I don’t often wear makeup. But, when I do, I almost always grab for lipstick. Sometimes I just need to add a little bit of color to my face. Sometimes I just want to dress up a little extra for a special occasion.

In doing some research on how best to choose a color (more on that another time), however, I unfortunately discovered that many of my favorite lipsticks contain lead. A quick search for lead-free lipsticks revealed that even many of the “natural” organic lipsticks contain titanium dioxide, which has been deemed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer to be a potential carcinogenic. Although titanium dioxide has been found to be most harmful when inhaled, and to not be absorbed through skin, I still don’t like the idea of potentially ingesting it.

Here are three lipsticks that are both free of lead and titanium dioxide (listed in order of safety, as deemed by the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database):

1. Cora, from Au Naturale

These lipsticks are made in the U.S.A. and are vegan, as well as gluten- and cruelty-free. 10% of sales go to supporting the non-profit NGO Zamibia Open Community Schools. Lipsticks come in 11 shades.

Ingredients: Organic Castor Oil, Organic Theobrama Caco (Coca) Seed Butter, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Wildcrafted Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Organic Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Oil; Hydorgenated Castor Oil, Organic Persea Gratissima (Avacado) Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avacado) Butter, Organic Macadamia Ternifolia (Macadamia) Nut Oil, Iron Oxides, Mica, Kaolin

2. Sun Dial (pure red), from Coastal Classic Creations

Coastal Classic Creations prides itself on its responsible packaging. Like Au Naturale, they also offer products that are cruelty free, and donate a percentage of their proceeds to an array of health and human services, cultural, and environmental organizations. Lipsticks come in 6 shades.

Ingredients: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil; Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax; Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax; Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil; Citrus Aurantium (Orange) Oil; Cymbopogon Citrus (Lemongrass) Oil; Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492)

5. Magnolia, from 100% Pure

100% Pure uses fruit pigments to dye their lipsticks, which are cruelty free. Like Coastal Classic Creations, they use responsible packaging, and donate to a wide range of organizations. Lipsticks come in 8 shades.

Ingredients: Butyrospermum Parkii (Organic Shea Butter)*,Punica Granatum (Organic Pomegranate)* Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Organic Cocoa)* Seed Butter, Extracts of Prunus Cerasus (Organic Cherry)* Fruit, Prunus Domestica (Organic Plum)* Fruit, Vitis Vinifera (Cabernet Grape) Fruit, Rubus Idaeus (Organic Raspberry)* Fruit, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Organic Blueberry)* Fruit, Rubus Fruticosus (Organic Blackberry)* Fruit, Prunus Persica (Organic Peach)* Fruit, Prunus Armeniaca (Organic Apricot)* Fruit, Solanum Lycopersicum (Organic Tomato)* Fruit/Leaf/Stem, Punica Granatum (Organic Pomegranate)*, Cacao (Organic Chocolate)*, Rosa Centifolia (Organic Rose Petals)* Flower, Lavandula Angustifolia (Organic Lavender)* Flower/Leaf/Stem and Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Powder, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract * Certified Organic

How about you? Are you also concerned about the ingredients in cosmetics? What is your favorite lipstick?