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By now, you likely understand the importance of wearing sunscreen, especially during the warm summer months. But, did you know that one under-the-radar spot you probably forget to protect is your lips? Doctors say that using an SPF lip balm is the perfect solution for guarding your delicate lips against sunburns, premature aging, precancerous changes, and skin cancer.
“Our lips are constantly exposed to the sun, and they have thin skin and very little melanin, so they are particularly vulnerable to damaging UV rays,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, M.D. “Skin cancers of the lip have a higher risk of becoming invasive than most other areas.”
To help you stay safe, our beauty editor, Nicole Saunders, chatted with a few board-certified doctors to discuss everything you should know about SPF lip balms. The pros reveal their favorite SPF lip balms, and the most affordable pick costs around $3!
Best SPF Lip Balms
- Best Overall: EltaMD UV Lip Balm
- The Runner-Up: Aquaphor Lip Repair Lip Balm with Sunscreen
- Most Affordable: The Guardian 100% Natural SPF 30 Lip Balm
- Reef-Safe: Coola Organic Liplux Sunscreen
- Best Multipack: Clean & Pure Lip Balm (4-Pack)
- Highest SPF Coverage: Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Color Balm
- Best Variety of Colors: Brush On Block Protective Lip Oil
Tinted Versus Untinted
A tinted SPF lip balm is great for cosmetic reasons, but it won't actually do anything extra to protect you from the sun's harmful ultraviolet A and B (UVA and UVB) rays that lead to signs of aging, burning, and skin cancer. Double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jaimie DeRosa, M.D., says it's a common misconception to assume that a darker lip product — whether an SPF lip balm or lipstick — equals automatic or higher sun protection. “The color or degree of the tint of whatever you have on your lips does not translate to sun protection,” she says. “Whether you choose a plain or tinted SPF lip balm shouldn’t matter if both have a high enough SPF and otherwise have similar active ingredients.”
Ingredients
Our medical experts shared a few of their go-to SPF lip balm ingredients to keep an eye out for:
👍 Best
- Common active mineral ingredients, like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide
- Common active chemical ingredients, including oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, and homosalate
- Humectants that retain moisture, such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera
- Emollients that soften skin like petrolatum, shea butter, and coconut oil
👎 Worst
- Avoid drying ingredients, including menthol, camphor, or phenol
Formulas
SPF lip balms are available in various forms and finishes. Solid SPF lip balms are generally thicker and waxier, while their tinted lip balms have a pretty sheen. While I'm a lipgloss girl myself, it should only be saved for the evening. “Shiny SPF lip glosses may increase the risk of sunburn or damage just like putting baby oil on your skin would,” cautions DeRosa.
Ready for a well-hydrated and sun-protected pout? Here are the seven all-time best SPF lip balms worth owning, according to our experts. Their recommendations all boast impressive online reviews and are made with only the best UV filters and moisturizing ingredients. Plus, they are readily available at your favorite online shops, including Amazon, Walmart, and Ulta.
Pros
Broad-spectrum protection- Short- and long-term hydration
- Fragrance-, paraben-, and sensativity-free
- Skin Cancer Foundation seal of approval
Cons
- Uses mineral and chemical UV filters
Key Specs
- SPF level: SPF 36
- Active ingredients: Octinoxate and zinc oxide
- Water-resistant: Yes, up to 80 minutes
- Derm-tested: N/A
- Colors available: 1
EltaMD's SPF lip balm earned our best overall distinction because it delivers long-lasting hydration and broad-spectrum coverage at a relatively affordable price.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Christina Lee Chung, M.D., FAAD, and DeRosa are major fans because it surges the lip with hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hydromanil for long-lasting moisture. When you squeeze out this mint-scented lip balm, it doesn't leave a white cast, glides effortlessly across the lips, and protects your pout from harsh solar rays. It also utilizes antioxidant-rich ingredients like thioctic acid and vitamins C and E to help fight free radicals that lead to signs of aging.
Our experts aren't the only fans of this SPF lip balm — it earned a casual 4.5-star average rating from more than 1,900 Amazon reviews. To quote one 5-star review, “I use it whether it’s raining, sunny, or even if I’m out during extreme cold weather. I love how well it protects my lips from the sun, and I’m amazed at how well it moisturizes them.”
