In part two of my investigation into the best healthy lip products, I researched and tested dozens of paraben-, petroleum- and lead-free lipsticks and lip glosses. The good news is that I found a lot of wonderful products on the market.

Companies everywhere are making high-quality, cruelty-free cosmetics that look and feel terrific, without serving up a side of chemicals.

The bad news? Woe is me: With so many beautiful lipsticks in my possession I am even more obsessed with the stuff than I was a few weeks ago. In the scheme of things, it is a nice problem to have.

Drumroll please. In the world of lipstick and lip gloss, here are my very favorites:

Best Value: Yes to Carrots C Me Shine Lip Gloss $6.50

For just a little more than your morning Starbucks fix, these glosses are a healthy addition to any beauty regimen. Available in six fruity colors, the gloss is thick without being overly sticky. The best part, the Yes to Carrots line is now widely available at major drugstores, making it even easier to pop one in your makeup kit.

Most Useable: Ecco Bella Vitamin E Lip Smoother $16

Used alone the product is a sheer gloss, but used over a lip liner it becomes a super-moist lipstick. I love the look of the Sugar Plum Lip Smoother over the company’s Mauve Lip Liner Pencil, but the clear Lip Smoother will create a similar effect over any lip liner that you love.

Best Sheer Color: Primitive Lipstick $17

Primitive’s line of lip products is inspired by the ways women have been making themselves beautiful for centuries, through the use of berries, wildflowers and herbs. Primitive uses only pure ingredients, which means no additives, preservative or artificial colors. My favorite is the Tahiti lipstick, which adds a pretty rosy shine to lips. It goes on like a whispery light lipstick and leaves no aftertaste. For a more opaque color, use it with one of the company’s lip liners.




Best Gloss: Jane Iredale PureGloss $19

This gloss is pure genius. The gloss comes in a palate of sheer beautiful colors that whisks on with a wand and that freshens your breath, Yup… the minty scent actually helps to freshen your breath. I love Sugar Plum, a super flirty pink that just begs you to pucker up. This month, order the shade In The Pink and Jane Iredale will donate $2 to Beyond Breast Cancer, a non-profit organization dedicated to breast cancer awareness.


Best Lipstick(s)

In this category it was a tie between Lavera and Ecco Bella, both of which have created beautiful creamy lipsticks that are even better than their conventional (and toxic) counterparts. Lavera’s lipstick – my favorite is No. 26, a brownish berry that will flatter most complexions – retails for $19.

Ecco Bella’s FlowerColor Lipstick – I love the Rosewood shade – retails for $16.

Best for Teens and Tweens: J.R. Watkins Lip Tint $6

Not quite lipstick but with a more pronounced color than lip gloss, these delicate, feminine and affordable sticks are perfect for the younger eco beauty or for days when you need a little oomph but don’t want to look made up.

Most Versatile: Perfect Organics Lip and Cheek Shimmer $19

For under $20, you can have your blush and eat it too… or something like that. Perfect Organics Lip and Cheek Shimmer is an all-over color stick that looks great as a sheep lip color but also adds a glow to the apples of your cheeks.

Heather O’Neill is the founder of Eco to the People, a green living blog.
Email her at: heather@ecotothepeople.com.