The 10 Best Nontoxic & Organic Lipsticks (2024 Review)
The Good Trade editors endorse products we’ve personally researched, tested, and genuinely love. Learn more about our methodology and business model here.
Our team has tested countless organic lipsticks, lip stains, and lip glosses over the years. It’s been a long journey, but we’ve finally found our favorites! Here are 10 tried-and-true lipsticks made with safe, natural, and nontoxic ingredients—ranging in price, boldness, and color.
When it comes to lipstick, we all know we can’t just have one. On certain days, we feel adventurous and ready to wear bold, pigmented reds and magentas, but on other days, all we’re looking for is an easy-to-apply neutral tone. That said, makeup has a bad rep. And when we read the list of ingredients in conventional makeup found in drugstores, let’s just say it has us asking a lot of questions.
Why choose nontoxic lipstick?
For decades, it’s been formulated with toxic chemicals known to be harmful to our health. Ingredients like PFAS, formaldehyde, parabens, and SLS can be absorbed through our skin (and lips!), causing adverse allergic reactions and negative health implications.
Fortunately, many makeup brands are cleaning things up, quite literally. Each of these lipstick brands is committed to organic and natural ingredients, ethical practices, and eco-friendly packaging (yay!). By using pure ingredients, the natural healing properties of various enzymes, vitamins, and antioxidants help with healthy skin, too. With additional ingredients like fruit and vegetable pigments, aloe vera, and cornstarch, natural and organic makeup is also gentler and safer for our lips and skin.
And don’t forget—clean makeup brands also prioritize animal welfare and environmental initiatives, as many are vegan and only shop cruelty-free!
Our Criteria:
We tested the best natural and organic lipsticks on the market to see which ones hold up to their promises of clean standards and performance—and they delivered. Below, you’ll find our ten tested favorites and which uses we’d most recommend each brand for. We update this list regularly with emerging favorites that meet the below criteria:
- CLEAN/ORGANIC | These lipsticks are formulated with natural and organic ingredients that are safe for your lips (and anyone else’s 😘)
- QUALITY | We searched for quality lipsticks that last and that you can feel good wearing—because who wants to be reapplying all day/night long?
- AFFORDABILITY | We’ve included clean makeup brands that are not only effective but also easygoing on your wallet
For even more long-lasting natural lip products, check out these lip glosses and lip balms (or do a full face of sustainable makeup!) No matter what you pick, you’ll adore the all-natural formulas and stunning colors.
Best Overall | Most Sustainable | Most Pigmented
1. ILIA
Best For | Pigmented lipstick
Natural Ingredients | Organic castor seed oil, apricot seed oil, mango seed butter
Price Range | $26–$28
ILIA’s handcrafted high-impact lipstick offers four times more pigment than any other lipstick the brand has ever created. With the color carried by organic castor seed oil, it you’ll get both full and lasting coverage with one smooth application. Plus, the inclusion of apricot seed oil nourishes and softens the lips—but doesn’t leave your lips oily or cause a lot of feathering. I especially love the Flame color (on the right below); it’s a bright red-orange that pops perfectly!
Customer Review | “Amberlight is my go to lipstick- I pretty much wear it every day! It is a dark nude that does not wash out the lips and is not too light like some other nudes. It is a soft and moisturizing formula. It is also very versatile and I looks good when I am both pale and tan. Highly recommend!” – Kate (Read all reviews.)
2. Well People
Best For | Affordable lipstick
Natural Ingredients | Organic castor seed oil, sunflower seed wax, cupuacu butter
Price Range | $16
You’d never believe Well People‘s lipstick is the most affordable on this list—developed by dermatologists, the Optimist Vegan Lipstick takes my number one spot thanks to its affordability, quality, and brilliant color. This rich lippie goes on and stays on, even after a day of wear. As it fades it leaves behind color, keeping your lips pigmented; have a gloss on hand if you want to keep the look going strong without having to reapply the full lipstick (if you have shaky hands or no mirror, the lipstick may be hard to apply on-the-go). We love that Well People is Fair Trade and Cruelty-Free Certified, and you can even click on each listed ingredient for further information about what it is and why it’s included in the lipstick.
