Wax on, wax off, wax on—isn’t that the way it goes with lip gloss? You paint a perfect pout only to lose it to the rim of your glass, or a lover’s cheek. The cycle of reapplying is endless, and so is the perpetual dryness that no gloss, however juicy, can seem to remedy.

The reason is, lip gloss isn't actually meant to moisturize or protect your lips. At best it contains some occlusive ingredient that sits on top of the skin, unabsorbed, acting as a barrier to trap moisture and prevent it from leaving the lips. Petroleum (propylene, butylene glycol) or petroleum jelly (Vaseline) is used commonly in lipbalms, chapsticks, and lipglosses because it is such an effective occlusive. So effective in fact it keeps the skin from breathing, which ultimately leaves lips more chapped [1] than they were to begin with. This phenomenon can lead to lip balm addiction [2]. Safer, natural moisturizing alternatives to petroleum are beeswax, shea butter, and vitamin E.

Lips are covered with the thinnest skin on the body and are therefore much more vulnerable to sun damage. So it's a good thing to choose products that have organic SPF in them. Specifically, when reading labels opt for products that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide; these are naturally occurring mineral compounds that form an actual physical barrier [3] between skin and the sun by reflecting the sun's rays rather than being absorbed into the skin.

Keep in mind that thin skin more readily absorbs the substances it comes into contact with—whether those are synthetic or organic—and allows them into your blood. It's safe to say that certified organic and natural ingredients are a safer choice than synthetic chemical substances. However, unlike in the food industry there is no official body that regulates the use of the term "organic" in personal care products [4]. Even products that have just one organic ingredient can still use the term "organic" for marketing purposes. Recently the USDA set standards for products to be certified organic, but with so many products on the market, it's hardly made an impact yet.

Look out for parabens (ethyl-, methyl-, propyl-, butyl-). Parabens are synthetic preservatives used widely in cosmetics that mimic estrogen and can cause hormone disruption. Parabens are also linked to cancer. Specifically, one well known scientific study found parabens in samples of breast tumors [5].

Finally, beware of synthetic fragrances, which contain hidden phthalates—the cosmetic equivalent of a Trojan Horse. Phthalates can cause breast and liver cancer, and birth defects in lab animals [6], but the FDA does not require manufacturers to disclose these ingredients in the fragrances they use because they are considered protected trade secrets [7]. Avoid phthalates by choosing unscented lip gloss, or one that uses simple essential oils for fragrance.

LIPGLOSS CHEAT SHEET
	Aveda Uruku $14.00 Creamy. Sheer color. Refreshing smell. Very emollient and just the right amount of shine. Made with certified organic peppermint, cinnamon, anise, and basil. No petroleum. Contains beeswax. Comes in 100% recycled-newsprint case and a 90 percent recycled resin tube. Fits into a reusable lip color case [8] made of 95 percent recycled aluminum and natural flax fibers. Plus, the Aveda manufacturing plant runs on 100% certified wind power [9], so it’s not contributing to global warming [9]. Find it at: Aveda stores [10]
	Burt's Bees Lip Shimmers $4.00 Light. More like a chapstick than a gloss. Good wear-time. The color is more iridescent not sparkly. Great minty taste that tingles and makes your lips feel awake. And! Not a single synthetic ingredient among them! Instead it contains beeswax and essential oils such as peppermint and rosemary. Find it at: CVS, Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe, Target, beauty supply and health food stores.
	Cargo PlantLove Botanical Lipstick $20.00 No petroleum. Contains parabens. Goes on thick and creamy with a waxy aftertaste. Texture is more matte than shiny. But hooray for earth-friendly packaging! The tube is made entirely out of biodegradable corn (though you wouldn’t know to look at it)—you can toss it in your compost [10] bin. The recycled paper box it comes in is embedded with flower seeds; moisten the box, plant it, and see what comes up! Also, for every tube of PlantLove purchased Cargo will donate $2 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Find it at: Sephora and these locations [11].
	Dr. Hauschka Novum Lip Gloss $16.00 No petroleum. Contains beeswax. Nice light, clean scent. Great shine and texture. Good consistency. Good wear-time. One color looks great on all different skin tones. The clear winner. Find it at: Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Anthropologie, natural health food stores, and other locations [12].
	Juice Beauty SPF 15 Tinted Lip Moisturizers $15.00 for 3 Contains shea butter and vitamin E. SPF 15 with titanium dioxide and natural mineral tints. Certified organic plant oils and botanicals. No petroleum. Juice Beauty uses fruit juices as a base rather than water so these are also packed with antioxidants. It does go on a little thick, and some find it gritty. Colors come out a little watered-down. Find it at: Sephora, Whole Foods.
	Origins Smileage Plus Lip Tint $10.00 No petroleum. 95% organic. Contains beeswax, vitamin E, and organic essential oils. Smells of tangerine and lime. Tastes minty and earthy. Feels more like a chapstick than a gloss and the color is barely there. Find it at: Origins stores [13], Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Century 21

More LIME's Guide to Buying [13]