Lip Tints
Description
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November 1, 2022
By Lisa Petrison
The tinted lip balms on this page provide just a small amount of sheer color to the lips, without looking very creamy or heavy or glossy or bright. (A few of the products do include some shimmer, however.)
These products tend to be especially easy to apply and are unlikely to end up looking wrong no matter what color is chosen or how little attention is paid when putting them on.
In most cases they add a moderate amount of hydration to the lips as well as a light wash of color.
Personally, I do not do very well with bright colors in general (either in clothing or makeup) and rarely can wear more than one or two shades from regular lipstick lines since usually all the other colors look terrible on me.
I therefore especially like the fact that the tinted lip balms listed here allow me to wear very muted versions of a variety of different colors, rather than having to stick to just one or two specific shades.
TOP PICKS
♣ Living Clean Superstars:
Chantecaille Lip Tint Hydrating Balm ($34)
Clinique Chubby Stick Lip Colour Balm ($20)
+Henné Luxury Lip Tint ($21)
Honest Tinted Lip Balm ($9)
Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip & Cheek Stain ($32)
+Mineral Fusion Sheer Moisture Lip Tint ($10)
RMS Tinted Daily Lip Balm ($22)
Tarte Sea Quench Lip Rescue Balm ($19)
♦ Additional Possibilities:
Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer ($5)
Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm ($5)
Clinique Moisture Surge Pop Triple Lip Balm ($20)
♦ Not Yet Rated:
Roen Elixir Tinted Lip Oil Balm ($32)
♥ Lisa’s Choice:
Chantecaille Lip Tint Hydrating Balm ($34)
Clinique Chubby Stick Lip Colour Balm ($20)
Clinique Moisture Surge Pop Triple Lip Balm ($20)
Honest Tinted Lip Balm ($9)
√ RMS Tinted Daily Lip Balm ($22)
Notes:
1) Living Clean Superstars – Products with high scores on both Performance Rating (5) as well as Ingredients Rating (4/5). + Clean Pick (Ingredients Rating = 5).
2) Lisa’s Choice – Products that I would purchase for my own personal use. √ Lisa’s Favorite
Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer – $5
Overall Rating: 
(4 / 5)
Performance Rating: (4 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: Peppermint Oil
Problematic Colorings: None
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “Shimmering, vibrant lips to match your personality. Want your lips to speak volumes? Give them a smooch of luminescent color with our luscious Lip Shimmers. Shea Butter and antioxidant-rich Fruit Oils moisturize, nourish and soften lips naturally and lovingly.”
These little lip balms provide some sheer color, a fair amount of shimmer, and a pretty strong peppermint taste.
They have no artificial ingredients at all and are very reasonably priced.
I’ve tried a variety of different colors and think that they all have looked nice on me.
I think the taste is fine and am personally fond of their distinct peppermint flavor.
Still, I have found myself to be fairly disinclined to use them very often. I suspect that this is due to the inclusion of soybean oil and canola oil, both of which are usually heavily contaminated with glyphosate.
In addition, with sunflower seed oil as the second ingredient, I think there is some potential for these to become rancid and thus would suggest using them up fairly quickly.
Size: 0.09 oz.
Burt’s Bees Rating: 4.3 Stars (1686 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Peppermint Oil, Non-Organic Canola/Soybean Oil)
EWG Product Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Peppermint oil (4), Titanium dioxide (3). (Also contains Canola Oil, Soybean Oil, Carmine.)
Fragrance Ingredients: Peppermint oil, strawberry seed oil, apricot kernel oil, black currant seed oil, rosemary leaf extract, elderberry seed oil
All Ingredients: Castor seed oil, sunflower seed oil, beeswax, euphorbia cerifera wax, peppermint oil, lanolin, cocoa seed butter, copernicia cerifera wax, shea butter, strawberry seed oil, apricot kernel oil, black currant seed oil, rosemary leaf extract, elderberry seed oil, tocopherol, canola oil, soybean oil. May Contain: mica, iron oxides, carmine, alumina, titanium dioxide.
Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm – $5
Overall Rating: 
(3 / 5)
Performance Rating: (3 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: Mild (Taste/Smell)
Processed Fragrance: Natural Flavor
Problematic Colorings: None
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “For just a hint of color and 8 hours of moisture. The Botanical Waxes in these softly tinted balms will take your lips to lovely in one pretty swipe. They come in a range of 8 naturally flattering shades.”
