The Best Non-Toxic Lip Balm of 2026
204 of the 240 lip balm products PFAS Authority has graded reach its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 85% of the category, as of October 2026, and 36 score below it. The highest graded is Becca Cosmetics BECCA x Chrissy Teigen Glow Gloss at 75 out of 100.
Every grade below is built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, scored on one public rubric and ranked best-graded first. Each score links to the full breakdown of what earned it, and the numbers across the whole dataset are published too.
Is lip balm non-toxic?
204 of the 240 lip balm products we graded clear our screen and 36 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on lip balm products in this category are undisclosed fragrance, microplastics, VOCs and off-gassing, artificial dyes, 1,4-dioxane. The highest graded here is Becca Cosmetics BECCA x Chrissy Teigen Glow Gloss at 75 out of 100.
Quick picks
Best overall
Becca Cosmetics BECCA x Chrissy Teigen Glow GlossHighest PFAS grade in the category
75 Excellent
A second brand to consider
Burt's Bees 3 Burts Bees Liquid Lipstick 802 Niagra Nude 0.2oz EaThe best grade here from a brand other than the winner
75 Excellent
Why Becca Cosmetics BECCA x Chrissy Teigen Glow wins, and what it beats
Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 1 product it beats, so you can see exactly where the 45 points between the top and the bottom of this lip balm ranking come from.
The winner
Made of Glycerin, silicones, pigments, film-formers (typical liquid cosmetic gloss).
- +20Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- +15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
25risk points in total, which is a grade of 75
What the grade does not fix. It still carries one risk factor, No PFAS disclosure. See the full breakdown.
What it beats, and why
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of liquid pigment, resins, silicones; waterproof emulsion.
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +20Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure
70risk points, a grade of 30
No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.
What to watch for in lip balm
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 240 lip balm products in this category. We assess from materials, brand statements and published research. We do not lab-test.
- Undisclosed fragrance
A single word on a label that can stand for dozens of undeclared ingredients, protected as trade secret.
Found on 20 of these lip balm products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 218 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- Microplastics
Plastic fragments small enough to shed from a product into food, water or air without anyone seeing it.
Found on 3 of these lip balm products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 31 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- VOCs and off-gassing
Volatile compounds that evaporate out of a material at room temperature, which is what a new product smell is.
Found on 2 of these lip balm products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 8 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
Found on 1 of these lip balm products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 49 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- 1,4-dioxane
A contaminant created during manufacturing rather than added, so it never appears on an ingredient list.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 60 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
The safest lip balm we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
- 1
Highest grade here
- Glycerin, silicones, pigments, film-formers (typical liquid cosmetic gloss)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components
- 2
- Liquid lipstick, likely pigments, oils, and waxes
- Fragrance allergens or sensitizers
- 3
- Natural waxes and oils (beeswax, plant oils, pigments)
- Lead
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 4
- Wax-based balm (beeswax, plant oils, minimal synthetic content)
- Allergenic fragrance compounds
- 5
- Wax, oils, and natural emollients (typical formulation)
- Fragrance allergens (if scented variant)
- 6
- Natural waxes, oils, and plant-based emollients (beeswax-based lip balm)
- Fragrance allergens / essential oil sensitivity
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 7
- wax, oils, pigments (standard lip color base)
- Fragrance allergens and essential oils
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 8
- Oil-based lip product (mineral oil, plant oils, waxes)
- Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
What the evidence says about PFAS in lip balm
A 2021 University of Notre Dame study screened more than 200 cosmetics and found high fluorine, an indicator of PFAS use, in 56 percent of foundations and eye products, 48 percent of lip products and 47 percent of mascaras, and only one of the 29 products found to contain specific PFAS listed them on the label. The US FDA reported in December 2025 that eye shadows, leave-on face products, eyeliners, face powders and foundations make up about 56 percent of PFAS-containing cosmetics, and that toxicological data for most of the PFAS it evaluated are incomplete. Vermont has banned cosmetics with intentionally added PFAS since January 2026, and Oregon’s ban starts in January 2027.
