The Best Organic Nipple Cream (Based On Ingredients)

best organic nipple cream
4 min reading time

Sore nipples are a painful reality for many breastfeeding moms. While the various reasons for sore nipples are outside the scope of this guide, the fact is that a nipple cream can bring much-needed relief to breastfeeding moms.

No matter if you’re suffering from pain, itchiness or cracked, dry nipples, a good organic nipple cream can help a lot.

The Importance of Ingredients

Any nipple cream you use is going to be ingested, in at least a small part, by your infant. Even though these creams are meant to be applied after feeding, residue can remain.

Even if you use a 100% organic nipple cream, always read the label: some creams are meant to be used and washed off before nursing.

Ingredients to avoid:

Vitamin E (tocopherol) – Experts aren’t sure how much vitamin E is safe to baby to ingest, so only use this under doctor supervision.

Lanolin – Lanolin is used in many nipple creams. However, it can contain additives and contaminants including pesticides from the fleece of the sheep. (source)

Also, be aware that women with wool allergies will also have allergies to lanolin. Because ingesting lanolin isn’t likely something you’d want a baby to do, we give an iffy rating to any lanolin product.

Petroleum, mineral oil, silicone – None of these ingredients are safe for baby to ingest, and can also clog pores, making the problem worse in the long run.

Preservatives

None of the organic nipple creams we looked at had preservatives. This can be a good thing and a bad thing.

Nipple cream exists in a unique category of a skincare product that will be consumed in small amounts by your child. Because of this, preservatives are a tricky subject.

If a product has no preservatives, it’s important to use the product before the “best by” date. Preservatives in products perform an important task: keeping mold and bacteria at bay. Never use a nipple cream that’s past its expiration date, because contamination is a risk.

Vegan Nipple Creams

Many nipple creams contain beeswax, which is not a vegan ingredient. Many also contain lanolin, which is the secretion from sheep.

One of the products we looked at contained honey. If you prefer to purchase vegan products, the vegan creams are marked as such.

Unfortunately, none of the organic creams are vegan.

The Best Organic Nipple Creams

These creams are 100% organic and contain only good ingredients. These ratings are given based solely on the ingredients used, not on the quality of the product itself.

Rating: Best

Motherlove

Nipple Cream
Nipple Cream
Rating: Best
Price: $14.95 ($7.48 per oz)

This product contains 100% organic ingredients, the main ones being olive oil and beeswax. With only 5 ingredients in total, we give this nipple cream a top rating.

Ingredients

  • Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil,
  • Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba),
  • Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter),
  • Organic Marshmallow Root Extract (Althaea Officinalis Root Extract),
  • Organic Calendula Flower Extract (Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract)
Rating: Best

Milkies

Nipple Nurture Balm
Nipple Nurture Balm
Rating: Best
Price: $11.95 ($7.97 per oz)

This nipple balm contains 100% organic ingredients. The official ingredient label lists organic marshmallow root extract as the main ingredient, but we’re skeptical about that. Most likely, the main ingredients are the oils and beeswax.

Ingredients

  • Organic Marshmallow Root Extract (Althaea Officinalis Root Extract),
  • Organic Self Heal,
  • Organic Calendula Flower Extract (Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract),
  • Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil,
  • Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba),
  • Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter)
Rating: Best

Mommyz Love

Organic Nipple Balm
Organic Nipple Balm
Rating: Best
Price: $14.97 ($7.49 per oz)

This product contains 100% organic, natural ingredients, the main ones being coconut oil and sunflower oil.

Ingredients

  • Organic Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera),
  • Organic Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil),
  • Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba),
  • Organic Olive Oil (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil),
  • Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter),
  • Organic Calendula Oil (Calendula Officinalis Oil),
  • Organic Aloe (Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice)
Rating: Best

Odylique by Essential Care

Nipple Balm
Nipple Balm
Rating: Best
Price: $11.05 ($15.56 per oz)

This balm’s main ingredient is organic olive oil. Rounding out the short list of ingredients is shea butter, olive oil, beeswax and calendula extract.

The inclusion of beeswax makes this a non-vegan product, however.