These lip balms have a faint tint without any shimmer and a fruity-type flavor (said to be derived from natural ingredients).
The darker shades – especially Red Dahlia – are sometimes suggested as “dupes” (duplicates) for Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick.
Although I’m not all that crazy about the flavor of these lip balms, I have worn them from time to time anyway since they are nicely moisturizing and look pretty on me in a very understated way.
The color in these products is sheer to the point that it does not make me look like I am wearing lipstick at all, but I still think that I look better when I am wearing them.
I’m not too crazy about the mention of “vegetable oil” (as the second ingredient) or “natural flavor” in the ingredient list, since these could encompass a variety of undesirable substances.
The product also contains small amounts of soybean oil and canola oil, both of which usually are contaminated with glyphosate.
Size: 0.15 oz.
Amazon Rating: 4.7 Stars (4777 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Non-Organic Vegetable/Soybean/Canola Oil)
EWG Product Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Natural flavor (4), Titanium dioxide (3). (Also Vegetable Oil, Soybean Oil, Canola Oil)
Flavor Ingredients: Natural flavor, Cananga odorata flower wax, Jasmine flower wax, Rosemary leaf extract
All Ingredients: Coconut oil, vegetable oil, beeswax, olive fruit oil, euphorbia cerifera wax, sunflower seed oil, aroma*, lanolin, shea butter, castor seed oil, cananga odorata flower wax, jasmine flower wax, ammonium glycyrrhizinate, tocopherol, rosemary leaf extract, soybean oil, canola oil. May contain: alumina, titanium dioxide, carmine, iron oxides. *natural flavor
Chantecaille Lip Tint Hydrating Balm – $34
♥ Lisa’s Choice
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Overall Rating: 
(5 / 5)
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: None
Problematic Colorings: Red #6, Red #7, Red #28, Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Blue #1
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “The perfect no-makeup makeup lip balm: We’ve paired sheer, lightweight hydration and subtle lip-enhancing color in a chic slim swivel pen. Twist up to nourish and hydrate lips with rose and cherry fruit extracts, which give the lips instant comfort and smooth, gliding moisture. Crafted in Italy with the highest quality pure botanicals.”
Chantecaille has a reputation for making especially good but quite pricey lipsticks, and so I decided to try this somewhat less expensive lip tint from them to see what I thought of it.
I do think that the formula for this lip product seems very good to me, with an unusual texture that has a lot of “slip” to it but that also seems to cling pretty well to the lips rather than wearing off right away.
The product seems to me quite hydrating as well as easy to apply and wear.
I am not noticing any taste or smell at all, which I really like.
I have the color Beach Rose (“a sheer pink”) and think that it looks very pretty on my lips.
The downside is that this lip tint is not only rather expensive but also very small, with only about 1/3 the product amount as all the other lip tints discussed on this page.
That makes this lip tint substantially more expensive on a per-gram basis than the other Chantecaille lip products (Lip Chic, Lip Veil or Lipstick) – something that I didn’t realize when I bought it.
While I do feel like it’s a little hard to justify spending this high of a premium for a lip product no matter how good it is, at least I do really like this one and feel that it’s substantially different from the other lip products that I have tried.
Recently this has been the one lipstick that I have been carrying with me in my small purse, and I will admit that I get a bit of enjoyment from it each time that I use it.
I think I eventually may buy another one of these, therefore.
Size: 0.03 oz.
Chantecaille Rating: 4.6 Stars (31 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Problematic Colors)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 7 (red)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Rose centrifolia flower extract (3), Tocopheryl acetate (3), Titanium dioxide (3), Red #6 (6), Red #7 (6), Red #28 (5), Yellow #5 (6), Yellow #6 (7), Blue #1 (7)
Fragrance Ingredients: Rose Centrifolia Flower Extract, Sweet Cherry Fruit Extract
All Ingredients: Diisostearyl Malate, Octyldodecanol, Polybutene, Triisodecyl Trimellitate, Polyethylene, Mica, Microcrystalline Wax, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Synthetic Wax, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Safflower Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sweet Cherry Fruit Extract, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Calcium Titanium Borosilicate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alumina, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Red 6, Red 7, Red 28, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1.