Customer Review | “I love the way this covers and feels. My lips stay moisturized and it lasts a long time. Retrograde, Namaste, and Brave are incredibly beautiful. Brave is more orange than I expected but it’s absolutely beautiful and I feel brave when I wear it!” – Tonya (Read all reviews.)
3. 100% PURE
Best For | Range of colors
Natural Ingredients | Organic cocoa butter, shea butter, pomegranate seed oil, pigments come from fruit
Price Range | $21–$28
If I had one word to describe 100% PURE‘s lipsticks it would be delightful. From the colors to the formulations, these are so much fun to apply and wear. For a matte look you can snag the cocoa butter matte, or for a silky (and ultra nourishing) swipe, the pomegranate oil lipstick is the way to go. Both versions are like skincare for your lips, and are cruelty-free, vegan, and pigmented with fruits instead of artificial colors! I’m admittedly excited about the Barbie movie releasing this year; and the pomegranate oil lipstick in Magnolia and matte lip in Prickly Pear make me feel like the iconic doll herself. The one downside was this is the only product that came wrapped in plastic—it could be a product safety or standards thing, but still worth a mention.
Customer Review | “I have very sensitive skin and can’t wear most lipsticks. This one is perfect and does not irritate my lips at all! The color is perfect – long-lasting and smooth with no stickiness or drying.” – Kristen S. (Read all reviews.)
4. Juice Beauty
Best For | Liquid lipstick
Natural Ingredients | Organic sunflower oil, organic shea butter, organic jojoba oil, and more ingredients from the brand’s farm
Price Range | $32–$36
How has no one ever told me about liquid lipsticks? Juice Beauty‘s glossy and pigmented liquid lips are the perfect in-between of gloss and lipstick and I adore them. The lip crayons are easy to hold and apply with precision and build beautifully depending on what type of look you’re going for. Juice Beauty gets my highest score for easiest-to-apply and I’ll be carrying these most frequently in my pockets and purses! Plus, the brand uses cruelty-free, organic ingredients and plant-derived pigments for all their colors so you can skip the artificial dyes.
Customer Review | “I Love the pigment, true to color, safe ingredients , smooth application, and the fact that no sharpener is required. You just twist it from the bottom like a lipstick. Definitely purchasing more in the future.” – Sylvia R. (Read all reviews.)
5. Jones Road
Best For | Best multi-sticks
Natural Ingredients | Castor seed oil
Price Range | $29–$34
Started by the one and only Bobbi Brown, Jones Road’s founding philosophy is to make clean cosmetics that don’t sacrifice on performance. The product variety was one of my favorite aspects of testing Jones Road lip products—from the minimalist, buildable multi-stick to the maximalist pigmented lip tint (which is basically the perfect combination of lipstick and lipgloss). I will say you have to be a bit careful with the packaging and make sure your sticks are fully sheathed before putting on the cap—I kept denting my lip tints with the metal edge of the caps. You can read another take here on our Jones Road review.
Customer Review | “The shade fits me perfectly. It’s smooth, smells great and is very striking. Very happy with it.” – Katina J. (Read all reviews.)
6. RMS Beauty
Best For | Skin-healthy ingredients
Natural Ingredients | Organic castor seed oil, organic carnauba wax, organic cocoa seed butter, more organic and wildcrafted ingredients
Price Range | $30–$35
I nearly melted the first time I applied a lipstick from RMS Beauty—the color is consistent, pigmented, and produces the prettiest satin finish (I only swiped once on my hand for each shade below, so satisfying!) RMS Beauty’s lip products are nontoxic and help to heal and nourish the skin. Every lip ingredient is used in its raw, organic state which allows natural living attributes to rejuvenate and refresh your lips (or cheeks!). You’ll adore the versatility of the Lip2Cheek product, which is a moisturizing, multi-purpose product with stunning results. I also loved testing out the lip pencil and liplights combo, which had me feeling like an artist while I applied it and I loved the perfectly glossy finish (I’ve always been a lipgloss girl 💋). Read our full RMS Beauty review here!
