Editor’s Pick: An All-Natural Tinted Lip Balm, Inspired by French Girls

Heard about French Girl Organics yet? 

About six months ago, I noticed the brand's gorgeous minimal packaging as I was flipping through the pages of my favourite beauty magazines. (It's been written up in Vogue, InStyle and Harper's Bazaar, to name a few.) 

Immediately, I knew that whatever they were selling, I had to have it. A French-inspired line that's also organic? Be still my beating heart! 

As it turns out, French Girl Organics got its start on Etsy back in 2010, where it is still sold. Founder Kristeen Griffin-Grimes is based in Seattle, but has French-Cajun roots, and her family leads tours every year in France's Languedoc province. Those trips, and a love for all things French, led her to create her own Etsy shop, inspired by the typical French girl's approach to beauty.

Everything is hand-made based on Kristeen's own original recipes (tested and used by her family for 20 years!). So far, there are about 80 products to choose from, ranging from skincare to fragrance to makeup; most are preservative-free and 100 percent organic, with no silicones or parabens. With a concept this compelling, I'm not surprised that stores such as Anthropologie, Goop and Nasty Gal have started carrying the line now, too.

Kristeen sent me a few things to try out—accompanied by the sweetest handwritten note! My absolute favourites are the Lip Tints, which I'm reviewing today!

These are the loveliest tinted lip balms that are 92 percent organic and vegan. The base is a combination of emollient waxes, butters and oils that deliver a smooth, moisturizing texture, spiked with a subtle rose-mint scent.

Here's the impressively pure ingredients list:

Olea europaea (Olive) Oil*, Euphorbia anisyphilitica (Candelilla) Wax* Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) Butter*, Sustainable Elaeis guineensis (Palm) Oil* Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Oil*, Rosa mosqueta (Rosehip) Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Azadirachta indica (Neem) Oil, Iron Oxides, Mica, Pelergoniun graveolens (Geranium), Mentha piperita (Peppermint) Essential Oils*, Mentha Spicata (Spearmint)*, Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Oil* *Certified Organic

Unlike many natural lip balms I've tried, these hydrate really well and give me zero irritation. But most of all, I'm in love with the sheer mineral colours and slightly glossy textures. 

Here's how they look on the lips. Please excuse the redness of my chest—I got a little too much sun!

Ambre Rose

Ambre Rose is described as a warm coral pink with a sheer finish. I always prefer warm to cool tones, and am a big fan of the orange family, so I love this for its ginger-ish tint. It's the perfect muted daytime shade, and would flatter every skin tone, especially people with warm or reddish tones in their hair. 

Where to buy: Etsy, Petit Vour, Formulary 55, Beautyhabit, Carbon Beauty

Aphrodesie

Aphrodesie is described as a red violet with a sheer finish. It looks like an electric purple in the tube, but on the lips, becomes a sugary, shiny pink. Usually, I can't pull off such cool tones, but this one is made wearable because it still lets some of your natural lip tone peek through. Very pretty!

Where to buy:Amazon.com, Etsy, Petit Vour, Formulary 55, Beautyhabit, Carbon Beauty

Cerise

Cerise is described as a crimson red with a bronze shimmer. It's much subtler on the lips, so if you're after a sheer warm red, you'll like this. I love how it brightens and wakes up your face, without the makeuppy look of full-fledged lipstick. Again, this would suit every skin tone.

Where to buy:Amazon.com, Etsy, Petit Vour, Formulary 55, Beautyhabit, Carbon Beauty

Rose Noir

Rose Noir is described as a black cherry red with a sheer finish. This is their bestseller, and I can see why—it gives an amazing blackened raisin hue, very similar to Clinique's cult-favourite Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. This is a wonderful fall or evening shade. It's dramatic, but the sheer quality keeps it looking fresh. Love!

Where to buy:Amazon.com, Etsy, Petit Vour, Formulary 55, Beautyhabit, Carbon Beauty

Sonali

Sonali is described as a peachy pink with a pearly shimmer. The frosted metallic finish won't be for everyone, but I personally love it. I know it's a little bit '80s, but I feel like this texture is making a comeback! It looks super-cool and against fresh, dewy skin. The actual hue is similar to the universally flattering NARS Orgasm Blush. 

Where to buy:Amazon.com, Etsy, Petit Vour, Formulary 55, Beautyhabit, Carbon Beauty

Terre Rouge

Terre Rouge is described as a terra cotta red with a coppery sheen. Out of all the shades, this is the one I love the most! Not surprisingly, it's an orange—my favourite—and I actually don't notice the shimmer when it's on my lips. This shade is also quite a bit more opaque than the others, so you get amazing colour payoff (and it's also easier to overdraw your lip shape, as I've done here). I can't get enough! I've even been wearing it as blush.

Where to buy:Amazon.com, Etsy, Petit Vour, Beautyhabit, Carbon Beauty

Veronique

Veronique is described as a warm coral pink with a golden shimmer. It's extremely similar to Ambre Rose, but not quite as sheer (although it's hard to tell the difference once on your lips, because both let your natural lip tone peek through). I'd wear this day or night for a slick of healthy, rosy colour and subtle sheen.

Where to buy:Amazon.com, Etsy, Petit Vour, Formulary 55, Beautyhabit, Carbon Beauty

Violette

Violette is described as a raspberry red with a golden shimmer. On the lips, it's a soft, sheer pink that would work on anyone. As you can see, it has the same intensity as Ambre Rose, but the tone is cool instead of warm. If you love a muted, soft lip look, you can't go wrong with this one!

Where to buy:Amazon.com, Etsy, Petit Vour, Beautyhabit

Conclusion

If I could only get one thing from French Girl Organics, I'd definitely pick the Lip Tint! The ingredients are great, the formula feels amazing on the lips, and the shades are all super-gorgeous. I'm most enamoured with Terre Rouge and Rose Noir, but I'll be wearing ALL of these. Perfect for that effortless French girl makeup look!

Have you tried anything from French Girl Organics?
Which Lip Tint shade is your favourite?