An SPF Lip Balm is the Missing Power Player from Your Morning Routine

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.