How do you apply an organic lip gloss?

It depends on the applicator that your organic lip gloss comes (or doesn’t come) with. Check the product’s packaging for product-specific instructions or tips. Typically, you’ll want to evenly coat your top and bottom lips with a thin layer of gloss.

How long do organic lip glosses last?

It’s difficult to predict how long each organic lip gloss will last once applied as there are many factors at play, including the properties of your lips individually. Of course, the activity or activities you’re participating in while wearing the gloss will also affect how long it stays intact. Eating or drinking, for instance, will cause the effects of the gloss to disappear quicker.

Do organic lip glosses expire?

Yes, organic lip glosses do expire. Many organic brands will list a general timeline of when their products may expire on their website. This can be anywhere between a few months to a year. If your lip gloss has a change in color, smell, or texture, it's best to toss it and buy a new one.

The 8 Best Organic Lip Glosses of 2022

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Lip gloss has only recently returned from a years-long departure that was initiated by the matte trend. For a while there, we were seeing matte everything—matte lipstick, blush, foundation, and eyeshadow, all of which were accented by a blinding Instagram-ready highlight. Nowadays, the love is shared a little more equally, thanks to the radiant and light-reflecting look being back in the mainstream, and that applies to lip gloss too.

These lip glosses aren't the old-school Lip Smacker types of the early 2000s, though. Instead of goopy glosses that smell like a jar of strawberry jelly, these grown-up versions are smooth and luxurious—understated, even. Some have even been updated or reformulated sans synthetic chemicals, fragrances, and the like. (Some of our favorite formulas are organic.) How's that for a modern update on old-school beauty?

Read on for our picks of the best organic lip glosses with zero sketchy ingredients.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

W3ll People Bio Extreme Lipgloss at Ulta

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Best Sheer:

Hush + Dotti Organic Lip Gloss at Amazon

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Best Plumping:

Vapour Elixir Gloss at Credo Beauty

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Best Pink:

Kjaer Weis Lip Gloss at Bluemercury.com

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Best Peach:

Ilia Lip Gloss at Beautylish.com

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Best Berry:

H Is for Love Lip Glacé at Hforlove.com

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Best Shimmer:

Au Naturale High Lustre Lip Gloss at Ulta

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Best Hydrating:

Juice Beauty Organic Lip Moisturizer at Amazon

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4.4

Courtesy of W3II People

View On Ulta View On Credo Beauty

What We Like

Vegan
Hydrating
Non-sticky

What We Don't Like

Some may find the plumping tingling uncomfortable

Who else recommends it? The Good Trade also picked the W3ll People Bio Extreme Lipgloss.

W3ll People is one of our favorite natural beauty brands. If you haven't yet, try their mineral makeup and bronzer sticks—they're amazing. The same goes for this clear lip gloss that's vegan, and certified organic. And the formula utilizes peptides, liquid crystals, aloe, and shea butter.

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, jojoba oil | Shades: 6 | Size: 0.16 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Hush + Dotti Organic Lip Gloss in Shelley

Courtesy of Hush + Dotti

View On Amazon

What We Like

Hydrating
Non-sticky
Great for no makeup makeup

What We Don't Like

Some may prefer something more opaque

This organic lip gloss from Hush + Dotti is a little bit under-the-radar compared to other brands out there. We like it for its sheer color and non-sticky finish. It's also supremely hydrating thanks to coconut, jojoba, and grape-seed oils. (Seriously, it's one of the only lip glosses that makes our lips feel as hydrated as they would while wearing a traditional lip balm.)

Shades: 4 | Size: 0.24 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Courtesy of Credo

View On Credo Beauty

What We Like

Provides antioxidant protection
Hydrating
Long-lasting

What We Don't Like

Some may find the plumping tingling uncomfortable

Vapour Beauty's lip glosses are organic and plumping, which is a combination that you don't come across very often. They're able to fake fuller lips thanks to natural liposomes, jojoba oil, vitamin E, and green tea extracts. The latter two ingredients are antioxidant-rich, meaning they protect the lips from environmental aggressors and signs of aging.

Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, green tea, lemon, Iceland moss | Shades: 5 | Size: 0.17 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Courtesy of Neiman Marcus

View On Bluemercury.com

What We Like

Lightweight
Non-sticky
Refillable packaging

What We Don't Like

Not as long-lasting as other options

Kjaer Weis is a high-end organic makeup brand that we count on for a number of products, including clean lip gloss. The formula is super silky and soft, the packaging is chic, and we're just generally obsessed. This shade is called Fascination, and it's a soft petal-pink color we wear over bare lips or our favorite nude lipstick.

Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, vanilla planifolia, rosehip seed oil | Shades: 9 | Size: 0.14 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Courtesy of Goop

View On Beautylish.com

What We Like

Works for a variety of skin tones
Non-sticky

What We Don't Like

Some may prefer something more opaque

Ilia is a must-have brand if you're passionate about clean beauty. These lip glosses are 68% organic, but even so, they get an honorable mention on this list for being available in a number of universally flattering shades, like this peachy-pink one called The Butterfly and I. We'll be reaching for this one to complement beachy and bronzey makeup looks.

Size: 0.11 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Courtesy of H Is for Love

View On Hforlove.com

What We Like

Doubles as a lip balm
Lightweight

What We Don't Like

Unhygienic packaging

This lip balm/gloss hybrid appears to be matte when it's in the packaging, but as soon as you dip your finger in and smooth it across your lips, it transforms into a brilliant shine. It's made with root and berry extracts, so consequently, the tint is berry-colored. It reads somewhere between a raspberry and a blackberry shade. Every ingredient is organic (except beeswax, which can't be certified).

Key Ingredients: Berries, sea buckthorn | Shades: 1 | Size: 0.17 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Au Naturale High Lustre Lip Gloss in Passionfruit

Courtesy of Neiman Marcus

View On Ulta

What We Like

Vegan
Great color payoff
Long-lasting

What We Don't Like

Strong smell

Au Naturale produces cosmetics that are organic and vegan. The brand's lip glosses come in a range of shades, from neutral to vibrant, and they're more pigmented than traditional lip glosses. To us, they look like a hybrid between lip gloss and liquid lipstick.

Key Ingredients: Castor oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E | Shades: 9 | Size: 0.13 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Courtesy of Blue Mercury

View On Amazon View On Anthropologie View On Bluemercury.com

What We Like

Hydrating
Smells good
Sustainable packaging

What We Don't Like

Strong smell

So this one is technically a lip moisturizer, but the combination of shea butter, vitamin E imparts a strong shine that's worthy of being called a gloss. It's organic, hydrating, convenient, and lightly fragrant (thanks to orange and vanilla extracts), which is why it's been a mainstay in our makeup bags ever since its launch.

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, cocoa butter, orange | Shades: 1 | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

What to Look For in Organic Lip Glosses

Consistency

How light do you want your gloss to feel on your lips once applied? Are you seeking a non-sticky finish? Organic lip glosses have different consistencies based on individual formulas. Be sure to look at a gloss’ consistency before making a final decision if the texture is something that makes or breaks lip products for you.

Coloring

Organic lip glosses can be sheer or come in a wide range of shades with different opacities. You should choose color based on occasion, what look you’re trying to achieve, and what compliments your features. You might want a vibrant, stand-out lip gloss for a nice dinner but a lighter, more subtle lip gloss for everyday use. Organic lip glosses will vary in transparency and the colors that they come in, so remember to consider this before making a purchase.

Method of Application

Organic lip glosses traditionally come in tubes with doe foot applicators, which look like sponge-tipped, angled wands. However, other glosses can be applied with a fingertip or squeezed directly onto your lips from the tube. For a cleaner application, opt for glosses with doe foot applicators or glosses that can be squeezed on so you don’t find yourself with sticky or stained hands. Regardless of the method you prefer, it’s important to keep your applicator, tube, or fingertips clean to prevent bacterial growth.

FAQ

How do you apply an organic lip gloss?

It depends on the applicator that your organic lip gloss comes (or doesn’t come) with. Check the product’s packaging for product-specific instructions or tips. Typically, you’ll want to evenly coat your top and bottom lips with a thin layer of gloss.
How long do organic lip glosses last?

It’s difficult to predict how long each organic lip gloss will last once applied as there are many factors at play, including the properties of your lips individually. Of course, the activity or activities you’re participating in while wearing the gloss will also affect how long it stays intact. Eating or drinking, for instance, will cause the effects of the gloss to disappear quicker.
Do organic lip glosses expire?

Yes, organic lip glosses do expire. Many organic brands will list a general timeline of when their products may expire on their website. This can be anywhere between a few months to a year. If your lip gloss has a change in color, smell, or texture, it's best to toss it and buy a new one.

Article Sources

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