Clinique Chubby Stick Lip Colour Balm – $20
♥ Lisa’s Choice
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Overall Rating: (5 / 5)
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: None
Problematic Colorings: Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Red #6, Red #7, Red #22, Red #33, Red #28, Blue #1, Red #30
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “Super-nourishing balm is loaded with mango and shea butters. Just what dry, delicate lips need to feel comfortably soft and smooth. Natural-looking lip tints have a subtle sheen.”
Although many Clinique products include a variety of problematic ingredients, the Clinique Chubby Sticks are reasonably clean and have become favorites of mine.
The regular line of the Chubby Sticks lip products offers 15 shades, each providing just a light wash of color to the lips.
(The Intense versions are basically the same formula but with substantially more pigment.)
These crayons are all somewhat hydrating and have color that lasts for a reasonably long time.
I especially like the fact that I can draw a neat mouth without the product smearing or looking messy. The slight waxiness of the crayon provides some definition without requiring a lot of fuss (or, for the most part, even a mirror).
EWG lists only the food colorings as problem ingredients, and no flavoring agents are used. The product has not irritated my skin at all, and I think it tastes okay.
The product does contain soybean oil and unspecified vegetable oil, both of which may be contaminated with glyphosate or other chemicals.
I appreciate the fact that these crayons have held up well through a lot of use, rather than getting smashed or misshapen as many of my other lip products have.
I’ve tried on most of the Chubby Stick colors and think that almost all of them have looked nice on me.
I especially like Richer Raisin (which is similar to the Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey shade), Two-Ton Tomato, Mega Melon and Whole Lotta Honey.
Size: 0.10 oz.
Sephora Rating: 4.3 Stars (2464 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Problematic Colors, Non-Organic Vegetable/Soybean Oil)
Think Dirty Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Product Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Titanium dioxide (3), Yellow #5 (6), Yellow #6 (7), Red #6 (6), Red #7 (6), Red #22 (5), Red #33 (4), Red #28 (5), Blue #1 (7), Red #30 (5). (Also contains Vegetable Oil, Soybean Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Castor Seed Oil, Vegetable Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Candelilla Wax, Beeswax, Ozokerite, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Shea Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Shea Butter Extract, Mango Seed Butter, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Soybean Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Yellow 5, Iron Oxides, Yellow 6, Red 7, Red 6, Bismuth Oxychloride, Carmine, Red 22, Red 33, Red 28, Mica, Blue 1, Red 30
Clinique Moisture Surge Pop Triple Lip Balm – $22
♥ Lisa’s Choice
Overall Rating: (3 / 5)
Performance Rating: (4 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: 
(2 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: Mild (Taste)
Processed Fragrance: None
Problematic Colorings: Red #7, Red #28, Blue #1, Red #33, Yellow #5, Red #27, Red #22, Red #30, Red #6, Yellow #6, Orange #5, Red #22
Silicone Level: Moderate
The description of this product reads, “This lip-loving multi-tasker hydrates, delivers a super sheer wash of color, and adds shimmer. This multi-tasking balm with three different cores deeply hydrates for up to 72 hours, plus helps instantly reduce the appearance of lip lines. Lips are softer, smoother, and more comfortable. Delivers a super sheer tint and a subtle glimmer finish. This formula contains a moisturizing complex of shea butter, vitamin E, and humectants to help moisturize, condition, and visibly improve texture. Apply to bare lips. One swipe alone delivers super sheer coverage. Wear alone or under lipstick for an extra moisture boost.”
While this is not the cleanest lip product that I have been able to find, I use it periodically anyway during the winter months because of how hydrating and conditioning it is for my lips.
I also think that it looks nice on me, providing just a very light tint of color with a subtle shimmer.
The main negative about this product is that it contains petrolatum, which is a petroleum product that carries the risk of containing problematic contamination.
On the other hand, especially when used in combination with other moisturizing ingredients, petrolatum can be especially moisturizing to stressed skin.
A recent group of very popular TikTok videos have lauded the benefits of using just plain Vaseline on the skin, for instance.
I do think that this Clinique product does seem to be unusually helpful when my lips are feeling especially dry during the winter months and that probably the petrolatum is largely responsible for that.
It contains a few other ingredients (including a couple of preservatives, a mildly problematic form of silicone and a variety of artificial coloring agents) that I also would prefer to avoid.
I therefore tend to use this product only when I feel that I really need it rather than on a regular basis.
I’m also not especially suggesting that other people also use this product – just admitting that I sometimes turn to it myself when I am feeling especially in need.
