This is the lip product I spent years wishing I could find: a proper lipstick with real colour, a firmer finish and enough staying power to feel like lipstick, made from an ingredient list I was comfortable putting on my lips.

That distinction matters to me. I didn't want to make another tinted balm and call it lipstick. The formulation needed enough pigment to give genuine colour, enough structure to hold its shape, and the right balance of oils and waxes to allow it to glide over the lips without becoming too soft.

At the same time, I wanted the base itself to contribute something. Tallow, beeswax and carefully chosen oils aren't simply there to hold the pigment together. They give the lipstick its texture and structure while also helping condition and soften the lips.

Getting those two sides of the formulation to work together — lip care and the performance I expect from a lipstick — took repeated attempts. Too soft and it behaved like a balm. Too firm and it didn't apply properly. And getting enough colour while maintaining the kind of formulation I wanted presented another challenge.

For now, I've made one shade. I'd rather offer one colour that I am genuinely happy with than produce a collection of shades simply for the sake of having more choice.

The result is what I originally set out to make: not a tinted balm pretending to be lipstick, but a proper lipstick.

Tallow — forms the nourishing foundation of the lipstick rather than simply acting as a carrier for colour. Its fatty-acid profile gives richness and emollience, helping the lipstick glide over the lips while leaving them feeling soft and comfortable. I chose it because I wanted the base itself to contribute to lip care.

Beeswax — provides the firmness and structure a proper lipstick needs. It helps the lipstick hold its shape in the tube, gives the colour greater staying power on the lips and creates a light protective layer that helps reduce moisture loss.

Sweet Almond Oil — brings softness and glide to the firmer tallow-and-beeswax base. Rich in fatty acids, it contributes to the conditioning qualities of the lipstick and helps balance firmness with comfortable application.

Castor Oil — particularly useful in a colour cosmetic because of its rich texture and affinity with pigments. It helps disperse the colour evenly, contributes glide and gives the lipstick a smoother finish and a little natural lustre.

Mineral Pigments — this is where the Lipstick separates itself from the Tinted Lip Balm. I use enough pigment to create genuine, visible colour, rather than the softer wash of a balm. Getting that colour right while keeping the formulation one I was comfortable using was one of the more difficult parts of developing the lipstick.

Frankincense Essential Oil — Chosen for its distinctive, gentle botanical aroma and its long history of use in traditional skincare formulations.

The result is a lipstick where performance wasn't allowed to replace lip care, and lip care wasn't used as an excuse for poor cosmetic performance. I wanted both — a formulation that feels good on the lips and a lipstick that actually behaves like lipstick.

Contains animal-derived ingredients: tallow and beeswax.

Natural Lipstick is available as one of the six minis you can choose in our Discovery Collection.

It's an opportunity to try the colour, texture and finish before deciding whether you'd like to purchase the full-sized lipstick.

To purchase the Natural Lipstick, click Quick View on the product listing below.

This will open the product details, where you can select Add to Cart and proceed with your purchase.