Ingredients

  • Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil,
  • Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter),
  • Organic Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera),
  • Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba),
  • Organic Calendula Flower Extract (Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract)
Rating: Best

Earth Mama

Organic Nipple Butter
Organic Nipple Butter
Rating: Best
Price: $12.99 ($6.5 per oz)

With all organic ingredients, this product gets top ratings. However, since it contains beeswax, it’s not a vegan product.

Ingredients

  • Organic Olive Oil (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil),
  • Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba),
  • Organic Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao Butter),
  • Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter),
  • Organic Mango Seed Butter (Mangifera Indica Seed Butter),
  • Organic Calendula Flower Extract (Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract)
Rating: Best

Bamboobies

Boob Ease Organic Nipple Balm
Boob Ease Organic Nipple Balm
Rating: Best
Price: $13 ($13 per oz)

This balm has a full list of organic ingredients, the main ones being olive oil, beeswax and shea butter.

Ingredients

  • Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil,
  • Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba),
  • Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter),
  • Organic Marshmallow Root Extract (Althaea Officinalis Root Extract),
  • Organic Calendula Flower Extract (Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract)

Nipple Creams Rated: Good

These nipple creams generally have good ingredients but aren’t organic. We reserve a “best” rating for those products that are 100% organic.

Rating: Good

Lhamour

Nipple Care Butter
Nipple Care Butter
Rating: Good
Price: $13 ($7.39 per oz)

This product consists of oils (both vegetable and animal-derived) as well as beeswax. None of the ingredients are organic, and it’s not vegan. However, none of the ingredients are of concern, so it still gets a good rating.

Ingredients

  • Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera Oil),
  • Tallow (Sheep Fat OIl),
  • Olive Oil (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil),
  • Tallow (Beef Fat Oil),
  • Beeswax (Cera Alba)
Rating: Good

Pink Stork by Amy Suzanne

Nipple Cream
Nipple Cream
Rating: Good
Price: $9.74 ($9.74 per oz)

This product is 100% vegan. It contains sweet almond oil, which can trigger a reaction in those that have a nut allergy. If using this product, be sure to monitor your child for any signs of nut allergy.

Ingredients

  • Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter),
  • Organic Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao Butter),
  • Organic Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera),
  • Organic Jojoba Seed Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil),
  • Organic Sweet Almond Oil (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil)*
Rating: Good

Handmade Heroes

Free the Nips Nursing Balm
Free the Nips Nursing Balm
Rating: Good
Price: $12.90 ($6.45 per oz)

This 100% vegan product is not organic. However, there are no ingredients of concern. Since it’s not organic, we can’t give it a “best” rating, but we can still give it a “good” rating.

Ingredients

  • Olive Oil (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil),
  • Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao Butter),
  • Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter),
  • Mango Seed Butter (Mangifera Indica Seed Butter),
  • Candelilla Wax (Euphorbia Cerifera Wax),
  • Rice Bran Oil (Oryza Sativa Bran Oil),
  • Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil),
  • Calendula (Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract)

Nipple Creams Rated: Iffy

Most of these products get an iffy rating because they contain vitamin E, which should only be used under doctor supervision. This is because ingesting large amounts of vitamin E can be dangerous for an infant.

Rating: Iffy

Mommy Care

Lanolin Breastfeeding Ointment
Lanolin Breastfeeding Ointment

This product uses purified lanolin. However, we recommend products without lanolin over those that do, because your infant will likely ingest some of it.

Ingredients

  • Lanolin*
Rating: Iffy

Lansinoh

Lanolin Nipple Cream
Lanolin Nipple Cream
Rating: Iffy
Price: $8.49 ($6.02 per oz)

This product uses purified lanolin. However, we recommend products without lanolin over those that do, because your infant will likely ingest some of it.

Ingredients

  • Lanolin*
Rating: Iffy

Shoosha

Organic Rescue Nipple Balm
Organic Rescue Nipple Balm
Rating: Iffy
Price: $16.99 ($24.99 per oz)

This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating.