It is available in six shades, all of them offering just a hint of color to the lips. I have the Goji Berry version, which is the brightest version (and still quite muted).
Size: 0.13 oz.
Clinique Rating: 4.0 Stars (99 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
Clean at Sephora: No
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Unclear
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Problematic Colors, Petrolatum, PEG’s, Polysorbate, Phenoxyethanol)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Petrolatum (4), Aloe vera (3), Cetyl-PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone (3), Polysorbate-20 (3), Phenoxyethanol (4), Titanium dioxide (3), Red #7 (6), Red #28 (5), Blue #1 (7), Red #33 (4), Yellow #5 (6), Red #27 (5), Red #22 (5), Red #30 (5), Red #6 (6), Yellow #6 (7), Orange #5 (4), Red #22 (5). (Also contains Stearoxymethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Pentaerythrityl Adipate/Caprate/Caprylate/Heptanoate, Petrolatum, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Polyethylene, Hydrogenated Dilinoleyl Alcohol, Stearoxymethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Silica, Polybutene, Microcrystalline Wax, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Shea Butter, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Lauryl PCA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Coconut Oil, Olive Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cholesterol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Linoleic Acid, C20-40 Pareth-10, Butylene Glycol, Water, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylcellulose, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Wheat Bran Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Palmitic Acid, Oleic Acid, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tin Oxide, Potassium Sulfate, Hexyl Laurate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Alumina, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Lauryl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Red 7, Red 28, Blue 1, Red 33, Yellow 5, Red 27, Manganese Violet, Red 22, Red 30, Carmine, Bismuth Oxychloride, Red 6 , Yellow 6, Orange 5, Red 21.
Henné Organics Luxury Lip Tint – $21
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Overall Rating: (5 / 5)
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: None
Problematic Colorings: None
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “These gorgeous lip tints provide both the perfect touch of color as well as moisturization for the lips with remarkable organic oils such as castor, coconut, and avocado.”
This is a very nice tinted lip balm that provides just a hint of color to the lips.
Coconut oil, castor seed oil, jojoba seed oil, beeswax and avocado oil are included.
All of the oils in the product and 87% of the total ingredients are organic.
The product feels good to me, with a neutral taste that I do not find to be unpleasant.
Eight tinted shades are available. I have the Coral shade, which I think looks nice on me.
Size: 0.15 oz.
Credo Rating: 4.7 Stars (83 reviews)
Credo Clean: Yes
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Yes
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Titanium dioxide (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Castor Seed Oil, Organic Jojoba Seed Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Avocado Oil, Candelilla Wax, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide, Tocopherol.
Honest Tinted Lip Balm – $9
♥ Lisa’s Choice
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Overall Rating: (5 / 5)
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: Vanilla Extract
Problematic Colorings: Red #7, Red #6, Blue #1, Yellow #6
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “This juicy, tinted balm delivers the perfect wash of fresh color in 7 nourishing shades. Infused with Avocado Oil + Antioxidant-rich Acai, this paraben-free formula helps keep lips smooth and moisturized all day. The creamy texture glides on dry lips and leaves lasting hydration.”
These tinted lip balms seem to me a very good value even at full price (and are even more so when the Honest website has one of its fairly frequent sales).
I have found them to feel quite clean and to look very pretty on me, with bright sheer colors that are lively but not too overwhelming.
The products are EWG Verified and (apart from the artificial colorings) the ingredient list looks good to me.
Seven shades (including one untinted version) are currently available. I have tried several and feel that all of them have looked nice on me, even ones in colors that usually do not work for me.
The product has just a slight amount of pomegranate/vanilla flavor, with only real fruit and real vanilla being used.
I think that these glosses taste unusually clean to me, to the point that I really enjoy using them.
Size: 0.1 oz.
Ulta Rating: 4.6 Stars (66 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Problematic Colors, Non-Organic Vegetable Oil)
EWG Product Rating: EWG Verified
EWG Ingredient Rating: 4/5 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Red #7 (6), Titanium dioxide (3), Red #6 (6), Blue #1 (7), Yellow #6 (7). (Also contains Vegetable Oil, Citric Acid.)
Fragrance Ingredients: Pomegranate sterols, Vanilla planifolia fruit extract
All Ingredients (White Nectarine & Summer Melon): Euterpe Oleracea Sterols, Avocado Oil, Pomegranate Sterols, C10-18 Triglycerides, Sunflower Seed Wax, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Vegetable Oil, Behenyl Behenate, Cocoa Seed Butter, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Silica, May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Red 7.