More: Pump Up Your Pout With These Lip Plumpers
2
The Runner-Up
Aquaphor Lip Repair Lip Balm with Sunscreen
Now 21% Off
Pros
- Fragrance- and preservative-free
- Affordable
- Nourishing formula
- Safe for sensitive skin
Cons
- Chemical SPF protection
Key Specs
- SPF level: SPF 30
- Active ingredients: Petrolatum, avobenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone
- Water-resistant: No
- Derm-tested: No
- Colors available: 1
With more than 7,300 5-star Amazon reviews, it's no wonder reviewers and Chung agree that this cheap option keeps lips moisturized and protected from the sun at a great price. Chung calls Aquaphors SPF lip balm a basic workhorse that hydrates, soothes, and moisturizes while offering excellent UV protection.
Amazon reviewers, including one fishing captain, rely on this cheap and non-scented SPF lip balm to protect their pout. One of its star ingredients is petrolatum, which hydrates and soothes dry, cracked lips, and seals in moisture from glycerin, shea butter, and castor oil. It also contains a few broad-spectrum UV filters to prevent signs of aging and burning.
One reviewer tried over 15 SPF lip balms but hated the taste and film they left behind. “I cannot believe how great this is at this price point. I used it for 15 days at the beach, and I had zero issues.”
“My dermatologist recommended this lip cream several years ago after a few painful laser treatments for precancerous spots on my lips. It has made a world of difference in my protection from the sun,” says another 5-star Amazon reviewer.
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Pros
- Hypoallergenic
- Sweat-resistant
Cons
- Sells out quickly
Key Specs
- SPF level: SPF 30
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide
- Water-resistant: Yes, up to 80 minutes
- Derm-tested: Yes
- Colors available: 1
We love a cheap thrill, and so does King, who says this is one of her go-to SPF lip balm recommendations. It offers 100% mineral protection, and it's sweat- and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so you can rock this with confidence while jogging or swimming laps.
Thanks to a slew of ultra hydrating ingredients, Walmart and Target reviewers agree this is the best SPF lip balm they've tried. Hundreds of 5-star reviews indicate it effectively rehydrates dry lips and provides a welcome slip without a greasy feel. It's loaded with an enticing blend of fruit and botanical extracts to soften your lips while sunflower, jojoba, and coconut oils replenish hydration and prevent fine lines.
Reviewers also say it glides across the lips and smells good enough to eat — though we wouldn't recommend you actually take a bit of this tropical coconut-scented SPF lip balm. "This has a nice smooth feeling going on and a light scent that is not overpowering," says one 5-star Target review.
Pros
- No nano-sized particles
- Hypoallergenic
Cons
- Only available in 1 flavor
Key Specs
- SPF level: SPF 30
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide
- Water-resistant: Yes, up to 80 minutes
- Derm-tested: Yes
- Colors available: 2
If you're a friend to marine life and the friendly seas, you'll want this reef-safe SPF lip balm in your life, stat. It's aligned with the 2021 introduction of Hawaii Reef Compliant Act 104, which is a state mandate that bans the sale of sunscreen made with coral-harming chemicals.
DeRosa is a fan of Coola's reef-safe sunscreen because it uses mineral UV filters to provide broad-spectrum protection, moisturizes the lips with ingredients including jojoba oil, and is water-resistant. It's also available in a tinted version, which she adores, but will set you back an extra $5.
Online reviewers agree both the tinted and untinted SPF lip balm has a beautiful, ultra silky feel. “The texture is not too greasy and thick on your lips, and it seems to last longer than others I’ve used,” says one 5-star review. “I don’t feel like I need to reapply often, and it doesn’t feel heavy like some natural brands.”
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Pros
- Made with only 6 ingredients
- Long-lasting hydration
Cons
- Sells out frequently
Key Specs
- SPF level: SPF 30
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide
- Water-resistant: Yes, up to 80 minutes
- Derm-tested: Yes
- Colors available: 1
If you're like me, then you're always losing your lip balms. Luckily, this top-rated four-pack is well-priced, so we can stock up and store an SPF lip balm in our various bags, jacket pockets, and drawers. Plus, one 5-star Amazon review says it's petite enough to fit into any small pocket and doesn't bulge out.
DeRosa adores this option because it's made with only six ingredients, including zinc oxide, which offers broad-spectrum UV protection. There's also manuka honey and cocoa butter to naturally soften and condition skin, and other nourishing oils hydrate and calm her lips.
