The Best Beautycounter Lipstick + My Favorite Shades

Beautycounter has been discontinued! Read about what happened to Beautycounter (and when it might come back) here. In the meantime, I have lots of great recommendations for Beautycounter product swaps linked in this post. If you’re looking for a specific shade swap, feel free to leave a comment on this post and I’ll try to help!

Also, be sure to join my email list so you can be the first to know when your Beautycounter favorites come back.

When I was younger, I was perfectly happy with just a simple lip balm or nothing at all on my lips. Now that I’m nearing 40, I don’t feel fully ready without a lip gloss or lipstick, even if I just swipe on a neutral, sheer shade. I also love a bold lipstick too; while a heavy eyeshadow look has always felt funny on me, lipstick has always felt comfortable and natural. It’s easier and faster to dress up my makeup routine that way too – I just keep eyes neutral and put on a bright lip!

Even on days that I don’t feel my best, a bright lip really makes me feel alive. When I was in the early stages of postpartum life, I had so many people say that I looked too good for not sleeping much, and I truly give a bold lip, a polished brow, and concealer credit. Just a couple products (and always a lip color) work magic for making me feel more polished and pulled together.

But, until I discovered Beautycounter and fell in love with the brand, I never bought expensive lipstick. Nope, I’ve never even owned a MAC lipstick or even a Clinique one. I just bought the $5-$10 options at the drugstore. But, after I started learning more about what is in most lipstick and glosses, I started buying Beautycounter’s lipstick and lip glosses instead. (The fact that they have a Never List with ingredients they’ll never use — even though most color cosmetic companies in the U.S. do — gives me comfort in knowing their products are safe.)

Best Beautycounter Lipstick

Beautycounter has four main lip products and they’re all a little different, so depending on what type of finish you like will impact the best one for you. If I had to pick just one, I’d go for the Sheer Genius lipstick. They all have a nice vanilla scent, except the hyaluronic lip balm.

Statement Maker Satin Lipstick – This is the boldest, most long lasting option. It applies very smoothly, like a balm, but the color and coverage is bold and more impactful than a gloss or glossy lipstick.

Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick – This is my personal favorite because it’s a blend of a balm and a lipstick, and the color it leaves is more natural and sheer than the Satin Lipstick. I also find it really hydrating and it’s sheer enough that I can apply without a mirror so it feels low maintenance and is great when I’m rushing around (which is most of the time).

Beyond Gloss – I’ve never been a huge gloss person because I always found them sticky (or they smelled bad), but I actually like these. Some shades are very sheer and others have more pigment for a bolder, but shiny, finish.

Clean Sweep Hyaluronic Lip Balm – The newest lip product from Beautycounter, the Clean Sweep Hyaluronic Lip Balm is a sheer, hydrating everyday option. It leaves a very (VERY) subtle wash of color, but mostly moisturizes and nourishes dry lips. It’s like a grown-up lip balm; no more Chapstick for you.

All of the Beautycounter makeup shades are designed to work on all skin tones, so it’s hard to go wrong with a lip color. But I definitely have some favorites, which I’ll share below.

Statement Maker Satin Lipstick

If you’re normally a lipstick wearer, you’ll love the Statement Maker Satin Lipstick. It’s everything that you love about lipstick AND it’s clean and safe. (Many color cosmetics use unsafe levels of lead.) There are 14 colors and they’re all vibrant and rich and last all day without drying out. Beautycounter actually worked on this lipstick for years and it replaced their old Color Intense Lipstick.

The old one was a little chalky until you warmed it up, left a mostly matte finish, and had a sort of minty smell. The new one applies MUCH smoother, leaves a satiny, full coverage finish, and has a subtle vanilla scent. The packaging is also tres chic. It was designed so that you could flip the lipstick over and use the angled edge as a liner!

Ingredients

Shea & Mango Butter – Helps smooth and soften lips.

Açai Fruit Oil – A natural skin conditioner that’s rich in fatty acids and antioxidants.

Jojoba Esters – Helps with the balmy glide feeling during application. It also helps provide better coverage.

Candelilla & Carnauba Wax – Help moisturize and condition.

 Beautycounter Statement Maker Satin Lipstick Colors

Independent: Cool Nude Pink

Confident: Dusty Pink

Inspired: Pink Coral

Captivating: Soft Brown Pink

Brilliant: Rose Plum

Savvy: Neutral Berry

Brave: Warm Pink

Electric: Vivid Pink

Energized: Orange Red

Vibrant: Blue Red

Passionate: Brick Red

Powerful: Deep Burgundy

Daring: Rich Brown Red

Fearless: Warm Chestnut

Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick

The Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick is the perfect everyday lipstick. It’s smooth and ultra-moisturizing, which gives a really nice polished sheen look. It applies like a balm, i.e. you don’t need a mirror to apply it. I love this for everyday because it has more color than a regular gloss and stays on much longer than gloss, but doesn’t feel like a typical lipstick. The sheer lipsticks get their moisturizing finish from plant-based ingredients such as jojoba esters, and their light scent from real vanilla — not from synthetic flavors, fragrances, or ingredients linked to a negative impact on health.

