The Ultimate Hunt for a Clean Lip Gloss: Hits, Misses & Surprising Finds
Let’s talk lip gloss. Finding the perfect shade and texture is hard enough, but add the challenge of searching for a clean, non-toxic formula, and you’re in for a real scavenger hunt. Believe me, I know—this search nearly did me in.
For years, I’ve been devoted to Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. It’s the perfect balance of gloss and color, delivering a sheer yet deep hue that’s effortlessly flattering. But as I strive to clean up my beauty routine, I took a hard look at its ingredient list. With culprits like Polyethylene and Titanium Dioxide and a discouraging 31/100 score on the Yuka app, I knew it was next on the chopping block.
Armed with my phone and determination, I marched into Sephora, ready to scan every gloss in sight. How hard could it be, right? Clean beauty is booming—surely I’d find a great option in no time.
Spoiler Alert: I Was Wrong.
I found out that even if you pick a line considered a clean line of beauty products they are, in most cases, otherwise. I literally scanned for hours trying to find options! I scanned Glossier, Kosas, Dior, Fresh, Charlotte Tilbury, Rare Beauty, Bare Minerals, Fenty, and more. And when I finally found a gloss that scored well, the color I wanted… didn’t. The Fenty Beauty Velvet Liquid Lipstick in Wicked Whine? A stellar 86/100. The same formula in Fashion Fiend? A disappointing 45/100.
After an exhausting Sephora mission, I left nearly empty-handed and made my way to Ulta, hoping for better luck. Here’s what I finally found:
Top Clean Lip Gloss Contenders:
✨ Fenty Skin Hydrating & Strengthening Lip Oil in Black Cherry – This one had Black Honey vibes with a sheer, slightly pigmented finish. It scored a solid 79/100 but, at $24 for a tiny .19 oz bottle and barely a touch of color, this one just didn’t feel worth it.
✨ Sephora Moisturizing & Soothing Lip Sleeping Mask – Not finding much else, I checked out the Sephora brand items. This one came in a cute cherry red tube for only $7 and touted an even better score of 100/100! There was no tester available so I went ahead and bought it with the hopes that the cherry might mean there was a hint of color. Nope! This was completely clear. I was disappointed that this would not take the place of my Clinique Black Honey but for $7 I had just found a great option to wear overnight.
✨ Zoya Hot Lips Creamy Lip Balm (Boudoir) – I rediscovered this old favorite in my purse on the drive home! I heard about this one years ago from an influencer I follow (Living with Landyn). I really do love this one. At $8, it has great color, shine, and moisture. But seeing Phenoxyethanol on the ingredient list, this one is getting tossed back in the purse.
✨ Jones Road Cool Gloss (Pink Gold Shimmer) – I’d heard a lot about Jones Road Makeup and it looked impressive so I gave it a shot with their Cool Gloss in Pink Gold Shimmer. With an impressive 86/100, this gloss brought cooling mint, subtle shimmer, and a nice wash of pigment. It was pricey at $32 for .47 oz, but the quality was undeniable. I was very happy with this one.
✨ Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm (Hibiscus) – Just to see if I could find something a bit more inexpensive, I hunted down Burt’s Bees. This one turned out to be a game-changer! A quick scan of the Hibiscus color brought up a score of 93/100! Maybe we were on to something, so I started sampling the colors. Red Dahlia was my favorite, being very similar to that old standby Black Honey. But, here we go again! Not every color was created equal and the Red Dahlia scored a poor 47/100 because it contains Titanium Dioxide, as do both the Sweet Violet and the Pink Blossom colors. The Rose, Hibiscus, and Zinnia colors were all 93/100 so I chose the Hibiscus. It’s a little pinker than the Black Honey but I really like this one and at only $4.99 it can’t be beat! Not only was this option the cleanest but it was the most inexpensive.
The Final Verdict:
If you’re after a budget-friendly, clean option, Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm (but only in the right shades!) is the way to go. For a more luxurious experience, Jones Road Cool Gloss is a winner. And no matter what, always scan before you buy—because even within the same brand, not all shades are created equal.
So, there you have it—my two-hour search condensed into a quick guide. Hope this saves you some time and frustration in your own quest for the perfect clean lip gloss!