- StudyA University of Notre Dame study screened more than 200 cosmetics and found high fluorine, an indicator of PFAS use, in 56 percent of foundations and eye products, 48 percent of lip products and 47 percent of mascaras. University of Notre Dame ↗
- StudyIn the same study, 29 high-fluorine products tested further contained between four and 13 specific PFAS, and only one of them listed PFAS as an ingredient on its label. University of Notre Dame ↗
- Government sourceThe FDA’s December 2025 report says PFAS-containing products were 0.41 percent of cosmetics registered as of August 2024, and that eye shadows, leave-on face and neck products, eyeliners, face powders and foundations make up about 56 percent of them. US FDA report ↗
- Government sourceThe FDA evaluated the 25 most frequently used PFAS in cosmetics, about 96 percent of those intentionally added, and found toxicological data for most of them incomplete or unavailable. US FDA ↗
- Regulatory filingVermont’s attorney general says state law has barred selling cosmetic products with intentionally added PFAS in any amount since January 1, 2026. Vermont Office of the Attorney General ↗
- Regulatory filingOregon’s SB 546 bars manufacturers from knowingly selling cosmetics with intentionally added PFAS above the practical quantification limit, from January 1, 2027. Oregon Legislature ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.
Questions people ask about lip balm
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Every lip balm that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. A higher score means lower PFAS risk. Scored against 4 hazards that apply to this category.
| # | Lip Balm | Score | Rating | Made of | Key concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Becca Cosmetics BECCA x Chrissy Teigen Glow Gloss | 75 | Excellent | Glycerin, silicones, pigments, film-formers (typical liquid cosmetic gloss) | Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components |
| 2 | Burt's Bees 3 Burts Bees Liquid Lipstick 802 Niagra Nude 0.2oz Ea | 75 | Excellent | Liquid lipstick, likely pigments, oils, and waxes | Fragrance allergens or sensitizers |
| 3 | Burt's Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lipstick, Fuchsia Flood, 1 Tube, Pink | 75 | Excellent | Natural waxes and oils (beeswax, plant oils, pigments) | Lead |
| 4 | Burt's Bees Gloss and Glow Glossy Balm | 75 | Excellent | Wax-based balm (beeswax, plant oils, minimal synthetic content) | Allergenic fragrance compounds |
| 5 | Burt's Bees Lip Gloss | 75 | Excellent | Wax, oils, and natural emollients (typical formulation) | Fragrance allergens (if scented variant) |
| 6 | BURT'S BEES/LIP SHINE | 75 | Excellent | Natural waxes, oils, and plant-based emollients (beeswax-based lip balm) | Fragrance allergens / essential oil sensitivity |
| 7 | Burt's Bees Lipstick Iced Iris | 75 | Excellent | wax, oils, pigments (standard lip color base) | Fragrance allergens and essential oils |
| 8 | Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Lips Healthy Glow Nectar Lip Oil | 75 | Excellent | Oil-based lip product (mineral oil, plant oils, waxes) | Fragrance allergens and sensitizers |
The verdict on lip balm
Becca Cosmetics BECCA x Chrissy Teigen Glow Gloss grades 75 out of 100, the highest here. It is glycerin, silicones, pigments, film-formers (typical liquid cosmetic gloss). We found no PFAS statement from the brand, so the grade rests on materials alone.
Choose Burt's Bees 3 Burts Bees Liquid Lipstick 802 Niagra Nude 0.2oz Ea instead if you want a second option at 75 out of 100, liquid lipstick, likely pigments, oils, and waxes.
We hold no price data, so nothing here is a budget recommendation. Grades are model-based assessments from published materials and disclosures, not laboratory tests.
