You likely already know the importance of applying sunscreen daily to protect your skin from dark spots, sun damage, signs of aging and more serious conditions like skin cancer. But you may be overlooking how important it is to protect your lips, too. “Protecting your lips from the sun is as important as protecting every other part of the body exposed to UV radiation,” says Dr. Jaimie DeRosa, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon.
In addition to skin cancer, exposure to harmful rays can cause a condition called actinic cheilitis, a precancerous condition colloquially known as “sailor’s lip” that causes rough, scaly patches, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Eileen Deignan. Chronic sun exposure can also damage the skin barrier around the lips and make your lips look aged and discolored, she says.
Given these potential risks, experts we spoke to recommend using an SPF lip balm daily. To help guide you on your search, we spoke to doctors about how to shop for SPF lip balms and which ingredients to look for. We also include lip balms our NBC Select editors use and love.
SKIP AHEAD How we picked the best SPF lip balms | The best SPF lip balms | How to shop for an SPF lip balm | What to avoid when shopping | How often should you apply SPF lip balm?
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How we picked the best SPF lip balms
We spoke with doctors about what to look for to ensure your lips get the proper protection. They recommend keeping the following in mind:
- Sun protection factor (SPF): This number measures your protection against sunburn, and the protection increases incrementally as the SPF number increases. SPF 15 can block 93 percent of the sun’s UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97 percent, and SPF 50 blocks 98 percent, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Protection in lip balms will vary however, if possible, you want to find one with SPF 30 or more, according to Deignan.
- Broad-spectrum protection: Look for a balm that provides broad-spectrum protection, which will protect against UVA and UVB exposure. UVA rays cause signs of aging, while UVB rays can lead to sunburns and skin cancer, according to DeRosa.
- Moisturizing ingredients: While an SPF lip balm’s main job is to protect your skin from harmful rays, it’s helpful to choose a formula that also nourishes your lips. Emollients like petroleum jelly can soften your lips, while humectants such as hyaluronic acid will infuse them with moisture, says DeRosa—more on ingredients below.
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The best SPF lip balms in 2024
Below are our top picks for SPF lip balms that offer excellent protection based on our expert guidance. All contain expert-recommended ingredients, have at least SPF 15 and provide broad-spectrum protection.
Best overall: Sun Bum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Lip Balm
Sun Bum’s mineral lip balm is made with zinc oxide — an ingredient that physically blocks the sun’s rays from penetrating the skin, says Deignan. It also contains sweet almond oil to hydrate, and it will not leave a white cast on lips, according to the brand.
Type: Mineral | SPF: 30 | Active ingredient: Zinc oxide | Water-resistant: No | Applicator: Stick
Best water resistant: Elta MD UV Lip Balm with SPF 36
This balm is a personal favorite of Deignan and DeRoa because it feels smooth on their lips and doesn’t leave behind any white residue. It is made with zinc oxide, which blocks the sun’s rays from penetrating your skin. According to the brand, it also contains octinoxate, a UVB ray shield and includes the humectant glycerin.
Type: Mineral | SPF: 36 | Active ingredient: Zinc oxide | Water-resistant: Yes | Applicator: Tube
Best for dry lips: Aquaphor Lip Protectant and Sunscreen
This option from Aquaphor has ingredients like avobenzone, which protects your lips and gives it some water resistance, according to Deignan. Like other Aquaphor products, it has a similar texture to the ointment and gives your lips a nice amount of hydration so they don’t feel rough, dry or chapped, says NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez. If you prefer a stick lip balm, this is also available
Type: Chemical | SPF: 30 | Active ingredient: Avobenzone | Water-resistant: Yes | Applicator: Tube
Best high-coverage SPF lip balm: Banana Boat Sport Ultra Lip Balm SPF 50
This lip balm, which has one of the highest SPF coverage on this list, uses ingredients including avobenzone, octocrylene and oxybenzone, some of the top ingredients to protect your lips from the sun, according to Deignan. It also includes moisturizing ingredients like coconut oil, which DeRosa says will hydrate and smooth lips.
Type: Chemical | SPF: 50 | Active ingredients: Avobenzone, octocrylene and oxybenzone | Water-resistant: Yes | Applicator: Stick
Best chemical SPF lip balm: Coola LipLux Organic Classic Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 30
This SPF 30 lip balm is paraben-free and includes many of the active ingredients recommended by our experts: avobenzone, octisalate and octocrylene. “This is one of my favorites. Not only does it provide UVA and UVB protection, it also has moisturizing ingredients like jojoba oil so lips feel softer after applying it. There’s even a tinted version if you want a little color,” says DeRosa.
Type: Chemical | SPF: 30 | Active ingredients: Avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene | Water-resistant: Yes | Applicator: Stick
Best for chapped lips: Blistex Five Star Lip Protection
Blistex is known for its lip moisturizers and this specific balm has a 4.6-star average rating from over 4,130 reviews on Amazon. It has a SPF 30, offers UVA and UVB protection and rehydrates lips and protects them from getting chapped in the wind, according to the brand.
Type: Chemical | SPF: 30 | Active ingredient: Avobenzone | Water-resistant: No | Applicator: Stick
Best flavored SPF lip balm:
Vacation Bombe Alaska SPF 30 Lip Balm
This creamy lip balm combines hydrating ingredients, like oils, wax, aloe vera and vitamin E, to leave your lips feeling soft and moisturized, according to the brand. “This is easily one of the most delicious SPF lip options, its flavor is sweet, so even if you get a little in your mouth on accident, it doesn’t leave a chemical-ly taste,” says Alvarez. It’s one of five lip balms in the brand’s Dessert Collection, and Alvarez says it’s great because even her younger siblings enjoy the other four flavors, which means they actually want to put it on, ensuring protected lips constantly.
