Um, Yeah, Hi, Your Lip Balm Actually Needs SPF (2024)

Meet my ride-or-die lip balm with SPF. It’s incredibly hydrating (shout out to sea moss, aloe, and vitamin E), comes in the yummiest vanilla brown sugar scent, and is packed with SPF 30. A win, win, and win from Cay Skin founder and supermodel Winnie Harlow.

• SPF: 30
• Key ingredients: Aloe vera
• Water-resistant: No
• Tinted: Comes in both tinted and clear

Glowing customer review: "Need lip SPF with some color? Look no further, this is your balm. I think of this as more of a lip gloss. It's a little sticky, so if that is a no-go, stop here. The color is rather transparent, but you can definitely tell you are wearing color on your lips. I love it and it smells wonderful, too."

If you're someone with a knack for losing your chapstick, stick with an affordable drugstore lip balm with SPF that you can replace for a few bucks. This sunscreen lip balm from Banana Boat is formulated with cooling ingredients like aloe vera and vitamin E that'll soothe your chapped lips while keeping them protected from further sun damage. Over 6,000 five-star reviewers agree that it's worth adding to your Amazon cart.

• SPF: 45
• Key ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, vitamin E, coconut oil
• Water-resistant: No
• Tinted: No

Glowing customer review: "This is hands down one of the best lip balms I have tried. It is very moisturizing and lasts quite a while, unlike others I have had to constantly reapply every few minutes or so. The fact that it is a sunscreen lip balm takes it to another level of personal care."

Need a lil gloss in your life? I get it. This one offers broad-spectrum SPF 40 protection and a subtle pink tint with a nice, shiny finish. Plus, the hydrating formula doesn't feel sticky or tacky on your lips. Best of all, it has anti-aging ingredients that'll help prevent fine lines and wrinkles that come with sun damage.

• SPF: 40
• Key ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, coconut oil, adenosine
• Water-resistant: No
• Tinted: Yes

Glowing customer review: "I have used this lip gloss for years and it is truly a staple. I have several tubes placed all around for easy access: my purse, the bathroom drawer, my nightstand, my dresser, and my makeup bag. It's a sheer, pretty pink, not a bubblegum pink... I think the color would work for any skin tone."

The water-resistant formula of Supergoop!'s SPF 30 lip balm makes it well-suited for the beach or pool—and for outdoor activities where you'll be working up a sweat. It contains shea butter, honey, and sunflower seed oil to help keep your lips feeling super soft and nourished during a long day in the sun. Plus, it's got mint extracts that feel cool and refreshing on dry, cracked lips.

• SPF: 30
• Key ingredients: Shea butter, sunflower seed oil, honey
• Water-resistant: Yes
  
• Tinted: No

Glowing customer review: This is my absolute favorite lip balm. A lot of lip balms that I have tried in the past only lasted for maybe an hour and actually make my lips more chapped as if they are screaming for moisture after the balm has dried... This actually heals and protects and you feel it for hours."

"Chemical sunscreens are likely better for the lips because mineral sunscreens get washed off and come off with drinking and eating," said Dr. Lal. With that being said, if you're still keen on mineral sunscreens, I'd suggest using Sun Bum's SPF 30 mineral sunscreen lip balm with frequent reapplication.

The matte formula is more akin to chapstick than to lip gloss, so it's a great choice for those wanting something more subtle (it's still hydrating, don't you worry!). Plus, unlike many unflavored lip balms with SPF I've tried over the years, it doesn't leave behind a terrible aftertaste.

• SPF: 30
• Key ingredients: Zinc oxide, shea butter, vitamin E
• Water-resistant: No
• Tinted: No

Glowing customer review: "I’m prone to sunburnt lips and this is great and easy to reapply. Doesn’t have a weird taste and goes on smooth without feeling heavy."

With over 18,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, this Jack Black Intense Therapy lip balm with SPF 25 is clearly doing something right. The hydrating formula utilizes chemical sunscreen actives to ensure it doesn't leave behind a white cast, and it has natural emollients that'll keep your lips from getting chapped. Best of all, it comes in yummy flavors like mint, lemon, and pineapple.

• SPF: 25
• Key ingredients: Avobenzone, octinoxate, shea butter, green tea extract
• Water-resistant: No
• Tinted: No

Glowing customer review: "Best. Lip. Balm. Ever. I've tried multiple SPF lip balms and they all taste like I licked the nozzle of a sunscreen can. Not this. The balm is moisturizing, non-sticky, just flavored enough (I love the mint.) and looks great alone or over a colored product like a gloss... I'd use it even if it didn't have SPF but it's a holy grail of mine because it does."

As a certified lip gloss girl, I'm unwilling to give up my beloved glossy finish on beach days, but as a beauty expert, I'm also unwilling to give up broad-spectrum SPF protection. Insert Naked Sundays' SPF 50 Glow & Go. Though labeled as a lip oil, the formula is more of a lip gloss-oil hybrid. It's got a super shiny finish and is packed with antioxidants and amino acids that help combat sun damage. Plus, the chemical SPF actives and subtle tint ensure zero white cast on dark lips.