Customer Review | “Love this lipstick. The color is beautiful and the texture is great. I have it in many different colors.” – Marlene P. (Read all reviews.)
7. Axiology
Best For | Zero waste lipstick
Natural Ingredients | Organic castor, sunflower, and hemp seed oils, no palm oil or fragrances
Price Range | $24
Axiology is on a mission to tackle the plastic problem—the brand’s multisticks and balmies offer shimmer and color without the excess packaging. Axiology’s multi-use cosmetics are also vegan, cruelty free, and made in Bend, Oregon, USA. I love both the color cream for its pigment and the tinted dew for an all-over glow with a touch of color (I especially love Axiology multi sticks for traveling light!) If you have extra sensitive skin, note that some products contain coconut oil so keep an eye on the ingredients lists! Pro tip: Keep the balmies and sticks in cool, dry conditions, and if you need to retract the stick, just press down with your lips! 😘
Customer Review | “What an incredible addition to my makeup routine! A fantastic everyday shade that truly complements any look. I’m amazed at its buildability and long-lasting wear. Couldn’t be happier with it!” – Tait (Read all reviews.)
8. Cheekbone Beauty
Best For | Matte lipstick
Natural Ingredients | Consciously sourced shea butter, castor seed oil
Price Range | $29–$30
Cheekbone Beauty‘s lip products will make you smile even before you put it on thanks to the bright pink packaging and even bolder pigments. This Indigenous-founded brand creates clean, vegan, and cruelty-free products that celebrate its Anishinaabe roots. You’ll see it come across in their packaging, social media, and even the names of each shade! Cheekbone Beauty also gives back to Indigenous-centered causes and aims to increase Indigenous visibility in the beauty world. The lipstick is perfect for a matte finish, and the gloss comes in cute subtle shades that give a touch of color without a sticky feeling. Keep this brand on your watchlist—they’re launching refills for their lip products soon!
Customer Review | “Goes on nicely and stays on! But it is also sooo moisturizing. I have had terrible times finding a lipstick that starts on more than half an hour but does not dry out your lips. This is it!” – Carla P. (Read all reviews.)
9. Kosas
Best For | Long lasting color
Natural Ingredients | Castor seed oil, candelilla wax, cocoa seed butter
Price Range | $24–$26
For lip colors that last and formulations that are comfortable on sensitive skin, Kosas has long been one of our team’s favorite makeup brands. The brand only uses skin-improving and effective ingredients like active botanical oils and butters, and adhere to the EU, Credo, and Sephora clean standards (banning over 2,700 concerning ingredients including parabens and phthalates!) Each shade of the weightless lipstick comes in its own unique finish, to complement the color and how it shows up on your skin. The colors are so pretty and I’m especially over the moon about the magenta and red Violet Fury shade. Bonus rec: I always keep one of Kosas’s hyaluronic lip balms in my desk drawer for just the right amount of coverage throughout the day.
Customer Review | “I love it! The color is perfect for me! Exactly what I hoped for! It goes on smoothly. It is creamy yet stays in place and doesn’t slide around. It is comfortable and doesn’t dry my lips when it wears off like so many lipsticks. It is my favorite and checks all the boxes! I love it so much I ordered a second one just for backup! Choose your perfect color and order without delay! You will love this lipstick!” – Carlton C. (Read all reviews.)
10. Antonym Cosmetics
Best For | Soft matte finishes
Natural Ingredients | Shea butter, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
Price | $30
Antonym Cosmetics believes in blending sustainability with luxury to create stunning makeup looks using gentle ingredients. Committed to eliminating chemicals without compromising performance, Antonym’s eco-friendly products are made with Ecocert certified natural and organic ingredients, ensuring they’re free from harmful substances. All of their makeup is also 100% cruelty-free and vegan, certified by Leaping Bunny and The Vegan Awareness Foundation. I absolutely love the high-coverage their liquid lipsticks offer, plus the texture feels great. The skin soothing ingredients include shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and Vitamin E. I recommend these for pigmented matte finishes that stay on all day (and if you need to, they’re easy to re-apply!) My favorite is the Naturelle shade.
Featured image from Kosas
