6 (Clean) Spring to Summer Lipsticks

It’s almost Memorial Day. I’m just gonna let that sink in for a second. This spring has been a bit odd (understatement much?!) but there is no denying that the temperatures are warming and summer is just around the corner. When the seasons change I switch up my clothing, skincare and, of course – my make up! Especially lipstick. Come June, my lips are always bit brighter, a touch bolder and little more pink! That being said, I’m a sucker for a neutral nudes and mauves, so those will always be on rotation, too!

While I haven’t been wearing a lot of lipstick lately when I do wear it around the house it totally boosts my mood and makes me feel, well, darn good. So, in the spirit of darn good feelings and bright and better days ahead – I’m sharing my six favorite (CLEAN) shades to transition you from spring to summer!

Before I jump in, let’s chat about why clean lipstick is so important. I shared a bit about that in this post, and it’s definitely worth repeating! I have always been a lipstick gal and when I started switching out my products to safer options, it truly pained me to think about tossing my classic Chanel, matte MAC and beautiful Bobbi shades that I had worn for so many years. I thought – and you might be thinking this too – it’s literally the smallest amount of product ever so does it really matter if my lipstick is clean? To which I now say YES! It does. And here’s why: as lipstick is applied on our mouths, its no surprise that we ingest what we put on and the average lipstick may contain traces of lead and other heavy metals, harmful dyes and artificial fragrance ?

HEAVY METALS are contaminants that tag along with cosmetic colorants and do not have to be declared on product labels. Most companies don’t intentionally use heavy metals, but they may not thoroughly test for contaminants, like lead, either. Lead is a known neurotoxin that makes its way into ingredients either via the materials used to manufacture products or through the pigments used (see dyes below) and accumulates in the body over time. The FDA and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics have both conducted tests demonstrating significant amounts of lead in some popular lipsticks. A 2009 study also found that darker lipstick hues, especially red, the heavier the concentration of heavy metals. Yuck!

DYES are used to give lipstick their color and, unfortunately, many synthetic dyes are made from aluminum, petroleum or coal-tar derivatives. Organic synthetic dyes are typically labelled with ‘FD&C’ or ‘D&C’ in their name. What’s the difference? Well, certified FD&C colors have been approved for use in food, drugs, and cosmetics while D&C labels are approved for use in drugs and cosmetics, but not in food. How bizarre is that? So it’s not safe to eat, but it is safe to put on our skin? Methinks not. In fact, a lot of FD&C certified dyes are still highly toxic. Just like with lead, the heavy metal contaminants in colorants build up in our bodies and can cause severe health problems from allergies and mood swings to memory loss and cancer. According to the Environmental Working Group, a popular dye called D&C Red 6 can contain arsenic, lead, gossypol, mercury, PCBs and even pesticides! Double yuck!

ARTIFICIAL FRAGRANCES contain blends of ingredients that aren’t required to be disclosed by US law and may include trace amounts of phthalates and synthetic musks – both of which are linked to reproductive and hormone disruption. Triple yuck!

Okay, so now that we got all that YUCK out of the way, what’s a girl to put on her lips this season? Have no fear, friend. I gotchu!

Note that the images below were not re-touched so you can get an accurate picture of color and texture!

VAPOUR BEAUTY High Voltage Matte Lipstick in MADAM

This creamy lipstick is a yummy rose brown with a matte finish. Vapour makes the best matte lip on the market! The formula is hydrating, long lasting and easy to apply and the matte finish feels and looks just as good as my old MAC faves! Key ingredients include nourishing jojoba oil and soothing sunflower oil. Why is it safer? High Voltage is formulated without petroleum, polybutene, silicone, dimethicone or polyacrylamide. | $35 from Credo Beauty

BEAUTYCOUNTER Sheer Lipstick in LILY

This is my go-to neutral pink for a year round polished pout! This silky-smooth and ultra-moisturizing formula gives my lips a sheer wash of color and a touch of polished sheen. Why is it safer? It contains jojoba esters and carnauba wax to condition and hydrate lips and no synthetic fragrance—just a sophisticated hint of natural vanilla. | $32 from Beautycounter

KOSAS Lipstick in ROSEWATER

This might be my favorite of the bunch! This cool sheer pink is so smooth and weightless that I barely feel it on my lips and it has staying power! It’s a fun shade for day or night, and provides just the right amount of color. Why is it safer? Mango seed, shea and coca seed butter deeply hydrate, while various essential oils repair, enhance tone and texture and heal. Plus, Kosas’ non-toxic and botanically-infused formula is cruelty-free, gluten free and made without parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, phenoxyethanol and is never tested on animals. | $28 from Credo Beauty

BEAUTYCOUNTER Color Intense Lipstick in FIRST DATE

The prettiest pinkiest pink – when I want a true pink that pops I always grab First Date. I’m a huge fan of BC’s color intense line – the creamy formula moisturizes so lips feel soft and smooth while natural peppermint oil delivers a subtly refreshing flavor. The staying power is fantastic – the shade gradually fades vs leaving a crusty outline like most lipsticks. Why is it safer? In order to ensure that Beautycounter lipsticks are free of heavy metals, they conduct testing on every shade before approval and on every production batch. | $34 from Beautycounter

ILIA Color Block Lipstick in WILD ROSE

This is probably my new favorite year round color! It’s a long-wearing and full coverage lipstick that offers high impact color in a creamy, nourishing formula and the pigments are milled in organic castor seed oil to give you four times the intensity. Also, Ilia just did the most gorgeous re-brand so the tube is neutral, matte and ever-so-chic. Why is it safer? Ilia products are formulated without parabens, phthalates, sulfates, GMO, synthetic fragrances, gluten, and talc. | $28 from Credo Beauty

BEAUTYCOUNTER Color Intense Lipstick in BRUNCH

Ohhh brunch, how I wish I could wear you to… brunch! This is the same formula as FIRST DATE above but in the best warm nude. I love it for summer months when my face (and make up) is bronzier and I gravitate towards warm tones. Why is it safer? Natural peppermint is the only scent you’ll find here – fragrance is on Beautycounter’s never list! | $34 from Beautycounter

If you want to make the switch to safer lipstick and are wondering how can you ensure the ingredients are clean, here’s my biggest tip: shop from places that do the work for you, like Beautycounter, Credo Beauty and Follain. All three have strict approval processes and only source and sell the safest ingredients, products and brands. That way, you can feel good knowing that your lipstick is good for you, too!

If you have questions about clean beauty or need help with more customized recommendations, simply fill out my Skincare + Beauty Questionnaire here or drop me a note in the comments! And don’t forget, you can always get 15% off at Follain with the code ref15_l9ci4m ?