The Best Organic Lip Balms Made with Clean Natural Ingredients
Having dry or chapped lips can be uncomfortable. You may find that the dry weather in the winter months makes your skin feel parched, or maybe you've spent too much time in the sun.
When you reach for that lip balm (or any beauty product) it's important to know what you're putting on your lips. Unfortunately, there are some questionable ingredients in conventional lip balms.
That’s exactly where an ultra-nourishing organic lip balm packed with plant-based, sustainably sourced ingredients really shines. Luckily, in 2023, there is an array of natural skincare brands leading the way.
Some companies offer cruelty-free, vegan, and organic lip balm options with buildable shades ranging from barely-there nude to look-at-me-now red.
Other brands harvest the power of ethically-sourced beeswax and unrefined, organic, fair trade-certified Shea butter to repair, soothe, and protect chapped lips.
Our list of the best organic lip balm options below covers all preferences. No hard-to-pronounce chemicals as the main ingredient here!
This guide will explore the issues with conventional lip balms, feature some cleaner ingredients to look for, and a list of the best organic lip balm brands.
This post does contain some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer may receive a commission if you decide to purchase, however, at no additional cost to you!
Are there harmful ingredients in conventional lip balms?
Unfortunately conventional lip balms can feature some potentially harmful ingredients.
Petroleum is a common ingredient found in conventional lip balms. Petroleum is a byproduct of oil which means this is not good for the environment or our skin. Petroleum can have PAH contamination which make has been associated with cancer.
Then, we have parabens and phthalates, the endocrine disruptors with the ability to mimic estrogen that has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and malignant melanoma.
Butylated Hydroxytoluene or BHT is also notorious for promoting the development of existing tumors, associated with organ system toxicity, and associated with endocrine disruption.
Menthol, salicylic acid, camphor, phenol, and alcohol are only a few well-known additions that are known for irritating the skin and actually drying your lips out further.
Last but not least, "added fragrances" – which can be a cause of eczema and skin irritation.
You'll want to avoid lip balms made with mineral oil or petroleum jelly, and instead look for more natural, gentle ingredients. Luckily, we're got some alternative ingredients that are a cleaner option.
Benefits of organic ingredients in lip balms
Choosing an organic lip balm full of natural ingredients is the safest and healthiest option. You want ingredients that are rich in fatty acids and nutrients like vitamin e.
Plant-based and organic ingredients such as shea butter, Coconut oil, Olive oil, Castor oil, Grapeseed oil, avocado oil, and Soybean oil, argan oil, and calendula extract can heal the wounds on your cracked lips and soothe the pain from irritation.
The best organic lip balm should have the added bonus of protecting your lips from free radical damage.
Natural ingredients are also less likely to cause allergic reactions, inflammations, or irritations. They are gentle on your skin and less harmful to the environment.
Organic certified vs. made with organic ingredients
While on the hunt for the best organic lip balm or other personal care products, you might come across the terms "organic certified" or "made with organic ingredients."
Spoiler alert: they aren’t the same. Organic certification means that farmers and businesses have met strict standards for the growing, processing, and handling of their products.
In simple words, if you see a “ USDA-certified” seal, for example, it means that the formulas have 95 percent or more organic content.
The term “made with organic ingredients” means that a product contains between 70% and 95% organic ingredients. Still, even the non-organic ingredients in these products must be non-GMO and produced without irradiation or sewage sludge.
On top of these terms from the USDA, you might see local makers at the farmers market who make lip and skincare products with organic ingredients.
It's important to acknowledge that the USDA organic certification costs money and time which a lot of small scale makers and farmers don't have. However, they may be using ingredients grown with organic practices.
Talking to local vendors at farmers markets about their ingredients is a great way to start a conversation and learn more about the ingredients in their products. It's great to support local vendors even if they don't hold the third party certification.
6 Organic Lip Balm Brands for Well Moisturized Lips
If you're ready to experience some of the best natural lip balms made with clean ingredients, this list is for you.
Meow Meow Tweet's Organic & Fair Trade Lip Balm
The B-certified organic skincare brand Meow Meow Tweet is here to equip our skincare arsenal with top-notch formulas for every skin-related need.
Meow Meow tweet’s best organic lip balm range includes the cult-favorite Lip-to-Lid Balmies, one fantastic Chamomile Myrrh Repair Balm, and sweet vegan balms to keep those lips soft and happy. Fairtrade and Certified Organic Ingredients are a given!
The wear-anywhere colorful Lip-to-Lid Balmies are basically multi-purpose crayons wrapped in paper and snuggle into a recyclable carrying case.
You can easily apply them to your lips, cheeks, and eyes! The other two options are packed with healing essential oils and moisture-rich plant oils that rejuvenate and protect the skin, with no synthetic dyes or harsh ingredients.
