Last updated on July 23rd, 2025 at 07:26 pm
If there’s one thing I hate, it’s dry lips. I make sure to have access to lip balm everywhere–my nightstand, my purse, the center console in my car, and even in a holder on my work badge.
The dry high desert air here in Utah isn’t the only thing that has been parching my lips. I learned there are several ingredients that are commonly used in lip balms that are, ironically, very dehydrating. Ingredients like phenol, camphor, and menthol, commonly found in medicated lip balm, may feel soothing at first, but they actually dry out your lips, leading you to reapply more frequently. The American Academy of Dermatology advises, “If your lips burn, sting, or tingle after using a lip product, stop using that product.”
I used to have a full-fledged Carmex addiction, and now I know why: Carmex contains all three of these ingredients. No wonder I was constantly reapplying.
In addition to their drying qualities, these substances are usually synthetic. Phenol originates from natural sources, but most is synthetic and petroleum-derived. True camphor comes from tree bark, but camphor today is semi-synthetic, synthesized from turpentine oil. Menthol is also more likely to be derived from synthetic sources rather than its original form, mint leaves.
So are synthetic ingredients bad? Is natural lip balm really better? Let’s dive in.
Common synthetic ingredients in lip balm
Petrolatum is perhaps the most commonly used ingredient in lip balms. This is refined from crude oil, along with its counterparts, mineral oil and paraffin. While these are generally considered safe in lip balm and other skincare products, they come from non-renewable resources. The use of these ingredients contributes to our continued dependence on petroleum, which, of course, is damaging to the planet.
Additionally, many of these petroleum-based ingredients are not biodegradable. They may persist in water and soil indefinitely.
Regarding health, synthetic ingredients in lip balm may cause irritation or allergic reactions, especially on the delicate skin of the lips. Or they may lead to more serious issues, as with parabens, which have been linked to potential hormone disruption.
Finally, common synthetic additives such as salicylic acid, alcohol, artificial dyes and fragrances, and the aforementioned trio of camphor, menthol, and phenol can also exacerbate chapped lips and cause irritation.
So what should you look for in a lip balm that actually heals instead of harms?
Natural lip balm ingredients to look for
When it comes to lip balm ingredients, less is more. The best natural lip balm will have a simple formulation with few ingredients.
But don’t be fooled when you see ‘natural’ on lip balm labels–greenwashing buzzwords like ‘natural’ or ‘eco-friendly’ are unregulated and often meaningless. It’s up to you to check the ingredients and decide whether the product lives up to its claims.
Lip balm typically includes several basic types of ingredients: humectants, which attract and absorb water; emollients, substances that fill in the gaps between skin cells, creating a smoother surface and reducing water loss; and occlusives, which create a barrier and lock in moisture. Numerous natural ingredients fulfill more than one of these functions.
Seek lip balms with plant-based oils, waxes, and additives. Organic lip balms offer another level of clean with ingredients grown without pesticides or other harmful chemicals.
- Natural humectants: plant-based glycerin, aloe vera, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid (found naturally but most is made in a lab); non-vegan: animal-based glycerin, beeswax, honey
- Natural occlusives: plant seed oils, beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, candelilla wax, carnauba wax; non-vegan: beeswax, lanolin (avoid with allergies)
Keep in mind that lip balms free of any animal byproducts are not necessarily better for you or the planet if they contain fossil fuel-derived synthetic ingredients instead.
Zero waste natural lip balms
According to the Plastic Pollution Coalition, over 200 million lip care tubes are discarded in the United States each year. While tossing a small tube into the trash may seem insignificant to one person, this (like most things) quickly adds up on a macro level.
Just think how much plastic could be eliminated if everyone made just this one simple switch!
There are actually plenty of options for natural lip balms, so I will take it one step further and offer you a selection of fantastic eco-friendly lip balms packaged without plastic. You won’t even miss using the fossil fuel balm contained in a fossil fuel tube. Oh, and they ship without plastic, too.
Ethique
Ethique lip balms are based on moringa oil, jojoba oil, and castor oil. The company uses only vegan ingredients, which are ethically sourced from predominantly women-owned farming cooperatives worldwide. The company donates 2% of its proceeds to environmental and social charities each year, and is partnered with CleanHub, which focuses on preventing plastic pollution.
Certifications – Certified B Corp, Leaping Bunny
Packaging – Home compostable cardboard tube. The large tube size will last for a long time.
Price – $8.50 for 0.32oz (9g)
Blue Heron Botanicals
Blue Heron Botanicals Lip Balms are made in California from certified organic and fair trade ingredients, and are free from synthetic or animal byproducts. Red raspberry seed oil is a notable ingredient, which the company claims has a natural SPF of 28-50, making it a possible natural alternative to other SPF lip balms. However, studies regarding this claim have been controversial.
Certifications – Each lip balm purchased saves a baby turtle through company donations, according to Blue Heron. Cruelty-free and solar-powered company, although not certified.
Packaging – 100% recycled paper which is recyclable and home compostable. The tube has the slimmest profile of any lip balm I have encountered, making it ideal to store in your pocket or small handbag.