The lip balm we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 30Bobbi Brown Luxe Liquid LipPoor
Heavy metals
- 30CHANEL LE ROUGE DUO ULTRA TENUE Ultrawear Liquid Lip Colour, Pink, 0.26 FL. OZ., Lipstick,LiquidPoor
PFAS
- 30CHANEL Rouge Allure Laque Ultrawear Shine Liquid Lip ColourPoor
Formaldehyde / VOCs
What we check on lip balm
- Heavy metals. Lead, cadmium, arsenic and others that accumulate in the body. FDA
- Lead. A heavy metal with no safe exposure level, especially for children. ATSDR
- Endocrine disruptors. Chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormone system. NIEHS
- Parabens. Cosmetic preservatives studied for weak hormone activity. FDA
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The lip balm brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 19 of the brands here. That is our research, not proof a brand has never said anything, and it is not evidence of harm. It is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Armani Beauty, Becca Cosmetics, Clarins, Dior, Dr. Bronner's, EOS, Glossier, Huda Beauty, Kylie Cosmetics, L'Oréal, Laura Mercier, Lip Smacker.
The brands that have published something, and what each of them actually said, are in our record of what every brand has said about PFAS.
Common questions about PFAS in lip balm
Is lip balm PFAS free?
204 of the 240 lip balm products PFAS Authority has graded reach its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 85% of the category, as of October 2026, and 36 score below it. The highest graded is Becca Cosmetics BECCA x Chrissy Teigen Glow Gloss at 75 out of 100. The lowest graded is Bobbi Brown Luxe Liquid Lip at 30 out of 100.
Is lip balm non-toxic?
204 of the 240 lip balm products we graded clear our screen and 36 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on lip balm products in this category are undisclosed fragrance, microplastics, VOCs and off-gassing, artificial dyes, 1,4-dioxane. The highest graded here is Becca Cosmetics BECCA x Chrissy Teigen Glow Gloss at 75 out of 100.
What is the safest lip balm to buy?
On our grades, Becca Cosmetics BECCA x Chrissy Teigen Glow Gloss at 75 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. Then Burt's Bees 3 Burts Bees Liquid Lipstick 802 Niagra Nude 0.2oz Ea at 75. These are model-based assessments from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and disclosures, not laboratory tests, so treat them as the lowest risk we can evidence rather than a safety guarantee.
Which lip balm grades best for PFAS?
Becca Cosmetics BECCA x Chrissy Teigen Glow Gloss, at 75 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is glycerin, silicones, pigments, film-formers (typical liquid cosmetic gloss). The runner up is Burt's Bees 3 Burts Bees Liquid Lipstick 802 Niagra Nude 0.2oz Ea at 75.
Which lip balm should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Bobbi Brown Luxe Liquid Lip at 30, CHANEL LE ROUGE DUO ULTRA TENUE Ultrawear Liquid Lip Colour, Pink, 0.26 FL. OZ., Lipstick,Liquid at 30, CHANEL Rouge Allure Laque Ultrawear Shine Liquid Lip Colour at 30. The problem with the first is that lower-concern formulation, but waterproof liquid cosmetics warrant caution.
How can you tell if lip balm contains PFAS?
In this category we check for heavy metals, lead, endocrine disruptors, parabens. Lead, cadmium, arsenic and others that accumulate in the body. Language like stain resistant, water repellent or easy release usually means fluorinated chemistry even when PFAS is never printed on the box.
Which lip balm brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 19 of the brands we scored in this category, including Armani Beauty, Becca Cosmetics, Clarins, Dior, Dr. Bronner's, EOS. That is what our research turned up, not proof a brand has never said anything, and a missing statement is not evidence of harm. It is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test lip balm?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
More beauty and personal care categories we have graded
Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to lip balm.
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Does a particular brand of lip balm have PFAS?
Brands we grade across the catalogue
Everything we have scored from these brands, not just lip balm.
We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Lip Balm & Long-Wear Lipstick, 240 Products and the Long-Wear Split
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 240 lip balm.