Ingredients

Responsibly sourced vanilla – the subtle vanilla scent comes from ECOCERT-certified organic vanilla from Madagascar. Beautycounter intentionally chose their supplier because they are committed to improving the life of their famers while also only sourcing the best quality vanilla.

Jojoba esters – Give the lipstick the balmy texture and polished sheen.

Beautycounter Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick Colors

Lily, Petal and Twig are my three favorite shades since they’re all subtle. Lily is such a pretty, soft pink. Petal is very similar but doesn’t have the slight shimmer of Lily. And Twig is my go-to for something when I want a tiny bit of color but not really. It’s super natural-looking, but flattering.

Pearl: Clear With Soft Shimmer

Petal: Light Pink

Orchid: Cool Berry

Rose: Vibrant Pink

Lily: Luminous Neutral Pink

Terra: Earthy Pink

Twig: Rosy Beige

Rosewood: Warm Neutral

Plum: True Berry

Raisin: Brown Berry

Beyond Gloss

One thing that I normally hate about lip gloss is how sticky it feels, but Beyond Gloss doesn’t feel sticky at all. It’s smooth and has a tiny bit of a vanilla scent and uses vitamin E instead of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a preservative commonly used in lip products that may have harmful health effects. All of these are safe for pregnancy, just like all their skincare products I used during pregnancy.

It’s very shiny and just a little swipe goes a long way. I really like the applicator too. These are always stashed away in my purses and tote bags, as well as my car and office.

Ingredients

Responsibly sourced vanilla – This is the same ECOCERT-certified organic vanilla from Madagascar that I mentioned above.

Jojoba seed oil – Gives the ultra-cushiony wear that stays put, without feeling sticky. This is also a safer option than the potentially harmful ingredients like plasticizers and phthalates, which are common in most lip glosses on the market.

Tocopherol (vitamin E) – Helps maintain the integrity of the gloss over time, and it also helps with conditioning and provides functional antioxidants.

My favorites are Peony and Dahlia for a wash of sheer pink color, and I like Brulee for layering over lipstick for a little shiny and shimmer.

Beautycounter Beyond Gloss Colors

Brûlée: Beige Shimmer

Quartz Shimmer: Clear Shimmer

Mulberry: Deep Plum

Spice: Warm Neutral Shimmer

Rosewood: Warm Neutral

Bare Shimmer: Neutral Pink With Golden Shimmer

Peony: Warm Pink

Raspberry: Sheer Bright Pink

Dahlia: Cool Pink

Black Plum: Deep Eggplant

Magnolia Shimmer: Mauve With Silver Shimmer

Sienna: Sheer Raisin

Amber Shimmer: Warm Amber Shimmer

Clove: Warm Beige

Clean Swipe Hyaluronic Lip Balm

The Hyaluronic Lip Balm is a newer product to Beautycounter, and honestly an essential one, now that I have it! Think of this as your everyday chapstick or lip balm. It has all the hydrating benefits you want in a lip balm (with only the best skin-care ingredients), but it also comes in 4 shades, so that you can have a subtle wash of color too!

Ingredients

Hyaluronic Acid – This is the main call-out for this lip balm. Hyaluronic acid a powerhouse for hydration (many people use an HA serum as part of their skincare routine for this reason) and helps make the lips look more plump!

Blend of Mango & Murumuru Seed Butters – These are rich in fatty acids and help soften and smooth the lips (but don’t leave a greasy finish). They also aid in hydration.

Blend of Jojoba Seed & Avocado Oils – Help mimic the skin’s natural lipids which means they help retain moisture.

I have Plush and it’s very pretty!

Clean Swipe Hyaluronic Lip Balm

Nada: Translucent

Pinch: Rosy Pink

Bitten: Warm Berry

Plush: Warm Pink

One of the nice things about Beautycounter lip products is that the colors are designed to work on every skin tone. That makes it much easier for me to venture out and try new shades since buying lipstick online can be a little risky. But, Beautycounter also has a 60 day return policy, for a full refund, no questions asked, no matter how much you’ve used. They even cover return shipping! So, if you get a shade that just isn’t for you, send it back.

Beautycounter’s lip products are also safer than most lipsticks you’ll find on the market. They test all of their makeup for lead (some major brands have been tested and have high levels of lead in them) and they even audit their mica suppliers. And they NEVER use synthetic fragrance in any of their products.

I hope this was helpful! You may also like these posts if you’re shopping with Beautycounter!

How to Save Money on Beautycounter

My Favorite Beautycounter Products (and the ones I don’t like)

Beautycounter Flawless in Five Review

Shop The Post