I Compared Three Popular Clean Beauty Lipsticks
Here’s What I Found
September 20, 2026
My Clean Beauty Bottom Line
After comparing all three lipsticks, one thing became clear to me: choosing cleaner ingredients doesn't mean giving up the rich color, comfortable wear, or polished finish you expect from a traditional lipstick.
All three have strong overall ingredient profiles, but they take very different approaches to formulation, pigments, finish, and organic ingredients. The best choice depends on the type of finish you prefer, which ingredients matter most to you, and even the individual shade you choose.
Choose 100% PURE Fruit Pigmented Cocoa Butter Matte Lipstick if you want...
Rich, full-coverage color with a true matte finish
A particularly plant-focused lipstick formula
Nourishing ingredients including cocoa butter, shea butter, avocado oil, and vitamin E
Long-wearing color without choosing a traditional liquid lipstick
A formula without synthetic fragrance
A vegan lipstick
A wide range of shades
A lipstick that avoids many of the ingredients I personally prefer to leave out of my makeup
Shades such as Cassia, Cacti, Mojave, Sahara, or Wine Cup, which are the options I prefer based on available pigment information
Skip it if: You strongly prefer a creamy or satin finish, your lips tend to be very dry, or you're looking for completely transfer-proof color.
Choose Kjaer Weis Lipstick – Iconic Edition if you want...
A creamy, comfortable satin finish
Buildable color that can be worn more softly or layered for greater intensity
An impressive amount of certified-organic ingredients
Nourishing ingredients including castor oil, shea butter, olive oil, and rosehip seed oil
A luxury lipstick with refillable packaging
A brand that clearly identifies differences in the colorants used across its shades
A lipstick where organic ingredients are a particularly high priority
Shades such as Believe and Genuine, which are the options I prefer from a pigment perspective
Skip it if: You need a vegan lipstick, want completely disclosed fragrance components, prefer a completely transfer-proof formula, or don't want to spend luxury-lipstick prices.
Choose Rituel de Fille Forbidden Lipstick if you want...
Richly pigmented color from a relatively simple formula
A choice of crème, crème-matte, and semi-matte finishes
Nourishing ingredients including castor oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, and vitamin E
Excellent shade-level ingredient transparency
Clearly disclosed fragrance ingredients rather than an undisclosed synthetic fragrance blend
A lipstick that avoids many of the ingredients I personally prefer to leave out of my makeup
A less mainstream clean beauty brand with a particularly thoughtful approach to color cosmetics
Shades such as Ravenous and Carnal, which are some of the options I prefer based on their pigment profiles
Skip it if: You need a vegan lipstick, are sensitive to lavender oil, certified-organic ingredients are one of your biggest priorities, or you're looking for completely transfer-proof color.
My Final Thoughts
If I had to describe each lipstick in one sentence, here's how I'd sum them up:
100% PURE is the plant-focused matte choice, combining a nourishing base of plant oils and butters with rich, full-coverage color and a wide shade range.
Kjaer Weis is the organic-focused luxury choice, combining a creamy satin finish, meaningful use of certified-organic ingredients, buildable color, and refillable packaging.
Rituel de Fille is the transparency-focused choice, combining a relatively simple formula and rich color with unusually helpful shade-specific ingredient information.
One thing I think is especially important with lipstick is that the shade matters. Different colors within the same collection can use different pigments, which is why I've included the shades I prefer within each review rather than assuming every shade has the same ingredient profile.
All three lipsticks avoid many of the ingredients I personally prefer to leave out of my makeup, while still offering distinctly different experiences. If you want full-coverage matte color and a particularly plant-focused formula, 100% PURE stands out. If certified-organic ingredients, a creamy satin finish, and refillable packaging appeal to you, Kjaer Weis is worth considering. And if shade-level transparency and a simpler formula are especially important, Rituel de Fille offers something a little different.
Ultimately, the best clean lipstick is the one that fits both your ingredient standards and the color, finish, and feel you actually want to wear.
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner of other brands, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that meet my research criteria and that I believe are worth considering.
Finding a clean lipstick isn't always as simple as choosing the one labeled "clean." Every brand has its own philosophy, ingredient standards, and formulation approach, and even shades within the same lipstick collection can use different pigments.
To help simplify the process, I researched and compared several clean lipsticks using The Clean Beauty Lifestyle Rating System. Rather than relying on marketing claims alone, every product is evaluated using the same transparent criteria for Ingredient Quality, Fragrance Transparency, Organic Ingredients, and Overall Rating.
If you're new to my reviews, I recommend reading How We Rate Products to see exactly how products earn their scores. You can also visit Ingredients to Avoid in Clean Beauty to learn more about the ingredient categories that are commonly discussed throughout my reviews and why some consumers choose to avoid them.