Thousands of Amazon reviewers are also fans of this SPF lip balm and use words like “perfect,” “very effective,” and “smells amazing” to describe it.
One reviewer with eczema and petroleum sensitivity loves this lightweight SPF lip balm because it glides over the lips and leaves the skin smooth and healthy-looking.
6
Highest SPF Coverage
Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Color Balm
Pros
- Doubles as a blush
- Sweat-resistant for up to 40 minutes
Cons
- Bronze shade sells out quickly
Key Specs
- SPF level: SPF 30
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide
- Water-resistant: Yes, up to 40 minutes
- Derm-tested: Yes
- Colors available: 3
The most important attribute of an SPF lip balm is how much sun protection it provides. Most options on this list offer SPF 30, which is aligned with guidance from our experts and organizations like the American Academy of Dermatology. And thanks to a blend of mineral UV filters, this Colorescience lip balm offers the highest level of sun protection on our list: SPF 50.
King adores this stick lip balm because it's rich in antioxidants to protect against free radicals, and it contains jojoba esters and squalane to provide moisture.
Hundreds of Amazon reviewers add the formula is brilliant because it glides on very smoothly, and the color is buildable on the lips and cheeks. “I can reapply easily to my face as needed right where I am trying to prevent melasma on the cheeks, both over and under my powder,” says one 5-star review.
In addition to UVA and UVB protection, it contains iron oxides to guard against blue light emitted from gadgets like laptops, tablets, and cell phones.
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Pros
- UVA, UVB, and blue light protection
- Natural sheen
Cons
- Subtle color payoff
Key Specs
- SPF level: SPF 32
- Active ingredients: Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide
- Water-resistant: No
- Derm-tested: Yes
- Colors available: 3
King is a major fan of Brush on Block's powder sunscreen and says this SPF lip balm is also worth owning because it offers 100% mineral UV protection and combines humectants with several oils to hydrate the lips. Notably, it contains triglycerides derived from coconut oil, ensuring your lips are soft and supple until you reapply a fresh coat.
The lightweight SPF lip balm has a citrus-meets-vanilla scent and can be layered over other products like lip liner and lipstick or worn on its own for a soft wash of color. Currently, it's available in three flattering shades: Nude, a "your lips but better" hue; Fig, a mauve-rose that's gorgeous for daily wear; and Coral, a fresh, warm pink.
Amazon reviewers say it's nonsticky and leaves behind a subtle sheen, which is great since DeRosa advises against ultra-glossy SPF lip products. It also sports a small, angled doe-foot applicator for mess-free application.
One Amazon reviewer tried several other SPF lip balms, but they all left a bitter film on their mouth. Luckily, this tinted lip balm was the perfect solution to their problem. To quote their 5-star review, “This stuff goes on very smooth, is tasteless, and sheer enough to overlap the lips without issue. I’m so glad I found it.”
Another Amazon reviewer adds it is a solid lip sunburn treatment. "My lips were getting burned from the sun, which caused them to become chapped and peeling. Very unpleasant. This product worked quickly to repair and protect my lips."
How much SPF do we need on our lips?
If you’re using an SPF lip balm with less than SPF 30, you should continue using it because some sun protection is better than none, but start looking for a replacement from our list sooner than later. “You need as much SPF on the lips as you would anywhere else on the head and scalp — perhaps even more often since we all eat, drink, and lick our lips, which causes it to be wiped off quickly,” says Chung, who practices at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Pennsylvania.
And if you think slathering on multiple coats of your current low SPF lip balm will help, think again. “Unfortunately, applying more layers of a lower SPF sunscreen does not increase the protection. Your lips are only as protected as the highest SPF on them,” says DeRosa. “SPF 30 allows 3% of harmful UV rays to reach your skin or lips, SPF 15 allows 7% in, and an SPF 100 still lets 1% of UV rays through.”
Chung and the Mayo Clinic recommend reapplying SPF often — think every hour or two, especially after you eat, drink, swim, and towel dry your face.
Nicole Saunders
Beauty Editor
Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Best Products with over eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like high-frequency wands and microcurrent devices, into easy-to-understand guides. Saunders takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, — such as hairdryers and foundations — on our site, and spotlights her all-time seasonal favorites in her quarterly column Best New Beauty. And she tests quite literally thousands of launches for our Best New Beauty Awards package. You can follow her on Instagram to stay in the loop on her product testing adventues.
