Lip balm is unique in the personal care category: you apply it repeatedly throughout the day, and a portion of it is inevitably ingested. That makes ingredient quality especially worth paying attention to. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), an independent nonprofit, rates lip products in its Skin Deep® database and grants EWG VERIFIED® status to brands that meet its strictest ingredient standards. We've pulled together the top EWG VERIFIED® lip balms and the best EWG Skin Deep-rated picks with SPF protection. NonToxicFinder is not affiliated with EWG.
Our Top Picks: Best EWG-Rated Lip Balms
| Product | EWG Status | SPF? | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATTITUDE Lip Balm, Fragrance-Free (Shea Butter) | EWG VERIFIED® | No | Check price → |
| Badger Organic Lip Balm, Unscented 4-Pack | EWG Skin Deep: Low Hazard | No | Check price → |
Ingredients to Avoid in Lip Balm (Per EWG Skin Deep)
EWG Skin Deep flags several common lip balm ingredients as higher-concern: synthetic fragrance (an umbrella term for undisclosed chemical mixes), certain preservatives like BHA and BHT, oxybenzone (a chemical UV filter rated high-concern by EWG in Skin Deep), and artificial colorants. The EWG VERIFIED® lip balms on this list avoid these ingredients by definition. For Skin Deep-rated options, we've selected those with scores of 1–2 and simple, disclosed ingredient lists.
Best EWG Verified® Lip Balm
ATTITUDE Lip Balm, Fragrance-Free (Shea Butter) — EWG VERIFIED®
EWG Status: EWG VERIFIED®
ATTITUDE's lip balm earns EWG VERIFIED® status — the highest EWG designation, requiring full ingredient disclosure and avoidance of EWG's restricted chemicals. Shea butter-based, fragrance-free, and formulated without parabens, phthalates, or synthetic fragrance. The fragrance-free variant is the EWG VERIFIED® pick; other ATTITUDE lip balms may use compliant flavors. At around $4–7 per stick, it's one of the most affordable EWG VERIFIED® lip balms available on Amazon.
Best Fragrance-Free and Unscented Lip Balm (EWG Rated)
Badger Organic Lip Balm, Unscented 4-Pack — EWG Skin Deep Low Hazard
EWG Status: EWG Skin Deep: Low Hazard (not EWG VERIFIED®)
Badger has been making simple, short-ingredient lip balms for years. Their Unflavored Organic Lip Balm rates low hazard on EWG Skin Deep with a simple formula: organic beeswax, castor oil, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin E. Certified organic. No synthetic fragrance, no artificial colors. At $5–8 per stick, it's an affordable and widely available entry point for EWG Skin Deep-rated lip care. Badger has not enrolled in EWG VERIFIED® for their lip care line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are any lip balms truly EWG VERIFIED®?
Yes — ATTITUDE's lip balm is EWG VERIFIED®. The VERIFIED® lip care category is small because it requires active brand enrollment, but ATTITUDE has consistently expanded their EWG VERIFIED® personal care line to include lip products. Check ewg.org/ewgverified for the current list of verified lip products.
Is zinc oxide SPF in lip balm safer than chemical SPF per EWG?
EWG Skin Deep consistently rates zinc oxide as lower-concern than chemical UV filters like oxybenzone and octinoxate. Mineral SPF lip balms using zinc oxide are rated more favorably by EWG. That said, SPF products are regulated by the FDA as over-the-counter drug products — SPF efficacy is an FDA-evaluated claim, not an EWG one.
What's the lowest EWG Skin Deep score possible for a lip balm?
EWG Skin Deep rates on a 1–10 scale; score 1 is the lowest hazard. Simple, short-ingredient lip balms with well-studied ingredients (beeswax, plant oils, vitamin E) typically score 1–2. The products on this list are all in the low hazard range.
Are flavored lip balms rated differently by EWG Skin Deep?
Flavored lip balms containing synthetic fragrance or artificial flavor compounds may score higher (worse) on EWG Skin Deep than fragrance-free versions. The fragrance-free and unflavored variants we list here score lower. If you prefer flavored options, use EWG Skin Deep to check the specific product variant.
The Bottom Line
For the highest EWG standard in lip balm, ATTITUDE Fragrance-Free Shea Butter Lip Balm is the only EWG VERIFIED® option on this list and our top pick. For a simple, budget-friendly unscented balm, Badger Organic Unscented 4-Pack keeps it clean at a low price. We earn a commission on purchases through our links — EWG's ratings, not commissions, determine what appears here. NonToxicFinder is not affiliated with EWG.