For this comparison, I evaluated each lipstick for ingredient quality, formula and fragrance transparency, pigments, nourishing ingredients, finish, comfort, wear, and overall performance. I also looked more closely at individual shades when shade-specific ingredient information was available, since the pigment profile can vary within the same lipstick collection.
While no lipstick is perfect for everyone, the products below were selected because they combine cleaner ingredient standards with formulas designed to provide the color and performance you would expect from a traditional lipstick.
Whether you're looking for full-coverage matte color, a creamy satin finish, or rich color with several finish options, there's an option that may be a great fit for your preferences.
For this comparison, I'm looking at 100% PURE Fruit Pigmented® Cocoa Butter Matte Lipstick, Kjaer Weis Lipstick – Iconic Edition, and Rituel de Fille Forbidden Lipstick.
Let's take a closer look at how they compare.
100% PURE Fruit Pigmented Cocoa Butter Matte Lipstick
100% PURE Fruit Pigmented Cocoa Butter Matte Lipstick combines rich, full-coverage color with a plant-rich formula designed to feel more comfortable than a traditional matte lipstick.
After reviewing the formula, ingredients, shade options, and performance, I found it offers an impressive balance of ingredient quality, nourishing plant oils and butters, and long-wearing color. While some shades have better pigment profiles than others, overall, this is a strong option for anyone looking for a cleaner alternative to conventional matte lipstick.
The Clean Beauty Lifestyle Rating
Ingredient Quality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fragrance Transparency ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Organic Ingredients ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Overall Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What I Like
Ingredient Quality: A Thoughtfully Formulated Lipstick
The formula is one of the biggest reasons this lipstick stands out.
It combines plant oils, butters, waxes, and botanical extracts while leaving out many of the ingredients I commonly look to avoid, including:
No parabens
No phthalates
No mineral oil or petrolatum
No PEGs
No phenoxyethanol
No synthetic fragrance
For a full-coverage color cosmetic, I think the overall ingredient profile is particularly impressive.
Nourishing Ingredients for a More Comfortable Matte Finish
Matte lipsticks can sometimes leave lips feeling dry, so I like that this formula incorporates several nourishing ingredients:
Cocoa butter helps condition the lips and reduce moisture loss.
Shea butter provides nourishing fatty acids that help soften dry lips.
Avocado oil helps moisturize and condition the lips.
Vitamin E provides antioxidant benefits while supporting the moisturizing formula.
These ingredients give the lipstick a more conditioning base while still allowing it to deliver a true matte finish.
Full Coverage With Long-Wearing Color
100% PURE describes this lipstick as full coverage with a matte finish and long-wearing color.
I like that it provides the richer color payoff you would expect from a traditional lipstick without requiring a more conventional formula.
Good Fragrance Transparency
Synthetic fragrance is one of the first things I look for in lip products because they're applied directly around the mouth.
This formula doesn't rely on an undisclosed synthetic fragrance blend, and the ingredients used in the formula are disclosed. That level of transparency is especially important to me in a product worn directly on the lips.
Some Shades Have Better Pigment Profiles Than Others
The pigment profile can vary depending on the shade you choose.
Based on available shade-specific ingredient information, Cassia, Cacti, Mojave, Sahara, and Wine Cup are the shades I prefer. Their pigment profiles appear to rely primarily on colorants such as iron oxides, manganese violet, titanium dioxide, and chlorophyllin rather than some of the synthetic colorants found in other shades.
Because cosmetic formulas can change, I still recommend checking the current ingredient list when choosing a shade.
Things to Consider
Matte Lipstick Can Still Feel Dry
Even with cocoa butter, shea butter, and plant oils in the formula, this is still a matte lipstick.
If your lips are already very dry or chapped, you may find it more comfortable with a light layer of lip balm underneath. Those who prefer creamy or glossy lip products may also find a matte finish less comfortable.
Long-Wearing Doesn't Mean Transfer-Proof
The lipstick is designed for long-lasting color, but it isn't a completely transfer-proof formula.
Some fading or transfer throughout the day, especially while eating and drinking, should still be expected.
Shade Selection Matters
If minimizing certain synthetic colorants is important to you, I would pay attention to the shade rather than choosing based on color alone.
Cassia, Cacti, Mojave, Sahara, and Wine Cup are the shades I prefer based on their available pigment information.
Higher Price Point
This is priced higher than a typical drugstore lipstick.
The higher price reflects a more ingredient-conscious formula with plant oils, butters, and botanical ingredients, but it's still something to consider if you only wear lipstick occasionally.
My Overall Thoughts
100% PURE Fruit Pigmented Cocoa Butter Matte Lipstick stands out for combining rich, full-coverage color with a thoughtfully formulated, plant-rich base.
