Natural lip balms

I have an obsession with lip products. Whether it’s lipstick, lip balm or lip gloss, leaving the house without one or more of these in my bag is akin to walking out of the house sans pants. It just doesn’t happen, and if it does, I feel strangely naked all day long.

There are people whose job it is to taste ice cream for a living, and those who are paid to drink beer to be sure it meets company standards. Fabulous jobs, if that’s what you are into. My job? I test lip balms so that you can choose the right one for you.

All of the lip balms listed here are paraben-, lead- and petroleum-free. Here are my personal favorites:

Best Value: Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm $3
While I have been disappointed by many of Burt’s Bees products over the last few years, the company’s lip balm consistently thrills not only my pucker but my purse. This pepperminty balm has the consistency of traditional lip balms and is widely available at major drugstore chains.

Best Organic Balm: Simply Organic $6
This 100 percent USDA certified organic lip balm is formulated with luscious ingredients like organic vanilla and orange peel oil. Perfect for an evening when you plan to do a little lip nibbling because there isn’t a toxic ingredient in sight. The organic lip balm retails for $6 on the company’s website.

Best Gift Set: All the Better to Kiss You With $18
Whether you are trying to encourage a friend to switch to organic personal care products or just need an adorable hostess gift, the Eco Gift Kit by All the Better to Kiss You With will be met with squeals of delight, this is if you can stand to give it away. The kit contains three USDA certified organic flavors (lavender, chai and peppermint) all packaged in vintage recyclable tins. The Eco Gift Kit is available at the BABYBEARSHOP and retails for $18.

Most Versatile: Elemental Herbs All Good Lips $3.50
This smooth organic lip balm contains the
 same organic healing herbs as All Good Goop, the company’s go to balm for burns, cuts and insect bites among other ailments. This means that having All Good Lips in your bag arms you with a soothing salve for a bevy of ailments. All Good Lips is available in Original without sunscreen, or Original, Sweet Tangerine and Cool Spearmint with sunscreen.

Best for a Hint of Color: Lavera Soft Bronze Lip Balm $7
This chunky lip balm does double duty as a lipstick. It’s packed with nourishing flower and plant oils that soften, smooth and protect your lips, while adding shimmering mineral pigments that enhance your pout.

Best for Teens and Tweens J. Lynne Smooth Color Lip Cream $6
Part lipstick, part lip balm this silky stick adds sheer color to lips. This is a perfect starter lipstick for pre-teens who are longing to graduate to makeup, but it is also great for women looking to add oomph without looking “made up.”




Check back next week for my list of the best natural lipsticks and lip glosses on the market.

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

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