Ingredients

  • Organic Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil),
  • Organic Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao Butter),
  • Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba),
  • Organic Avocado Oil (Persea Gratissima Oil),
  • Organic Calendula Flower Extract (Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract),
  • Organic Sea Buckthorn Oil (Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil),
  • Organic Rosemary Extract (Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract),
  • Tocopherol
Rating: Iffy

My Brest Friend

All-Natural Nipple Cream
All-Natural Nipple Cream
Rating: Iffy
Price: $12.95 ($6.48 per oz)

This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating.

Ingredients

  • Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter),
  • Organic Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil),
  • Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter),
  • Organic Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera),
  • Mango Seed Butter (Mangifera Indica Seed Butter),
  • Candelilla Wax (Euphorbia Cerifera Wax),
  • Tocopherol,
  • Soybean Oil (Glycine Soja Oil),
  • Organic Glycerin
Rating: Iffy

Rumina Naturals

Ouchie Momma Nipple Rescue
Ouchie Momma Nipple Rescue
Rating: Iffy
Price: $15.99 ($9.41 per oz)

This product contains manuka honey. Experts recommend not giving honey to babies under the age of 1 year old. (source)

For this reason, we don’t recommend this product.

Ingredients

  • Organic Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera),
  • Beeswax (Cera Alba),
  • Fractionated Coconut Oil,
  • Green or White Tea Oil (Camellia Sinensis Oil),
  • Sterile Medical Grade Manuka Honey,
  • Organic Vegetable Glycerin,
  • Organic Olive Oil (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil),
  • Organic Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao Butter)
Rating: Iffy

Mustela

Nursing Comfort Balm
Nursing Comfort Balm
Rating: Iffy
Price: $15 ($15 per oz)

This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating.

Ingredients

  • Organic Olive Oil (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil),
  • Organic Glycerin,
  • Water,
  • Sucrose Laurate,
  • Sucrose Stearate,
  • Tocopherol,
  • Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
Rating: Iffy

Mio

Keep Calm Nipple Balm
Keep Calm Nipple Balm
Rating: Iffy
Price: $14 ($14 per oz)

Glyceryl rosinate may contain residual rosin, which can cause allergic reactions. (source)

For this reason, we give this product an iffy rating.

Ingredients

  • Olus Oil,
  • Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter),
  • Glyceryl Rosinate*,
  • Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera Oil),
  • Castor Seed Oil (Ricinus Communis Seed Oil),
  • Olive Oil Unsaponifiables (Olea Europaea Oil),
  • Argan Oil (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil),
  • Avocado Oil (Persea Gratissima Oil),
  • Inca Inchi Seed Oil (Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil),
  • Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
Rating: Iffy

Era Organics

Mommy Balm for Nursing Mothers
Mommy Balm for Nursing Mothers
Rating: Iffy
Price: $14.45 ($7.23 per oz)

This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating.

Ingredients

  • Chamomile Extract,
  • Calendula Oil (Calendula Officinalis Oil),
  • Evening Primrose Oil (Oenothera Biennis Oil),
  • Organic Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil),
  • Organic Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao Butter),
  • Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba),
  • Organic Apricot Kernel Oil (Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil),
  • Organic Vegetable Glycerin,
  • Organic Arrowroot Powder (Maranta Arundinacea Powder),
  • Organic Evening Primrose Oil (Oenothera Biennis Oil),
  • Organic Chamomile Extract,
  • Organic Calendula Oil (Calendula Officinalis Oil),
  • Organic Rosemary Extract (Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract),
  • Tocopherol
Rating: Iffy

The Honest Company

Calm Your Nip Balm
Calm Your Nip Balm
Rating: Iffy
Price: $14.95 ($8.54 per oz)

This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating.

Ingredients

  • Organic Canola Oil,
  • Organic Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera),
  • Beeswax (Cera Alba),
  • Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter),
  • Organic Corn Starch (Zea Mays Starch),
  • Organic Jojoba Extract (Simmondsia Chinensis Extract),
  • Organic Aloe (Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice),
  • Organic Soybean Oil (Glycine Soja Oil),
  • Tocopherol,
  • Silica,
  • Water,
  • Citric Acid
Rating: Iffy

Bella B Naturals

Nipple Nurture Butter
Nipple Nurture Butter
Rating: Iffy
Price: $9.99 ($5 per oz)

This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating. It is, however, vegan.