I especially like the nourishing oils and butters, long-wearing matte color, and strong overall ingredient profile. Shade selection is worth paying attention to, with Cassia, Cacti, Mojave, Sahara, and Wine Cup being the options I prefer from a pigment perspective.
If you're looking for a cleaner matte lipstick that still provides the color payoff and wear you expect from a traditional lipstick, I think this is a strong option to consider.
Kjaer Weis Lipstick – Iconic Edition
Kjaer Weis Lipstick combines rich, buildable color with a creamy satin finish and a formula built around nourishing oils, butters, and waxes.
After reviewing the formula, ingredients, shade options, and performance, I found it offers an impressive combination of ingredient quality, meaningful use of certified-organic ingredients, and comfortable, long-wearing color. The refillable metal packaging is another thoughtful feature, especially for anyone who finds a shade they plan to repurchase.
The Clean Beauty Lifestyle Rating
Ingredient Quality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fragrance Transparency ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Organic Ingredients ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What I Like
Ingredient Quality: A Thoughtfully Formulated Lipstick
Kjaer Weis uses a plant-rich formula that leaves out many of the ingredients I commonly look to avoid.
The formula contains no parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, petrolatum, PEGs, or phenoxyethanol.
I also appreciate that Kjaer Weis provides information about the colorants used in its shades rather than treating every lipstick in the collection as though it has the same pigment profile.
Nourishing Ingredients for Comfortable Color
The formula includes several ingredients that help give the lipstick its creamy, conditioning feel:
Castor seed oil helps condition the lips and creates a smooth base for color.
Shea butter helps soften the lips and reduce moisture loss.
Olive oil provides additional moisturizing and conditioning benefits.
Rosehip seed oil provides nourishing fatty acids and antioxidant benefits.
Together, these ingredients help create a creamy lipstick that feels more conditioning than many traditional matte formulas.
Creamy, Buildable Color
Kjaer Weis describes the lipstick as moisture-rich and long-wearing with a creamy satin finish.
The color is also buildable, allowing you to apply a softer layer or build it up for richer, more saturated color. This makes it a versatile option if you don't always want the same level of coverage from your lipstick.
Meaningful Use of Certified-Organic Ingredients
Organic ingredients are one of the biggest strengths of this formula.
Ingredients including castor oil, beeswax, carnauba wax, shea butter, olive oil, Root of Light extract, and rosehip oil are identified as coming from certified-organic agriculture.
Many shades also qualify for organic certification, which is particularly impressive for a color cosmetic and earns this lipstick five stars for organic ingredients.
Some Shades Have Better Pigment Profiles Than Others
Kjaer Weis makes it relatively easy to identify which shades contain added synthetic colorants.
If minimizing synthetic colorants is important to you, Believe and Genuine are the shades I prefer.
Other shades contain a small amount of synthetic colorants and don't qualify for the same organic certification. I appreciate that Kjaer Weis discloses this difference rather than making a blanket claim about the entire shade range.
Things to Consider
Natural Fragrance Isn't Fully Disclosed
Kjaer Weis uses a fragrance blend made from essential oils and extracts that the brand says is entirely natural in origin and approved for use in organic products.
However, the exact components of the blend are proprietary. I would prefer to see each fragrance component disclosed, particularly for people with fragrance sensitivities.
For that reason, this lipstick earns four rather than five stars for fragrance transparency.
Not Vegan
The formula contains beeswax, and some shades may also contain carmine.
If you're specifically looking for a vegan lipstick, this won't be the right option.
Long-Wearing, but Not Transfer-Proof
The creamy satin formula is designed to provide long-wearing color, but it isn't completely transfer-proof.
Some transfer and fading throughout the day should still be expected, particularly while eating and drinking.
Premium Price
With the premium price, this is definitely a luxury lipstick.
However, the metal case is designed to be reused. Once you own it, you can purchase a lower-priced refill rather than replacing the entire package each time.
That doesn't make it inexpensive, but it makes the initial investment more practical if you find a shade you wear regularly.
My Overall Thoughts
Kjaer Weis Lipstick stands out for combining creamy, buildable color with an exceptionally strong ingredient profile and meaningful use of certified-organic ingredients.
I especially like the nourishing oils and butters, comfortable satin finish, refillable packaging, and the brand's transparency about differences between shades. Believe and Genuine are the shades I prefer from a pigment perspective.
If you're looking for a luxury clean lipstick with comfortable color, strong organic credentials, and packaging designed to be reused, I think Kjaer Weis Lipstick is an excellent option to consider.