Lastly, the formulas are housed in a jumbo, zero-waste, compostable paper tube.
Meow Meow Tweet's organic lip balm can be purchased for $14.
River Organics Non-Toxic Lip Balm in a Compostable Tube
River Organics is a great resource for organic lip balms free from toxic ingredients, or added fragrances.
These ultra-hydrating tinted lip balms will add a touch of color all while working their moisturizing magic. The formula includes EWG-verified plant-based ingredients such as Cacao and Mango butters which make the lip balm smoother, thicker, and longer lasting.
What’s more, they are Cruelty-free Certified, 100% vegan, and “dressed” in an Eco-Friendly compostable paper tube that’s ridiculously easy to recycle.
Conscious consumers can purchase River Organics lip balm for $11-$14 and imperfect lip balms for $7.50.
Lip Therapy's Zero Waste Lip Balm
Lip Therapy offers organic lip balm options on the natural skincare market in a slew of flavors.
This zero-waste lip balm is packed with moisture from the moisturizing qualities of organic Shea and organic Cocoa Butter and a nourishing blend of essential oils that treat and condition chapped lips.
They have vegan lip balms, as well as organic, tinted, and healing lip balms for all of your beauty routine needs.
As for the packaging, it is made of 100% pcw recycled paperboard and can be composted after use! To top it all off, A baby sea turtle is saved for every organic lip balm purchased.
Lip Therapy's zero waste lip balm can be purchased the the Zero Waste Store for around $8.
Primally Pure's Natural Lip Balm Made with Organic & Fair Trade Ingredients
Primally Pure products are made with certified organic ingredients that are sourced from family owned farms, when possible.
All of Primally Pure’s clean non-toxic skincare is handmade in California. Primally Pure's organic lip balm includes natural ingredients like tallow from grass-fed cows, coconut oil and organic cocoa butter to deeply moisturize and heal chapped lips.
Organic essential oils provide additional benefits and flavors. Sustainable shoppers can choose from flavors such as peppermint, lavender, grapefruit, cocoa, and creamsicle. These lip balms can be purchased at the affordable price of $4.
Zambeezi's Fair Trade Lip Balm Made with Organic Ingredients
The raved-about Zambeezi Fair Trade organic lip balm is ethically and thoughtfully crafted without harming the environment or its inhabitants.
This sustainable brand is on a mission to help regenerate communities and ecosystems by bringing the strengths and products of Zambian entrepreneurs, beekeepers, and farmers to the North American market.
Zambeezi furthers their impact by using a portion of the company’s profits to benefit African communities, by partnering with local churches to build schools, clinics, drilling wells, and other projects that serve the needs they identify.
Currently, you can opt for six lip-soothing, organic, Fair Trade flavors that go on smooth, not waxy. Their six-pack includes flavors like Lemongrass, Tangerine, Wild Rose, Sweet Basil, Honeybalm, and they have a lip balm for sun protection.
They use ingredients like organic jojoba oil, organic beeswax, peppermint oil, organic coconut oil, and have a transparent ingredient list for each of their natural formula balms.
Zambeezi lip balm comes in packs and can be purchased for around $11-$19 depending on the type of lip balm pack you choose.
I've personally tried the variety pack and felt like this was a great way to get an idea of different flavors. I really enjoyed how unique their flavors are.
Corvus Botanicals Small Batch Zero Waste Beeswax Lip Balm
Corvus Botanicals aims to help cultivate a connection to nature in and around us through self-care. That’s why they created one of the best organic lip balm for dry lips in desperate need of moisture.
The formula is made of local beeswax and unrefined, organic, fair trade certified Shea butter touted for its condition and moisturizing abilities. It also works well under their lip-tints for extra protection.
The ECLIPSE balm is untinted and unscented for anyone who is sensitive to flavors and scents. It's personally my favorite lip balm for everyday use! I even use it on my hands when I have dry cuticles or on dry patches of my skin in the winter.
The shea butter used is certified fair trade and sourced from a small shareholder community in Ghana.
The balm is also infused with nutrient-rich and oils such as organic Coconut Oil and cold pressed organic Sunflower Oil that is rich in Vitamins A, B, D & E. To eliminate waste completely the sustainable brand uses compostable tubes for the packaging.
On top of the unscented lip balm, Corvus Botanicals also sells lip tints that are moisturizing while adding a bit of color! I really enjoy these! Corvus Botanicals ECLIPSE lip balm and lip tints can be purchased for $5+.
Hopefully, this guide helped you learn a bit about the benefits of choosing an organic lip balm instead of the regular, chemical-laden options.
Seriously, why go back to the basics when the best lip balm options above can moisturize and soothe your lips without any suspicious additives?
When a thin layer is all it takes, you'll toss the regular lip balms you used to reach for and instead grab one of these for the best lip treatment you could ask for.
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