I’ve tested dozens of petroleum-free natural lip balms over the last decade, and I’m sharing an in-depth guide to help you find right one. The best organic lip balm is full of moisturizing plant ingredients and free of harmful chemicals like parabens, Petrolatum, mineral oil, artificial fragrance, syntheticdDyes, phthalates, BHA and dimethicone.

Ingredients to Avoid in Lip Balms

Here is the list of ingredients you want to look out for:

• Petroleum Jelly (Petrolatum): Petrolatum is commonly used in lip balms, but it’s best to avoid it due to potential contamination.
• Mineral Oils: Mineral oil is a heavily processed petroleum product. You can spot minerals oil by looking out for the names it goes by: paraffinum liquidum, petrolatum, paraffin, petrolatum jelly, ozokerite, ceresin, polyisobutilene, synthetic wax, cera microcristallina, hydrogenated polyisobutene, methylsilanol, isododecane, isohexadecane, silicone quaternium.
• Artificial Fragrances and Flavors: These can cause irritation or allergic reactions in some people.Artificial colors: Artificial colors are derived from coal tar and petroleum and can be contaminated with h. Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 have been found to be contaminated with benzidine and other carcinogens. Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 cause hypersensitivity reactions.
• BHT: This is a synthetic preservative that’s a known endocrine disruptor.
• PEG-8: This helps retain moisture but is regularly contaminated with impurities like 1,4-dioxane
• Alcohol: Alcohol can be drying, which is counterproductive in a lip balm meant to moisturize. But, not all alcohols are created equal– “fatty alcohols” like cetyl, stearyl, and cetearyl are fine for lips.
• Parabens: These are preservatives used to prolong shelf life but have been linked to hormone disruption.
• Phthalates: Often used to enhance texture, they can be harmful and have been associated with health issues.

While not necessarily harmful, there are several natural ingredients that can cause reactions and sensitivity for some people. Watch out for:

• Intentional irritants used for lip plumping: Cinnamon oil, Peppermint oil and Capsaicin cause temporary swelling for fuller looking lips but can cause irritation.
• Cooling compounds: Menthol, camphor, eucalyptus, and phenol produce a cooling effect when applied to skin but can cause irritation. Peppermint extract can also cause adverse reactions for some people.

I tried Cocokind Ceramide Lip Blur Balm

Cocokind’s Lip Blur Balmis actually a silky salve that deeply moisturizes my dry lips. It goes above and beyond just plant oils and is infused with advanced actives like Ceramides NP & AP, glycerin, and even peptides to keep lips hydrated and plump. There’s also Kiss-Me-Quick Flower which helps protects lips from environmental stress. Because our lips age just like the rest of our skin! I love how silky and cushiony this feels and how well it sinks in and absorbs without feeling heavy or tacky.

Price: $12 for 0.37 oz

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I Tried Treat Beauty USDA Organic Lip Balm

I love that these come in JUMBO size and so many fun flavors! They feel super moisturizing and have been one of my go-to clean lip balm brands for almost ten years. I prefer Treat’s large size because it covers more lip surface area, it makes them easier to find in my purse AND it’s less wasteful since I don’t have to keep buying new lip balms. This is also the best natural lip balm for kids with flavors they’ll absolutely love!

Ingredients 5/5: USDA Certified organic ingredients like organic coconut oil, organic beeswax, organic shea butter, organic cocoa butter
Application 5/5: This has the easiest application because it’s twice the size of normal lip balms, glides right over and feels smooth and moisturizing
Scent 5/5: They have the best creative scents that are anything but boring!
Performance 5/5: Treat is long lasting and moisturizes lips deeply.
Price: $13.99 for 0.50 oz

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I Tried Eco Lips Lip Food

I’ve lost count how many years I’ve used this, because it’s so easily available at any natural grocery store! Eco Lips is an all around fantastic organic lip balm brand that’s affordable, USDA Certified Organic and also Fair Trade Certified. You can easily find them EVERYWHERE since they’re at almost all the natural grocery stores like Whole Foods. They’re also a great lip balm for men and kids! Compared to other organic lip balms, Eco Lips feels a little bit softer (especially during the summer months) and feel incredibly moisturizing. I find that it works for a couple of hours before needing to re-apply.

Ingredients 5/5: USDA Certified organic ingredients like organic golden jojoba oil, organic Fair Trade Certified cocoa butter, organic coconut oil, organic spirulina blue-green algae extract
Application 4/5: Glides over smoothly and feels slick
Scent 4/5: They have a good selection of flavor combinations like Lavender Vanilla, Rosemary Mint and fruity flavors!
Performance 5/5:  I find these highly moisturizing and they do not dry out my lips.
Price: $11 for pack of 3 (each contains 0.15 oz)

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I Tried Weleda Skin Food Lip Butter

Weleda’s Skin Food Lip Butter is a super affordable natural lip balm that I would characterize as an emollient yet light salve (great forpeople who don’t normally like super rich salves). It’s made of flower, fruit and root extracts, minerals and essential oils along with sunflower oil, chamomile extract and calendula extract. If you prefer a salve but don’t want it packaged in a jar, Weleda is a great hand-free option that doesn’t require dipping your fingers into product. Simply squeeze the balm out of a little tube directly onto your lips. Also, if you’re looking for a salve that isn’t heavy and is a little bit thinner than other salves, this one’s for you! It feels rich without being greasy or too heavy and sinks into lips well, keeping it moisturized for at least a few hours and leaving once chapped lips much smoother and softer.