Rituel de Fille Forbidden Lipstick
Rituel de Fille may be a lesser-known name than some of the other clean beauty brands I've reviewed, but that doesn't mean it's a lesser-quality option. Forbidden Lipstick combines rich color with a relatively simple formula built around plant oils, natural waxes, and thoughtfully selected pigments.
After reviewing the formula, individual shade ingredients, and performance, I found it offers excellent ingredient quality, impressive transparency, and rich color without many of the ingredients commonly found in conventional lipstick.
The Clean Beauty Lifestyle Rating
Ingredient Quality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fragrance Transparency ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Organic Ingredients ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Overall Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What I Like
Ingredient Quality: A Simple, Thoughtfully Formulated Lipstick
One of the first things that stands out about Forbidden Lipstick is its relatively simple formula.
It leaves out many of the ingredients I commonly look to avoid, including:
No parabens
No phthalates
No mineral oil or petrolatum
No PEGs
No phenoxyethanol
No synthetic fragrance
I also appreciate that Rituel de Fille provides ingredient information for individual shades, making it easier to see how the formulas and pigments differ across the collection.
Nourishing Ingredients for Comfortable Color
Forbidden Lipstick uses a streamlined combination of oils and waxes to create its creamy texture while helping condition the lips.
Some of the most notable ingredients include:
Castor seed oil helps condition the lips and creates a smooth base for color.
Jojoba seed oil helps soften the lips and reduce moisture loss.
Sunflower seed oil provides additional moisturizing and conditioning benefits.
Vitamin E provides antioxidant benefits while supporting the moisturizing formula.
Together, these ingredients create a nourishing base without requiring a long or complicated ingredient list.
Rich Color With a Creamy Finish
Forbidden Lipstick provides highly pigmented color while maintaining a creamy, comfortable texture.
Depending on the shade, finishes range from crème to crème-matte and semi-matte. This gives you more flexibility depending on whether you prefer a creamier lipstick or something with a more matte appearance.
The oil-and-wax base also makes this an appealing option if you want noticeable color without the particularly dry feel that can come with some matte lipsticks.
Some Shades Have Better Pigment Profiles Than Others
Rituel de Fille provides ingredient information for individual shades, which makes it easier to evaluate the pigments used in each color.
From a pigment perspective, Ravenous and Carnal are some of the shades I prefer. These shades rely on combinations of pigments such as iron oxides, carmine, annatto, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide without the conventional synthetic red and yellow dyes or lakes that I prefer to avoid in lip products.
Because pigment ingredients can vary from one shade to another, I still recommend checking the current ingredient list before choosing a color.
Complete Fragrance Transparency
Forbidden Lipstick gets its naturally floral and herbaceous aroma from lavender oil along with the natural scent of ingredients such as beeswax.
Rather than using an undisclosed synthetic fragrance blend, Rituel de Fille identifies where the scent comes from. That level of disclosure earns the product five stars for fragrance transparency.
Things to Consider
Lavender Oil May Not Work for Everyone
Although lavender oil is naturally derived and clearly disclosed, essential oils can still cause irritation for some people.
If you're particularly sensitive to lavender or prefer completely unscented lip products, this is something to keep in mind.
Not Vegan
The formula contains beeswax, and several shades use carmine to create their color.
Both are animal-derived ingredients, so Forbidden Lipstick isn't suitable for someone specifically looking for a vegan lip color.
Organic Ingredients Aren't the Main Focus
The formula does include some certified-organic ingredients, including sunflower seed oil and rosemary extract.
However, organic ingredients aren't used as extensively throughout the formula as they are in some other clean lipsticks I've reviewed. That's why this product earns three stars for organic ingredients despite its otherwise excellent ingredient profile.
Wear Can Vary by Finish
Because the collection includes crème, crème-matte, and semi-matte shades, staying power can vary depending on the color and finish you choose.
Creamier shades may transfer or need to be reapplied after eating and drinking. If you're looking specifically for a completely transfer-proof lipstick, this isn't designed to perform like a long-wear liquid formula.
Higher Price Point
Forbidden Lipstick costs more than a typical drugstore lipstick, making it another premium option.
You're paying for a thoughtfully formulated product with a relatively simple ingredient list and unusually good shade-level transparency, but the higher price is still something to consider if you don't wear lipstick frequently.
My Overall Thoughts
Rituel de Fille Forbidden Lipstick stands out for its simple ingredient base, nourishing plant oils, rich color, and impressive shade-level ingredient transparency.
I especially appreciate being able to see the ingredients used in individual shades rather than relying on a single general pigment list. For those particularly concerned about pigments, Ravenous and Carnal are some of the shades I prefer for their straightforward pigment profiles.
If you're looking for a richly pigmented clean lipstick with a thoughtfully formulated ingredient list and several finish options, I think Forbidden Lipstick is well worth considering.