe and which should be avoided. Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome Monica 😀
Hi Andrea
I use 100% pure lipsticks and Burts Bees lip balm. I was hoping to find 100% pure in your list. Do you have any comments on this brand’a safety?
100% Pure is a great brand! When I wrote this list I had not heard of them yet, but now I am more familiar with them and I know they are a good choice 🙂
Hi Andrea
How about bite beauty & red apple lipstick ?
U think they are safe & good?
Hi May, I had a look at these brands and yes, I would say they are good 🙂 Bite Beauty looks divine!
Great lipstick brand recommendations Andrea,
I’m familiar with Nudus, Au Naturale, and ILIA – but I’d never heard of Vapour Organic Beauty before! I’ll definitely check them out.
Just to add to your points about ingredients to avoid, if you’re prone to allergies, steer clear of lipsticks with added lanolin oil and ricinoleic acid. For the vegans, stay away from beeswax, lanolin oil, and carmine. In case your readers want to know more about lipstick ingredients of past and present (and what you should avoid), we recently published a post on this topic:
https://makeupscholar.com/what-lipstick-made-of/
Thanks again for the brand recommendations,
Laura
Thanks for stopping in Laura! And thanks for the tips 🙂
Hi! I know that ultramarines are not allowed in lipsticks (Alima Pure). Just a fun fact!
Hi Emily, I did not know that! Thank you for sharing. I am wondering why Alima Pure listed ultramarine as one of their colors? This article was written a few years ago, so maybe things have changed. I have updated this article with new info and took out the ingredients lists, as those are often changing. You can see the ingredients of the lipsticks by going to the shop links provided in the article.
Thanks for stopping in!