When it comes to clean, vegan upgrades we're often asked, "Where do I even begin?" In my opinion, you should begin with the product that poses the largest threat to you on a daily basis.
Lip products should be non-negotiable because we literally eat them. The average woman is rumored to consume about 4 pounds of lipstick in their lifetime*, so really, we should be as discriminating with our lipstick as we are with our food. It is truly alarming to see well-known brands include toxic ingredients in their lip products when they know very well where those ingredients will end up.
HERE'S a little challenge: Take a look at your favorite lipstick and read the entire ingredient label. See anything iffy? Now, look up your ingredients on EWG.org to see the toxicity score. Anything above a 3 should be used sparingly and with caution. If you're seeing ingredients above a 6, toss it!
Just for fun, let's investigate some of the most popular lipsticks on the market and see where they rank.
First red flag--Most of these sites don't display product ingredients, which is ridiculous (only NARS does). Why on earth would we support companies that refuse to be transparent with their customers, especially when it's regarding human health?
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CHANEL
Uh oh, we spy
parfum (rated an 8 on EWG),
BHT (rated a 6), synthetic colors (rated between a 4 and a 5),
PEG (rated between a 3 and 4) and
carmine (squished bugs). Verdict? TOSS.
Dior
BHT, parfum and
lanolin (made from sheep's fat) to name a few. TOSS and don't look back.
MAC
Lanolin, carmine and a number of synthetic colors. Though MAC lipsticks don't seem to be the most toxic, they're still not "clean" nor is the company cruelty-free (because it's owned by Estee Lauder). Our thought? Don't purchase any new products by the company.
NARS
First ingredient = Heptylundecyl Hydroxystearate (no data on EWG, which means this ingredient is likely new and was tested on animals)...
linalool (rated a 5),
limonene (rated a 6) and synthetic colors (rated between a 4 and a 5). TOSS.
TOM FORD
Lanolin, parfum, carmine and a number of synthetic colors (rated between a 4 and a 5). TOSS IT.
YSL
First ingredient =
Octinoxate (rated 6 on EWG)...and there's
parfum (rated an 8 on EWG), synthetic colors (rated between a 4 and a 5) and
carmine (squished bugs). Verdict? TOSS.
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Now for the good news: I've rounded up my favorites (i.e. products I have purchases more than once) to help you on your way to having a clean, vegan routine.
LIP BALM (no tint) >>
2. Kani Botanicals | Lip Fix
LIP BALM (tinted) >>
3. French Girl Organics | Lip Tint
LIPSTICK (non SPF) >>
10. AXIOLOGY | Lipstick
LIPSTICK (non SPF) >>
11. 100% Pure | Lip Glaze
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Browse
LIPS at Petit Vour
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Love this and I so want to convert all of my bad lippies to these good ones. It’s just so hard — do we know which ones are the most matte with the most pigment and staying power? Lots of these just end up looking like glosses and I’m not about that gloss life… ;)