Non-toxic Lip Balm: 9 Sustainable Options for Fully Moisturized Lips

What Is a Non-Toxic Lip Balm?

“Non-toxic” isn’t a legally protected term, so the exact definition varies between brands. “Clean at Sephora,” for example, has a very different set of standards to the EWG. Generally, however, a non-toxic lip balm avoids harmful chemicals and instead sticks to natural, simple formulas that are safer for the skin and body.

What Ingredients to Avoid in Lip Balm

Most conventional lip balms include ingredients that can be harmful not only to your skin but to your overall health. Here are 7 of the main lip balm ingredients to avoid and why:

• Simple Alcohols: As dermatologists have rightly pointed out, some alcohol-based skincare ingredients, such as Vitamin A and E, are worth the use. However, it’s also widely agreed that simple alcohols in the form of isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, or alcohol denat, have dehydrating effects and thus should be avoided, especially in lip products meant to soothe and moisturize.

• Parabens: This common preservative is found in everything from highly processed food to cosmetics products, despite the fact that some parabens are known endocrine disruptors that can cause harm to reproductive functioning, as well as the spleen and stomach. This chemical also accumulates in waterways, where it can be detrimental to coral health.

• Artificial Fragrances: Fun, fruity-scented lip balms might seem harmless, but most are created using artificial fragrances with ingredients that aren’t properly disclosed. The FDA doesn’t require brands to share what’s in their proprietary scents, which can lead to all kinds of irritants landing in lip products that cause allergic reactions, dizziness, etc. For those with sensitive skin especially, artificial fragrances are best avoided.

• Phthalates: Like parabens, this sneaky synthetic preservative is in just about everything these days. Besides being a known skin irritant, the biggest concern dermatologists and others have about Phthalates is the negative impact it’s been shown to have on reproductive health. Sadly, it’s also appearing more and more in soils and waterways and having a damaging effect on aquatic reproductive health.

• Petrolatum: Petroleum jelly and other petrolatum-based ingredients are usually encouraged for use in lip balms because of how good they are at preventing moisture loss in the skin. The problem is that they’re also made from leftover oil and gas materials and thus not only part of a larger fossil fuel issue but may cause reproductive harm too.

• Oxybenzone: Sunscreen in lip balm can be fantastic as long as it’s not a chemical sunscreen like Oxybenzone. The ingredient has a very high absorption rate for both humans and aquatic life and is considered so unsafe that the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends it not be used on children.

Good Ingredients to Look for in Non-Toxic Lip Balms

Nontoxic lip brands are kissing many synthetics goodbye in favor of simple, safe ingredients. Here are some of the best things to look out for and why:

• Plant-based Oils: Olive oil, jojoba oil, and coconut oil are all completely natural ingredients filled with nourishing fatty acids and antioxidants. What’s great with all of these oils is how multi-purpose they are. They don’t just help moisturize the lips but also keep that moisture locked in while lessening inflammation at the same time. 

• Shea Butter: Originating in West Africa, shea butter is a skincare ingredient with a long history thanks to its emollient, anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe the skin as much as it moisturizes. It’s also been shown to stimulate collagen production.

• Cocoa Butter: Though comparable to shea butter, cocoa butter has a few benefits all its own. For example, early research suggests that it might protect the skin from premature damage.

• Beeswax: This humble ingredient is great for skin barrier support and lessening dermatitis symptoms and is also just a very effective humectant, which means it will help your lips hang onto moisture.

• Vitamin E: From wound healing to soothing mild eczema and general dry skin, Vitamin E is an all-round winner. It encompasses a group of fat-soluble vitamins that occur naturally in nuts and seeds. Almonds and avocado oil are some of the most common sources that non-toxic brands will rely on for it, but many also include Vitamin E as a separate ingredient.

Our Criteria for Selecting the Safest Non-Toxic Lip Balms

To pick the safest, healthiest, non-toxic lip balm, here’s what we prioritized:

• Brands that are transparent with their ingredients in terms of both what is included in their formulations and why. This is especially important for those who are turning to clean-ingredient lip balms as a way to avoid potential allergens or irritants.

• Ingredients lists that avoid most known, harmful ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances. We especially looked out for brands that stuck to EU regulations on safe skincare, as they tend to be stricter than most, and those that signed on with other proven clean beauty standards such as Made Safe and the EWG.

•  Formulas that tried to use natural, organic ingredients where possible.

9 Non-Toxic and Natural Lip Balms

Whether you’re looking for a lip balm safe for kids or a non-toxic product that can be used to provide a light tint, we’ve got an array of options best for dry lips of all types …

1. Tower 28

This female-founded brand has quite a few lip products, but it’s their LipSoftie Lip Treatment that stands out. It comes in both tinted and clear versions and somehow manages to be both fragrance-free and still come in an array of flavors such as blood orange vanilla and dulce de leche. The non-irritating lip treatments feel fun, somewhat nostalgic, and still very modern in the way that the formulas stick to great natural ingredients such as shea butter and jojoba oil for a soothing, super moisturizing effect.

