Carol's Daughter Candy Paint Lip Gloss

Why It's Good:

It nails that elusive, perfect ratio of color to shine—and smells and feels good, too (read: no tackiness).

Why It's Green:

Free of petroleum, parabens, and artificial color, the formulation consists largely of shea butter, grape seed oil, aloe, vitamin E and peppermint.

Where To Get It:

http://www.carolsdaughter.com | $13.50

The Gloss Your Lips Have Been Waiting For

This one time—not in band camp—but at the Tucson Jewish Community Center (where I spent a substantial chunk of my childhood), my mom and I were talking to a woman who was wearing quite possibly the most beautiful lip color ever. And though hardly a product junkie, my mom had to ask: What was this distractingly gorgeous hue before us? To which the apparent genetic wonder responded that all she was wearing was a little Vaseline—but that we weren't the first to be taken in by her own natural lip color. And thus began our quest for the bottled version thereof. Decades later, I've found a serious contender (and unlike petroleum jelly, it's not oil-derived or lip-drying): Carol's Daughter Candy Paint in Diva. Despite the name, the color is supremely subtle: One thin coat, swiped on with your finger, is the shade of perfectly, proverbially bitten lips (or lips with an enviably overactive circulatory system). Throw in a bit of shine and peppermint essential oil—as creator Lisa Price was kind enough to do—and you've got my new favorite gloss.—Abbie Kozolchyk