• SPF: 50
• Key ingredients: Homosalate, octocrylene, octisalate, avobenzone, vitamin C, vitamin E
• Water-resistant: No
• Tinted: Yes

Glowing customer review: "I’ve tried a couple of lip products with SPF, and this one is the best so far. Doesn’t taste horrible (It does taste like watermelon candy.), doesn’t mess up your lipstick because you don’t have to apply much pressure to keep it on the lips, and it actually hydrates and colors up the lips a bit without being super sticky."

Lipstick lovers, rejoice! Thanks to MDSolarSciences, you can still sport a splash of color while keeping your lips protected from sunburns and sun damage. This hydrating sheer lipstick with SPF comes in seven shade options to suit everyone's fancy—and it's got Dr. Lal's stamp of approval. He calls it an "elegant product for those that want to have some color with their balm." In addition to broad-spectrum SPF 30 and a buildable sheer tint, it has avocado oil and shea butter to keep your lips kissably soft all summer.

• SPF: 30
• Key ingredients: Avobenzone, octisalate, homosalate, avocado oil, shea butter
• Water-resistant: No
• Tinted: Yes

Glowing customer review: "The skin on my lips is super sensitive to the sun and burns easily. I’m constantly using some sort of chapstick with SPF, but they tend to always dry my lips out. Thought I’d give this a try. And wow!! Really nice formula… not sticky and doesn’t dry down to a matte. Just a nice shine with a hint of color."

Those with darker lips will have the best luck with tinted lip balms with SPF, especially if you prefer mineral sunscreens. The added pigment will help you avoid that dreaded white cast while ensuring your lips still get plenty of protection from the sun.

Coola's Liplux tinted lip balm with SPF 30 comes in a variety of shades to ensure you find just the right one for your lip tone. The sheer formula is nice and lightweight, so you won't feel like you're wearing full-on lipstick at the beach.

• SPF: 30
• Key ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide, organic cupuaçu butter, mongongo oil
• Water-resistant: No
• Tinted: Yes

Glowing customer review: "Love this stuff! Looks great on, tastes and smells nice, and SPF on top equals perfection."

Short answer: YES. According to Dr. Lal, the lips are a high-risk area for a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. Wearing lip sun protection is one of the most effective ways to block harmful UV rays that cause sunburns and sun damage.

Dr. Lal also notes that wearing SPF on your lips can help keep them looking plump and youthful. He says that over time, sun damage can cause your lips to have a sunken-in look. "The skin of the lips becomes thin and scaly, and that can be hard to fix. A lot of people come in for lip filler, but putting lip filler in a thin sunken lip doesn’t help. It makes your lips sink in further." The solution: preventatively wearing lip balm with SPF.

Aim for SPF 30 or higher

Wondering what SPF is best for lip balm? Dr. Lal suggests lip products with at least SPF 30, saying, "After SPF 30, it doesn’t make as much of a difference, but I always aim for the highest possible SPF in my skin cancer patients." You'll want to reapply at least every two hours and even more frequently if you're eating, drinking, or getting wet.

Double-check for broad-spectrum protection

Products that offer ~broad-spectrum protection~ fend off both UVA and UVB rays, meaning they help prevent sunburns and signs of aging caused by sun damage.

Choose between mineral and chemical actives

"Mineral sunscreens are physical blockers meaning they sit on top of the skin and prevent entry of UV rays," explains Dr. Lal. As a result, lip balms with mineral SPF need to be reapplied more frequently, as they can come off more easily through eating, drinking, making out, and the like. Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, are absorbed into the skin and can offer more long-term protection. Plus, they won't leave behind a white cast.

Find your preferred product type

Are you looking for something akin to chapstick or traditional lip balm? Lipstick? Lip oil? Or perhaps, you're a lip gloss enthusiast like myself. Dr. Lal says that all types of lip sunscreens are effective, so long as they have broad-spectrum SPF 30. The rest is up to personal preference.

Look for hydrating ingredients

Just like your skin, your lips can feel dried out after a long day in the sun—but the wrong product can leave your lippies feeling even more chapped and irritated than they were to begin with. To keep them kissably soft, opt for an SPF lip balm made with hydrating ingredients like shea butter, beeswax, jojoba oil, and hyaluronic acid.

Sarah Maberry is a commerce writer at Hearst Magazines with over four years of experience researching and writing about beauty. She is particularly knowledgeable about skincare products, including sunscreens, SPF lip balms, and after-sun care. Her picks for the best lip balms with SPF were based on personal testing, recommendations from Dr. Karan Lal and Cosmo editors, and market research.

Siena Gagliano is a contributing beauty editor at Cosmopolitan and has two years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing skincare stories, like the differences between mineral vs. chemical sunscreen and the best clear sunscreens, and feels especially knowledgable about lip balms with SPF, thanks to being a beauty editor and therefore a sunscreen advocate. She regularly tests and analyzes lip balms with SPF on her own skin for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top dermatologists to assess new formulas and products.