Pricing: $16

Good For: Anyone with sensitive, irritated, or dry lips. It works as both as an intensive lip treatment and an everyday, non-toxic lip balm.

Customer Reviews: Describes as “smooth and not sticky”, many reviewers love how moisturizing the product is and how perfect the tints are. They give a little color without ever being too much.

Sustainability:

• Vegan and cruelty-free.
• Clean – free of fragrance and various other irritants.
• Compliant with California Prop 65 and EU Cosmetic Regulations.

2. Cocokind

Cocokind’s Mymatcha All-over Moisture Stick is the natural Chapstick alternative you’ve been looking for. Not only is it sold as a small stick that can easily fit into your pocket, but it’s also multi-purpose. It can be used to soothe and hydrate lips, the under-eye area, and any other dry spots. Organic matcha tea powder gives this lip balm added antioxidant benefits alongside the nourishing power of organic coconut oil. 

Pricing: $9

Good For: Those wanting an on-the-go, clean Chapstick option. The brand also has a non-toxic lip balm with sun protection in it for those doing lots outdoors.

Customer Reviews: Jennifer J described the product as “the only thing that has ever helped with [her] chapped lips” and many others seem to have had similarly positive experiences.

Sustainability:

• Non-toxic, petrolatum-free formula.
• Vegan.
• Transparent labeling with notably clear ingredient breakdowns and a look at the carbon emissions impact of each product.
• Social impact foundation.

3. Topicals

This BIPOC-founded brand has received major praise in recent years for clean, innovative formulas, with their Slick Salve being one of their lesser-known but no less brilliant offerings. The vegan, paraben-free lip balm is packed with peptides, rice bran wax, and a tri-ceramide complex that is clinically proven to lessen the appearance of fine lines while also providing serious hydration. It comes in a clear, minty version as well as a berry-tinted Acai one. 

Pricing: $16

Good For: A clean ingredient lip balm that gives the lips lots of shine.

Customer Reviews: The tinted version of this non-toxic lip balm is a total hit – described by one reviewer as “not too extreme but not too basic”. Many love the product for its intensely nourishing, hydrating effect, though caution not to over-apply as it can get sticky with too much on.

Sustainability:

• Donates 1% to mental health organizations.
• Non-toxic formula free of synthetic fragrances, dyes, etc.
• Recyclable aluminum packaging.

4. RMS Beauty

If you’re looking for an unscented, non-toxic lip balm, then the RMS Beauty Tinted Daily Lip Balm is the product for you. Fancier than Chapstick but more lowkey than lipstick, the formula features candelilla wax, jojoba oil, and cocoa butter to give you soft, hydrated lips. It’s exactly the kind of product you’d expect from  Rose-Marie Swift, the makeup artist who founded the brand. She’s passionate about creating makeup that looks good but stays far away from harmful chemicals such as phthalates and parabens.

Pricing: $25

Good For: Looking like you’re wearing a bit of makeup but feeling like you’ve got skincare on your lips. It’s light, easy to wear, and great for sensitive skin.

Customer Reviews: One reviewer, Karen W, commented that she “forgets it’s on, but it keeps working”. The fact that it doesn’t need to be reapplied often to be effective is one of the standout features of this clean-ingredient lip balm.

Sustainability:

• Recyclable packaging.
• Uses renewable energy initiatives.
• Clean, non-toxic formula.

5. ILIA

The Ilia Wrap Reviving Lip Balm won an Allure Beauty award in 2022, and it’s not hard to see why. From the cooling ceramic applicator to the soothing scent of lavender and chamomile that the clean lip balm leaves behind, this product is a true pout pamperer.

Naturally derived ingredients like prickly pear oil and sea succulent boost hydration and support the long-term functioning of the skin barrier so that the effects of the lip last long after that first swipe.

Pricing: $24

Good For: Everyday use for those prone to sensitive, chapped lips that need some extra TLC.

Customer Reviews: “So moisturizing and calming” describes one reviewer, with others loving how well the texture of it layers under lipstick.

Sustainability:

• Clean, organic ingredients.
• Leaping Bunny Certified cruelty-free.
• Part of the 1% for the Planet initiative.

6. Primally Pure

The Cocoa Lip Balm is a clean, Chapstick-style product that can be applied around the eyes and cuticles, as well as on your lips. No wonder it’s a bestseller. The 100% natural lip balm uses coconut oil, beeswax, mango butter, and cocoa butter for a decadent, nourishing effect that helps repair and hydrate the skin. It also comes in an array of subtle, natural flavors, such as grapefruit and peppermint.