All Ingredients (Blood Orange, Plum Drop, Fruit Punch & Dragon Fruit): Euterpe Oleracea Sterols, Avocado Oil, Pomegranate Sterols, C10-18 Triglycerides, Sunflower Seed Wax, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Vegetable Oil, Behenyl Behenate, Cocoa Seed Butter, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Red 7. May Contain: Iron Oxides, Red 6, Blue 1, Yellow 6.
All Ingredients (Lychee Fruit): Euterpe Oleracea Sterols, Avocado Oil, Punica Granatum Sterols, C10-18 Triglycerides, Sunflower Seed Wax, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Vegetable Oil, Behenyl Behenate, Cocoa Seed Butter, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Silica, May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Red 7.
Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain – $32
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Overall Rating: (5 / 5)
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: None
Problematic Colorings: Red #21, Orange #5
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “Multipurpose lip and cheek stain, rich in natural botanicals, that enhances your natural coloring. Non-drying, long-lasting stain adjusts to your own chemistry for an irresistible shade that will flatter your skin’s undertone.”
I’ve tried the Forever Pink and Forever Peach versions of this product.
Both give just a hint of color that make me think that this product is appropriately named, since it does look more like my lips have been reddened from being kissed rather than having any lip product on them.
I don’t think this is a bad thing at all and also like the feeling of the light hydration that this product provides.
It feels really clean to me as well.
The flavor is a faint natural fruit taste that I find quite pleasant.
It seems like the Forever Red shade might have a bit more color, though whether it would be too much for me, I don’t know.
While this product is on the pricey side if considered to be just a plain lip gloss, it at least does seem unusually clean to me and therefore possibly worth purchasing from that perspective.
Size: 0.1 oz.
Ulta Rating: 4.7 Stars (623 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Sephora Clean: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Problematic Colors)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Red #21 (5), Orange #5 (4). (Also contains Citric Acid.)
Fragrance Ingredients: Pomegranate extract, Blackberry fruit extract, Blueberry fruit extract, Cranberry fruit extract, White tea leaf extract, Rosa damascena flower wax
All Ingredients: Triisostearyl Citrate, Olive Fruit Oil, Avocado Oil, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Beeswax, Jojoba Seed Oil, Pomegranate Extract, Blackberry Fruit Extract, Blueberry Fruit Extract, Cranberry Fruit Extract, White Tea Leaf Extract, Safflower Seed Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Wax, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, May Contain: Red 21, Orange 5
Mineral Fusion Sheer Moisture Lip Tint – $10
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Overall Rating: (5 / 5)
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: Natural Vanilla Mint
Problematic Colorings: None
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “Your lips but better. All the go-to ease of your fav lip balm with a pop of color and yummy Vanilla-Mint flavor, Mineral Fusion Sheer Moisture Tint boasts a hydrating mix of Cocoa Butter and peptides for a firmer pout over time. Perfect for on-the-go use. Sheer, buildable color is effortlessly applied on-the-go, no mirror required.”
Like many of Mineral Fusion’s products, these lip crayons offer a clean list of ingredients and a relatively high performance at a moderate price.
So far I have only tried the Glisten version (described as a “caramel shimmer”) but suspect I will end up purchasing others as well.
This product is a bit creamier and thus a little more like a light lipstick than some of the other lip balms listed here, but it still is quite sheer and lightweight.
Although peppermint is listed as an ingredient, the product tastes much more like vanilla with at most the tiniest amount of mint to me.
It feels quite clean to me, and I am impressed that no artificial colors nor other ingredients considered by EWG to be problematic are used in it.
The main downside that I see is that this balm does not last very long on the lips and may need to be reapplied frequently if any color is to be maintained.
Size: 0.1 oz.
Mineral Fusion Rating: 4.5 Stars (223 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Peppermint)
EWG Product Rating: EWG Verified
EWG Ingredient Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Peppermint (4)
Fragrance Ingredients: Eupatorium rebaudianum bertoni leaf extract, Oregano leaf extract, Thyme extract, Natural vanilla mint
All Ingredients: Castor Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Jojoba Seed Oil, Beeswax, Candelilla Wax, Carnauba Wax, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Ascorbic Acid, Cocoa Seed Butter, Aloe Barbadensis, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Olive Leaf Extract, Eupatorium Rebaudianum Bertoni Leaf Extract, Oregano Leaf Extract, Thyme Extract, Coconut Oil, and Natural Vanilla Mint. May Contain: Red Iron Oxide, Yellow Iron Oxide, Black Iron Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Mica.