Ingredients

  • Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter),
  • Olive Oil (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil),
  • Soybean Glycerides,
  • Organic Olive Oil (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil),
  • Avocado Oil Unsaponifiables (Persea Gratissima Oil Unsaponifiables),
  • Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter),
  • Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao Butter),
  • Organic Avocado Oil (Persea Gratissima Oil),
  • Ascorbyl Palmitate,
  • Tocopherol
Rating: Iffy

Medela

Purelan 100 Nipple Cream
Purelan 100 Nipple Cream
Rating: Iffy
Price: $19 ($14.5 per oz)

This product uses purified lanolin. However, we recommend products without lanolin over those that do, because your infant will likely ingest some of it.

Ingredients

  • Lanolin*
Rating: Iffy

Green + Lovely

Calming Nature's Herbal Nursing Nipple Balm
Calming Nature's Herbal Nursing Nipple Balm
Rating: Iffy
Price: $12.99 ($12.99 per oz)

This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating.

Ingredients

  • Organic Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil),
  • Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba),
  • Organic Olive Oil (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil),
  • Organic Virgin Coconut Oil,
  • Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter),
  • Tocopherol,
  • Organic Calendula Flower Extract (Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract)
Rating: Iffy

Green People

Organic Babies Mum and Baby Rescue Balm
Organic Babies Mum and Baby Rescue Balm
Rating: Iffy
Price: $22.65 ($6.7 per oz)

This product contains tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Experts recommend only using nipple creams with vitamin E under doctor supervision, as ingesting too much can be harmful to babies. For this reason, we give this product an “iffy” rating.

Ingredients

  • Organic Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil),
  • Organic Palm Oil (Elaeis Guineensis Oil),
  • Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba),
  • Organic Sweet Almond Oil (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil)*,
  • Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter),
  • Organic Hemp Oil (Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil),
  • Cetearyl Olivate,
  • Sorbitan Olivate,
  • Organic Calendula Flower Extract (Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract),
  • Tocopherol

Nipple Creams Rated: Bad

The products rated bad contain ingredients that infants shouldn’t be ingesting, period.

Rating: Avoid

Wish Garden

New Mother's Nursing Balm
New Mother's Nursing Balm

Comfrey has been linked to livery toxicity. Since this product can be ingested by an infant, we give this product a bad rating. (source)

Ingredients

  • Calendula (Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract),
  • Comfrey Extract (Symphytum Officinale Extract),
  • Mullein Flower Extract (Verbascum Flower Extract),
  • Beeswax (Cera Alba),
  • Vitamin E,
  • Olive Oil (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil),
  • Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera Oil)
Rating: Avoid

Palmer's

Nursing Butter Nipple Cream for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Nursing Butter Nipple Cream for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Rating:Avoid
Price: $5.50 ($5 per oz)

With petroleum jelly, an ingredient dangerous for babies to ingest, we can’t recommend this product.

Ingredients

  • Petroleum Jelly (Petrolatum),
  • Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao Butter),
  • Panthenol

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should I Apply Nipple Cream?

Generally, a good rule of thumb is to apply after every feeding. This will give it enough time to absorb into the skin and help relieve your symptoms. Be careful not to use too much, however—this can make the problem worse.

What Can I Use Instead of Nipple Cream?

Before buying a nipple cream, you can try organic, raw coconut oil. It makes for a great natural nipple cream that’s baby-safe, too. Other alternatives include organic olive oil, manuka (or pure, unrefined) honey.

Other Ways To Relieve Breast Pain Without Nipple Cream

A few more options to try besides nipple cream include:

  • Avoid using soap on your nipples. Soap is drying and will make the problem worse.
  • Apply a cold compress. Doing this between feedings for 15 to 20 minutes can help reduce swelling.
  • Apply a warm compress. Doing this before feedings can help relieve engorgement.
  • Go topless as much as possible. Letting the air dry your nipples will help.
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