Natural Beauty: Lip Color

Did you know that the average woman ingests up to four pounds of lipstick and gloss over her lifetime? That’s a lot of lipstick! It’s pretty clear that choosing natural lip products is a wise move.

The unfortunate reality is that most cosmetics contain noxious ingredients like parabens, formaldehyde releasers, and even traces of lead and mercury. As the US government continues to be lax about cosmetic ingredient regulations, it’s up to the consumer to find safe, quality products. This isn’t always easy: A product may be marketed as “natural,” but the term is unregulated and shows up on products that are far from being truly natural.

Lucky for you, I’ve done my homework on the safest, high-quality lipsticks and glosses, and below you will find my absolute favorites. These brands are committed to making all-natural, toxin-free products, and steering clear of false advertising and animal testing. The color and performance of these lip products is so good, they easily compete with more conventional brands:

1) Afterglow Cosmetics Organic Infused Lip Love Lipstick  Choose from 13 matte, shimmer, and sheer shades, all 100 percent natural and organic. All colors contain nourishing botanicals and essential oils such as organic jojoba seed oil, apricot essence, and pomegranate and grape seed extracts. The products smell divine and keep lips hydrated and moisturized. Vitamin E and aloe leaf gel add extra soothing nourishment. The lipsticks feel great going on, and my favorite shades are Lovely, Muse, and Secret. Afterglow Lipstick is my go-to pure, natural lipstick. afterglowcosmetics.com

2) Au Naturale Pure Pro Lipstick These lipsticks are nothing short of amazing! The colors are richly pigmented and lasted for hours on my lips. Au Naturale’s lipsticks are infused with health-promoting ingredients such as cocoa butter and organic avocado and macadamia nut oils. I’m a fan of Innocence, their top-selling soft pink nude tint, but they have a broad selection of colors (and even lipstick palettes). aunaturaleglow.com

3) Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss  Made with organic blueberries, raspberries, acai, and goji berries to provide naturally beautiful pigmentation, these glosses smell and taste wonderful. Organic sesame oil hydrates, while vitamin E heals skin and minerals add shimmer. All natural and free of toxic ingredients, these glosses are available in four shades—I liked the pink and fig hues the best. juicebeauty.com

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Talia Fuhrman, daughter of Joel Fuhrman M.D., has a B.A. in nutritional sciences from Cornell University and is currently working on a psychology, nutrition, and healthy recipe book for young women called Love Your Body to be published early next year. Visit her website taliafuhrman.com and her Facebook page for nutrition tips and yummy vegan recipes.