Ingredients 4/5: It contains all natural ingredients but some people may not like that it has lanolin.
Application 5/5: It’s a smooth salve that can be applied directly to lips without the use of fingers.
Scent 4/5: Unscented
Performance 5/5:  I find Weleda’s Lip Butter to be as moisturizing and effective as a lip treatment.
Price: $6.50 for 0.27 oz

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I tried Hurraw Organic Lip Balm Review (Best for Sensitive Lips!)

Hurraw lip balms are made with certified organic, vegan, and raw ingredients and are 100% natural and 71% certified organic. They’re also Ecocert Cosmos certified and made in a USDA NOP (National Organic Program) and Ecocert certified facility. The Hurraw Lip Balm is a great natural lip balm for sensitive lips since they’re gluten-free, soy free, essential oil free, shea free, palm free and beeswax free. My only gripe with this is that they’re narrow and oval shaped.

Ingredients 5/5: The ingredients are over 70% organic and sensitive lips friendly
Application 4/5: These glide on so smoothly but I’m not the biggest fan of the narrow oval shape.
Scent 5/5: They have SO many yummy flavors to choose from, including Earl Grey, Coffee Bean, Green Tea, Chai Spice and so many more.
Performance 4/5: Hurraw feels great on the lips and keeps them adequately moisturized.
Price: $9 for 0.17 oz

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I Tried Henne Organics Luxury Lip Balm

For those looking for a luxury organic lip balm with some grittiness that’s great for even the most sensitive lips, my top pick is Henne Organics. It not only comes in super chick packaging, but also contains the cleanest organic ingredients and is USDA Certified Organic. This feels so luscious and creamy and works well at moisturizing my lips when they’re at their driest. It’s not just about the organic coconut oil, avocado oil, shea butter and cocoa seed butter but the perfect ratio of these ingredients that makes this lip balm so effective.

Ingredients 5/5: This has the highest content of organic ingredients at 99%
Application 4/5: It’s super creamy but does have a bit of grittier texture
Scent: smells like yummy cocoa butter
Performance 5/5: It’s very moisturizing and works as an effective lip treatment for severely chapped lips.
Price: $22 (tinted options available)

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I Tried Kari Gran Naked Lip Whip

This is another luxe organic lip balm option that’s a very emollient lip salve made with all natural and organic ingredients and a total lifesaver for severely dry lips. The downside is it only comes in one scent – peppermint. The rich, buttery texture melts into lips and keeps them moisturized for a long time, leaving them softer and smoother.

Ingredients 5/5: Contains certified organic ingredients like Organic Camellia, Organic Calendula extract and Avocado Oil
Application 5/5: Super buttery and rich salve
Scent 4/5: You may or may not like the peppermint scent.
Performance 5/5: This a great daily lip balm or treatment and keeps lips moisturized and soft.
Price: $21 for 0.25 oz (tinted options available)

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I tried ILIA Lip Wrap Overnight Treatment

ILIA’s Lip Wrap is a creamy and buttery lip treatment that works as a lip balm for very chapped lips and has plenty of moisturizing oils. It sinks in well and has a softer and lighter consistency than other lip treatments. I love that it feels like a pillowy soft cloud on my lips, but it doesn’t last as long as other lip treatments due to the thinner consistency. I find the ingredients to be a tad underwhelming compared to other natural lip balms and masks.

Ingredients 3/5: Doesn’t have any organic ingredients and has some unnecessary ingredients but there are some interesting actives like Sea Succulent, papaya extract and hyaluronic acid
Application 5/5: Goes on smoothly and sinks in well
Scent: unscented
Performance 4/5: It feels very moisturizing but does not last as long as other lip treatment products.
Price: $26

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I tried Kypris Lip Elixir Review (Luxe!)

KYPRIS makes THE most luxurious organic lip balm in clean beauty, hands down! It’s actually a lip salve that’s a treatment balm made with advanced actives and natural ingredients like  sea fennel stem cells, DPHP amino acids, hyaluronic acid, botanical waxes, and cocoa & shea butters. It has the most luxurious smooth and rich consistency and transportive aromatherapy scent with jasmine from India and violet from France that is out of this world. Definitely a splurge, but one that won’t disappoint!

Ingredients 5/5: It has the most luxurious botanical ingredients and plant actives compared to other natural lip balms.
Application 5/5: This has the most luxurious smooth silky buttery texture and sinks in well.
Scent 5/5: Jasmine violet
Performance 5/5: It’s exceptionally effective at transforming dry lips to smooth, soft and hydrated lips.
Price: $49

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I Tried La La Lips Hemp Lip Balm

I really really really like this under-the-radar natural lip balm that I never see anyone talk about. It’s got this dense consistency with a super slick texture that is a little more oily than other lip balms since it’s formulated for extremely dry lips. La La Lips is the only natural lip balm I’ve tried that has a unique hemp seed oil formula enriched with yellow beeswax, shea oil, organic neem seed oil and other organic ingredients. Even though it looks small from the outside, the product itself is larger than other lip balms and covers more surface area with one swipe.

Ingredients 4/5: Has many fantastic organic lip balm ingredients but some individuals may not like lanolin
Application 5/5: Glides on smoothly and has a more slick, oily texture
Scent 4/5: subtle citrus herbal scent that’s almost undetectable
Performance 5/5: It feels super moisturizing and seems to work for a longer time.
Price: $22 (tinted options available

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