Type: Chemical | SPF: 30 | Active ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene | Water-resistant: Yes | Applicator: Stick
Best tinted SPF lip balm: Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm SPF 30 with Sea Moss and Aloe Stem Cells
This option gives your lips a sheer tint, provides UVA and UVB protection and hydrates them all at once without being overtly sticky, according to the brand. Reviewers say it’s almost similar to a gloss because it gives your lips a high shine. It’s available in four options: Irie Rose (neutral pink), Bad Gyal Berry (berry tint), Nude Ting (blush nude pink) and Clear.
Type: Chemical | SPF: 30 | Active ingredient: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate | Water-resistant: n/a | Applicator: Tube
Best for active movement: Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Lip Balm
If you tend to be more active while outside, consider this lip balm. According to the brand, it has an SPF of 50 and is water-resistant for 80 minutes. It’s also great for those who have sensitive skin since it’s free of common irritants, including dyes and fragrances, according to Coppertone. It has a 4.6-star average from over 5,800 reviews on Amazon.
Type: Mineral | SPF: 50 | Active ingredient: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate | Water-resistant: Yes | Applicator: Stick
Best lightweight SPF lip balm: Supergoop Play Lip Balm
The Supergoop Play Lip Balm is another option that includes Deignan’s favorite protective active ingredient: avobenzone. This lip balm has SPF 30 and shea butter, which is great for your lips because it makes them feel more soft, says DeRosa. The formula feels lightweight and a doe-foot applicator makes it easy to apply, according to the brand. This is also available in mineral form as well.
Type: Chemical | SPF: 30 | Active ingredients: Avonezone, homosalate, octocrylene, octisalate | Water-resistant: No | Applicator: Tube
Best SPF lip balm set: Panama Jack Sunscreen Lip Balm
For under $20, you will get four scented lip balms in this set — dreamsicle, mango, tropical and vanilla. Each balm has SPF 45 and is free of parabens and oxybenzone, making them a good option for those with sensitive skin, according to the brand. This set has a 4.7-star average rating from over 2,400 reviews on Amazon and is also available in a set of five.
Type: Chemical | SPF: 45 | Active ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate | Water-resistant: No | Applicator: Stick
Best splurge: Tatcha The Kissu Lip Tint SPF 25 Hydrating Tinted Lip Sunscreen
If you’re looking for a creamy lip balm that can also give you buildable tinted coverage, consider this option from Tatcha, the brand behind one of our favorite lip masks. The chemical and mineral sunscreen hybrid locks in moisture and smoothes lips thanks to its ingredients — silk protein and botanical lanolin. Reviewers say this goes smooth and has a natural finish that doesn’t leave your lips matte or glossy. It’s available in three shades: Camellia (warm red), Plum Blossom (pink) and Midnight Lily (dark purple). This has a 4.6-star average rating from over 200 reviews on Sephora.
Type: Chemical and mineral | SPF: 25 | Active ingredients: Octisalate, zinc oxide | Water-resistant: n/a | Applicator: Stick
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How to shop for SPF lip balms
When it comes to shopping for SPF lip balm, our experts agree that paying attention to the ingredients is key to finding a formula that offers both sun protection and nourishment for your lips.
Ingredients that add sun protection
Beyond ensuring the lip balm has SPF protection and is broad spectrum (which means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays), you’ll need to decide if you want a chemical or mineral sunscreen. Chemical ingredients absorb harmful UV rays so that your skin doesn’t. Look for active ingredients like avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone, according to Deignan.
The other option is mineral sunscreen, which blocks the sun from making contact with your skin. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are two mineral ingredients that physically block UV rays to prevent your lips from burning, says DeRosa. “Many good SPF lip balms — and broad-spectrum SPF sunscreens, for that matter — have formulated these mineral ingredients into micronized and nanoparticles so they don’t leave a white tint.”
Ingredients that nourish
In addition to sun protection, a good SPF lip balm should keep lips from excessive dryness and cracking, says DeRosa. Consider humectant ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe vera and honey, which add moisture to the lips, she says.
You can also look for emollient ingredients, including shea butter and coconut oil, which help soften the lips, according to DeRosa. Some ingredients like squalane and vitamin E are also good ingredients to look for in your lip balm because they have both humectant and emollient properties, says Deignan.
What to avoid when shopping for an SPF lip balm
You might want to be cautious when using lip balms with cooling ingredients (like menthol, camphor or phenol) because they can be drying, according to our experts. Alcohol is also known to dry the lips, so if you see signs of irritation, you may want to avoid it, says DeRosa. Some lip balms also contain cinnamon or peppermint oil, which may temporarily plump your lips, but they can also irritate some, says Deignan. Also, if you have sensitive skin, try avoiding propolis, which can be found in some beeswax-based lip balms, because it can also irritate the skin, says Deignan.
How often should you apply SPF lip balm?
As with face sunscreens, you need to use this product daily, say the experts we spoke to. You should be reapplying it multiple times daily, too, says DeRosa. Reapply it every two to three hours — but more often if eating or if you’ve wiped your lips, says Deignan. You should wear SPF lip balm in all types of weather, even if it’s not sunny, because harmful rays can still impact your skin when it’s cloudy outside. The same applies if you are sitting near a window or riding in the car, according to our experts.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Jaimie DeRosa is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and Boston University.
- Dr. Eileen Deignan is a board-certified dermatologist and chief of dermatology at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts.
Why trust NBC Select?
Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers topics like beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed two experts to gather their guidance on what to look for when shopping for SPF lip balm.
Bianca Alvarez is an associate reporter covering skin care and hair care, including neck creams, leave-in conditioners and eye creams. For this piece, she interviewed a dermatologist, researched highly rated SPF balms and gathered NBC Select staff favorites that met their guidance.
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