Price – $9.95 for 0.21oz (6g)
Poppy & Pout
The lone beeswax lip balm on this list, Poppy & Pout lip balm includes clean, natural ingredients such as sunflower oil and organic coconut oil and is flavored with essential oils. Tinted lip balms with natural colorants are also available.
Certifications – Leaping Bunny
Packaging – Recyclable cardboard tube
Price – $9.95 for 0.30 oz
EcoRoots
EcoRoots Zero Waste Lip Balm is composed of only organic, plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free ingredients. It is also available in a tinted formula. The small company is women-owned.
Certifications – Cruelty-free (not certified), member of 1% for the Planet
Packaging – Compostable cardboard tube
Price – $8.97 for 0.30oz (10g)
Meow Meow Tweet
Meow Meow Tweet uses certified organic, non-GMO, and certified fair trade plant-based ingredients in its lip balms. Plant oils and butters are raw and unrefined. Products are gluten-free and do not contain palm oil.
Certifications – Certified B Corp, Leaping Bunny, Certified Plastic Negative
Packaging – Home compostable paper tube
Price – $10 for 0.5oz
Searching for other natural, eco-friendly products to use on your skin? Check out my guide to sustainable skincare.
SPF lip balm
Unfortunately, I have yet to find an SPF lip balm that both contains clean ingredients and is not packaged in a plastic tube. Since I think clean formulations are ultimately more important, I feel good about these two recommendations.
All Good
All Good Lips is available in SPF 15 or 20 plant-based mineral sunscreen formulations that contain non-nano zinc oxide and are reef safe. Contains organic ingredients, including some sourced from the company’s on-site herb farm. Note that this is not a vegan option as it contains beeswax.
Certifications – Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral Certified, Leaping Bunny, Women Owned, 1% for the Planet member
Packaging – Plastic tubes containing a minimum of 50% recycled plastic
Price – $5.00
Raw Elements
Raw Elements offers SPF 30 Lip Rescue that also comes in several choices of tints. This is another mineral sunscreen containing non-nano zinc oxide that is reef safe. Contains organic ingredients, but contains beeswax so it is not a vegan option either.
Certifications – Leaping Bunny
Packaging – 100% recycled plastic tubes
Price – $5.99
Alternatives to petroleum jelly
Sometimes, extra chapped lips call for something thicker than lip balm. Since petroleum jelly, or Vaseline, is derived from petroleum, I went looking for natural alternatives. Fortunately, there are some fantastic eco-friendly swaps that work just as well.
Alba Botanica
Alba Botanica Un-Petroleum Multi-Purpose Jelly ($8.03 for 3.5 oz tube) is the best plant-based alternative to petroleum jellies like Vaseline. Rather than petrolatum, it is composed of a blend of organic castor seed oil, sunflower seed oil, beeswax, and vitamin E. Honestly, I can’t tell the difference. The only downside is that this product comes in a plastic tube.
Alba Botanica is Leaping Bunny certified.
All Good
All Good Goop ($11 for 1 oz) is the company’s original and most popular product. Reviewers rave about this all-in-one healing salve for not only chapped, cracked lips, but also dry skin, eczema, scars, pet’s feet, and more. Made with certified organic ingredients like olive oil and calendula oil. It has a very nice, non-greasy texture with a pleasant, subtle fragrance. I’ve used it on my lips, super dry skin, and burns, and I feel it moisturizes and protects the skin wonderfully. And it’s packaged in a glass jar with an aluminum lid, making it an all around win.
Facetheory
As I mentioned in the beginning, I was addicted to Carmex for much of my life. I even kept a little white jar of it at my bedside to use each night before going to sleep. Now, the Facetheory Lipabalm Nourishing Lip Treatment ($11 for 0.5 oz) is my sustainable go-to–I am in love with this stuff. Its smooth texture, full of goodness like raspberry seed oil and vitamin E, lasts for hours; after applying at bedtime, my lips are still soft when I wake up in the morning. And it even comes in a little jar, like Carmex, only this one is recyclable amber glass with aluminum cap.
Fat and the Moon
Fat and the Moon Lip Salve ($9 for 1 oz) is a simple concoction of organic sunflower oil, mango butter, beeswax, and rosemary essential oil, packaged in a tin. The small company handcrafts all products and is cruelty-free.
Can lip balm tubes be recycled?
Paper or cardboard lip balm tubes can either be recycled or composted. Technically, plastic lip balm tubes should be recyclable as well, but regardless of the material, the tube’s small size will likely lead them to fall through recycling machinery.
Your best bet is to recycle them with your other empty beauty products. Eos lip balm tubes can be sent along with any other Eos brand items to their free mail-in recycle program with Terracycle; Burt’s Bees has a program with them as well.
Final thoughts on natural lip balm
I don’t blame you if you’re licking your lips at all these wonderful choices. It’s a rarity to have such a wide selection of products that contain clean, natural ingredients AND are packaged sans plastic. So spoil your smackers with one of these natural lip balms and they (and the planet) will thank you!