RMS Tinted Daily Lip Balm – $22
♥ Lisa’s Choice
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Overall Rating: (5 / 5)
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: None
Problematic Colorings: Red #28 (5), Yellow #5 (6)
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “A super-hydrating, lip-softening balm with a delicate hint of lip-bitten color, or in natural clear. Gives lips an effortless hint of hydrating color that lasts up to 12 hours. This simple-to-wear everyday veil of color supplies a complex of active clean ingredients that hydrate, protect, and nourish. Flavorless and fragrance-free. Never heavy or greasy.”
The RMS Tinted Daily Lip Balms seem to me pretty similar to the Clinique Chubby Stick lip balms, except that the RMS products seem slightly cleaner and thus a little more enjoyable for me to wear on an everyday basis.
This lip balm goes on easily even without a mirror, and it adds a little bit of definition and sheer (but noticeable) color to my lips in a way that I think ends up looking really pretty.
The taste is neutral and pleasant, without any added flavoring agents.
Seven shades currently are offered, in addition to an untinted (“Simply Cocoa”) version.
Although all the available shades look okay on me, I most often wear Passion Lane (“an elegant pink with a hint of shimmer”) and Destiny Lane (“a bright and modern sheer fuschia pink”). I am wearing Destiny Lane in the photo near the bottom of this page.
All of the colors have worked well for me as blush as well as lipstick and feel really good to me.
Size: 0.10 oz.
Sephora Rating: 4.7 Stars (277 reviews)
Credo Clean: Yes
Clean at Sephora: Yes
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Problematic Colors)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 5 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Titanium dioxide (3), Red #28 (5), Yellow #5 (6)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients (Passion Lane): Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, *Beeswax, Octyldodecanol, *Coconut Oil, Candelilla Wax, *Cocoa Seed Butter, *Carnauba Wax, *Castor Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, *Jojoba Seed Oil, Mica, Propanediol, Tocopherol (non-GMO), Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide, Red 28, Yellow 5
Roen Elixir Tinted Lip Oil Balm – $32
Performance Rating: Not Yet Rated
Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)
Processed Fragrance: None
Problematic Colorings: Red #27/28, Red #17
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “A nourishing tinted lip balm that moisturizes and hydrates. This delicate blend of plant-based oils and waxes make for a unique hybrid oil that hydrates and nourishes your lips. Formulated with powerhouse antioxidants and nutrient-rich ingredients.”
I have yet to try this product.
Size: Unclear
Credo Rating: Not Yet Rated (New Product)
Credo Clean: Yes
Clean at Sephora: Unclear
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Problematic Colors, Phenoxyethanol)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 5 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Tocopheryl Acetate (3), Phenoxyethanol (4), Titanium Dioxide (3), Red #27/28 (5), Red #17 (6)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Carnauba Wax, Candelilla Wax, Jojoba Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Red 27/28, Red 17.
Tarte Sea Quench Lip Rescue Balm – $19
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Overall Rating: (5 / 5)
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: Peppermint Oil, Limonene, Linalool
Problematic Colorings: Red #7
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “Creamy balm rescues lips from dehydration in 1 swipe! Delivers intense hydration & soft, subtle color. Sheer, buildable coverage with semi-glossy finish. Helps restore softness, moisture & elasticity. Melts onto lips to smooth over the look of lines. Antioxidant-rich to protect against daily aggressors.”
This product by Tarte is a little glossier and creamier than some of the other products listed on this page, but is still quite sheer in terms of the color.
So far I have only tried Salt Lyfe, which is a mauve-type color that usually looks okay on me.
I think that it’s likely that I could wear a variety of other colors in this product as well, though.
The product tastes pretty strongly of peppermint, with the limonene and linalool likely adding some citrus-type flavor. I think the taste is fine.
Although I am not crazy about seeing phenoxyethanol (a preservative) on the ingredient list for a lip product, this lip balm still feels pretty clean to me.
I have found that the highly moisturizing component of the product (I am guessing largely from the jojoba oil and sodium hyaluronate) feels especially good to me during the dry winter months.