Pricing: $6

Good For: Long-lasting hydration that doesn’t leave any stickiness. It’s a great, everyday product for dry lips and skin.

Customer Reviews: Jessica L. loves that the creamsicle flavor of this lip balm feels like a “non-toxic grown-up version” of lip smackers.

Sustainability:

• Natural, non-toxic formula featuring sustainably sourced ingredients.
• Uses regenerative farming for some ingredients.
• Runs a recycling initiative.

7. Earth Mama Organics

Safe Chapstick for toddlers isn’t always easy to find, but Earth Mama Lip Balms are designed to be used by the whole family. There’s no petrolatum, artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors in these moisturizing, non-toxic lip balms, which instead rely on a mix of organic herbs and plant-based oils. They come in a few different flavors, like orange ginger and coconut vanilla, for an extra bit of fun (which also helps convince fussy kids to use them).

Pricing: $16

Good For: Having on hand for kids and adults alike.

Customer Reviews: Most reviewers describe these toddler-safe, clean lip balms as their go-to, thanks to the light texture and smooth, hydrated feeling they leave behind.

Sustainability:

• Non-Toxic formula free of triclosan, parabens, etc.
• Organic ingredients.
• Certified non-GMO.
• Partnered with the Safecosmetics.org
• Plastic Neutral.
• EWG-Verified
• Cruelty-Free.

8. Kosas

The LipFuel Lip Balm is from the Kosas Sport range and is the chicest clean Chapstick alternative we’ve seen yet. It’s won multiple beauty awards and places success down to hero ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and konjac root. The fragrance-free formula is designed to improve the firmness and smoothness of your lips over time and is available in tinted and clear versions. 

Pricing: $18

Good For: The paraben-free lip balm comes in a unique tube that’s shaped to sit flat when tucked into a pocket, making it extra useful for anyone wanting a great lip balm that can be used on the go.

Customer Reviews: One reviewer is so dedicated to this product that they made a friend bring it to her in Spain when they discovered they couldn’t purchase it there. The smooth, balmy texture is frequently mentioned by reviewers, as well as the wearable tint shades.

Sustainability:

• Adheres to EU ingredient standards.
• Clean formula free of parabens, phthalates, etc.

9. Organic to Green

This female-founded cosmetics company is all about creating natural, clean products that leave harmful ingredients behind in favor of safer formulations. Their Chap Guard is EWG-verified and won an Allure Beauty award for its waxy, multi-purpose skin salve that can be used on chapped lips, dry elbows, and even a baby’s bottom. Coconut oil, shea butter, rosehip, and various other botanicals and oils make up this skin barrier booster.

Pricing: $18

Good For: Having on hand for any kid or adult dry skin needs. It’s not just a lip balm; it’s an all-round skin saver.

Customer Reviews: Customers love this product for its light scent and long-lasting hydration.

Sustainability:

• Part of the 1% for the Planet initiative.
• EWG Verified.
• Non-toxic formula.
• Cruelty-free and vegan.
• Recycled and recyclable packaging.

Read Our Lips: Non-Toxic Lip Balms are Just Better

While we wouldn’t ordinarily abide by kissing and telling, non-toxic lip balms are too good to keep quiet about. The formulas tend to be safer for your health and lips, more innovative, and more moisturizing than conventional versions. They also have the added benefit of better sustainability practices.

Next time you’re in the market for a fresh Chapstick, consider a non-toxic alternative. It’ll mean more love for your lips and the planet.

FAQs

What is the safest lip balm to use?

The safest lip balm to use depends on your exact skin type and allergens, but generally, non-toxic and fragrance-free lip balms like those made by Primally Pure and Ilia are best.

Are Vaseline lip balms safe?

‍Vaseline lip balms are safe to use as long as you’re not allergic to them. They are, however, petrolatum-based, so it’s worth considering switching to a non-toxic lip balm like the one Cocokind makes, which has loads of moisturizing benefits without the worry of using an ingredient made from fossil fuels.

Is ChapStick chemical-free?

‍No, ChapStick is not chemical-free, and technically, there’s no such thing as a chemical-free lip balm. That said, Earth Mama Organics and Kosas make ChapStick alternatives that are free of harmful chemicals.

Is Burt's Bees ChapStick natural?

‍Yes, Burt’s Bees ChapStick is natural. Their ingredients are of 95% natural origin and free of petrolatum, phthalates, and parabens.

‍Is Aquaphor good for lips?

‍Aquaphor is good for lips as it provides long-lasting moisture. However, it has petrolatum in its formula, which may pose a risk to reproductive health. The Organic to Green non-toxic lip balm is a great, clean alternative.