Size: 0.1 oz.
Sephora Rating: 4.3 Stars (1666 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Yes
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Peppermint Oil, Problematic Colors, Phenoxyethanol, Natural Fragrance)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Peppermint oil (4), Phenoxyethanol (4), Tocopheryl acetate (3), Limonene (5), Linalool (3), Red #7 (6), Titanium dioxide (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: Peppermint oil, Limonene, Linalool, Gardenia tahitensis flower extract
All Ingredients: Polybutene, Jojoba Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Sterols, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyethylene, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Octyldodecanol, Isostearyl Hydroxystearate, Triisostearyl Citrate, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Candelilla Wax, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Peppermint Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Tribehenin, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Isosterate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Coconut Oil, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Algae Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1. May Contain: Red 7, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Shopping List
This section lists products that seem that they may have potential and that I am hoping to try in the near future.
Readers are highly encouraged to bring other relevant products that they have tried to my attention so that I can add them to this list.
Moroccan Magic Tinted Lip Balm – $14
The Naked Bee Shimmering Lip Color – $5
About This Website
The Living Clean in a Dirty World shopping website is designed to provide guidance to those seeking out products that are relatively low in toxicity and that provide generally positive user experiences.
Although the skincare and makeup sections have a particular focus on products appropriate for women who are in their 40’s or beyond, the information provided may be useful for other people as well.
The products are curated by Lisa Petrison, who has been focused on helping people to improve their health by avoiding toxicity since 2008 and who heads the Paradigm Change organization.
Her Living Clean in a Dirty World blog site discusses a variety of topics of relevance to those who are working to pursue a more natural lifestyle with less exposure to harmful toxicity.
Lisa is the author of several books, including A Beginner’s Guide to Mold Avoidance (co-written with Erik Johnson).
She also runs the Paradigm Change website (focusing on issues related to toxic mold illness) and the Mold Avoiders Facebook group (designed for the discussion of all topics of interest to those pursuing the mold avoidance approach described in the “Beginner’s Guide” book).
Lisa was born in August 1964 and has yet to try cosmetic surgery, Botox or other cosmetic treatments requiring interactions with a physician, or beauty products containing retinoids.
In her former life, Lisa worked as a business school professor, as a marketing consultant to a variety of large companies, and as a reporter covering the advertising industry.
She holds a Ph.D. in marketing and social psychology from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University as well as B.S./M.S. degrees from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern.
Lisa would like to extend a special note of appreciation to Ellen Kleiman-Redden for her help in trying out products and discussing issues related to this project.
She also would like to thank the many members of the Mold Avoiders community who have shared suggestions of products to be included here.
A Note From Lisa
Products that I have tried or researched and that I have not found to be acceptable from a toxicity standpoint have been omitted entirely from the discussions on this website.
However, since a goal of this project is to introduce people to a range of options in terms of price and functionality, some products discussed on this site include ingredients that may not be appropriate for everyone.
It’s my hope that all individuals making their way to this site will find at least a few options from each product category that meet all of their own needs and wants from a variety of perspectives.
The vast majority of cosmetics marketers now offer affiliate programs in which Internet content creators may earn commissions if people who are referred to the companies’ sites by clicking on links end up making purchases.
I participate in quite a few individual affiliate programs as well as in the Sovrn/Viglinks program (which automatically converts regular links into revenue-generating links).
Links on this page that may result in affiliate income may include – but are not necessarily limited to – those from the following companies: Amazon, Burt’s Bees, Pharmaca, Chantecaille, Clinique, Credo, Goop, Henne, Honest, Jane Iredale, Kari Gran, Kosas, Mineral Fusion, Moroccan Magic, RMS Beauty, Roen, Sephora, Tarte, The Naked Bee, Ulta, and Vitacost.
Reader comments about products discussed on this website are very welcome.
Thoughts may be shared either by posting them in the comments section at the bottom of this page or by sending them directly to me at the following email address:
info at paradigmchange dot me
Companies that would like to offer me complimentary products to try out may contact me at this address as well.
Individuals who are seeking out less-toxic products or who are interested in pursuing a cleaner and healthier lifestyle may want to sign up to receive occasional email newsletters from Living Clean in a Dirty World.
Thanks very much for visiting the Living Clean shopping site!
Links on this page are in orange (no underlining).
