We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Skin Health Skin Care & Cleansing Products The 9 Best Tested SPF Lip Balms to Prevent Chapped, Sunburned Lips Don’t forget to protect your pout with these editor-approved SPF lip balms. By Lacey Muinos Updated on May 01, 2024 Medically reviewed by Leah Ansell, MD Fact checked by Rich Scherr Print Verwell Health / Kristin Kempa Though you may be in the habit of wearing lip balm daily to prevent chapped lips, using a lip balm with SPF when you spend time outdoors is a simple but effective way to boost your sunscreen habits. In fact, using sun protection on your lips may even be more important than other areas. Jill Salyards, MD, board-certified dermatologist and owner of Refine Dermatology, a private practice in Knoxville, Tennessee, says that it's equally as important to protect the lips as we do the rest of the body, especially since it's a popular spot for skin cancer and that it safeguards against sunburns, skin aging, and skin cancer. Everyone should wear it regardless of pigmentation or skin type, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). We tested 10 of the most popular sunscreen-enhanced lip products to find the best SPF lip balms. Our editors—of all age ranges, skin types, and experience levels with SPF makeup—evaluated them for two weeks. We paid close attention to each SPF lip balm’s feel, hydration level, overall look, and value. Then, we had a dermatologist from our Medical Expert Board review this article for accuracy. What SPF is Best for Lips? Sun protection factor (SPF) refers to how long UV rays would take to redden your skin when using the product as directed compared to without it, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. SPF starts at as low as 6 and can reach as high as 100, but somewhere in the middle is where you want to be, with SPF 15 generally being the minimum recommendation. The AAD recommends choosing SPF products with SPF 30 or higher. A sunscreen with broad-spectrum coverage is also ideal as it protects against UVA and UVB rays. Types of SPF Lip Balms Mineral: This type is generally recommended for people with sensitive skin because they're gentler, but they're known to leave a white cast on the skin. Dr. Salyards says to look for ingredients that block the sun, like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, in mineral sunscreens. Chemical: Chemical sunscreens are more comfortable to wear, but there are concerns over their general safety for humans and the environment. Dr. Salyards confirms that chemical sunscreens with active ingredients such as avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate, and oxybenzone work by absorbing UV rays. Aanand Geria, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Verona, New Jersey, suggests looking for ingredients like vitamin E and shea butter to moisturize lips as well. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Nivea Smoothness Lip Care at Amazon ($18) Jump to Review Best Drugstore: Aquaphor Lip Protectant & Ointment at Amazon ($5) Jump to Review Best Moisturizing: Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm at Amazon ($10) Jump to Review Best All-Day Wear: EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36 at Amazon ($17) Jump to Review Best Tinted: MDSolarSciences Hydrating Sheer Lip Balm SPF 30 at Amazon ($25) Jump to Review Best Gloss: Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm SPF 30 at Sephora ($15) Jump to Review Best Lip Plumper: Sunnie Skin Plump It Lips at Sunnieskin.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Mineral: Everyday Humans Big Mood Lip Balm at Amazon ($9) Jump to Review Best Water-Resistant : Eos SPF Coconut Lip Balm at Amazon ($4) Jump to Review Best Overall Nivea Smoothness Lip Care Walmart View On Amazon $18 View On Walmart $6 View On Niveausa.com Pros Great scent Velvety consistency Oil free Cons Moisturizer doesn't deeply penetrate Key Specs: Active Ingredients: Shea butter, jojoba oil, avocado oil | Size: 0.17 oz | SPF: 15 | Broad Spectrum: Yes Why We Recommend It The Nivea Smoothness Lip Care SPF lip balm was velvety smooth, moisturizing, and smelled divine throughout our testing process, so making this our best overall SPF lip balm was easy. We found ourselves reapplying this lip balm because we couldn’t get enough of its moisturizing qualities thanks to the key ingredients: shea butter, jojoba oil, and avocado oil. Shea butter helps retain moisture and contains antioxidants vitamins E and A , which are effective at relieving dry skin, soothing irritation, and preventing cell damage. The jojoba oil reduces the look of fine lines, while the avocado oil and broad spectrum SPF formula help protect your lips from sun damage. When we first applied this product, we were blown away by the lightweight consistency. It glided across our lips and was as smooth as butter. The refreshing and light scent reminded us of a spa day, and we loved that our lips looked as healthy as they felt after use. The lip balm left a pleasant sheen on our lips. It looked like our skin but better. We fell in love with this SPF lip balm and cannot recommend it enough. Keep in Mind We found the consistency to be slightly tacky, though this doesn’t subtract from feeling comfortable on the lips. Our editors also found the taste of sunscreen to come through when eating or drinking. Best Drugstore Aquaphor Lip Protectant & Ointment Amazon View On Amazon $5 View On Walmart $8 View On IHerb $5 Pros Price point is budget-friendly Soothes chapped lips with petrolatum Comes in a larger size than most other options Cons Petrolatum-based products can feel greasy May bleed outside of the lip line Key Specs: Active Ingredients: Avobenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone | Size: 0.35 fl oz | SPF: 30 | Broad Spectrum: Yes Why We Recommend It Sunscreen is meant to be reapplied frequently, so you may run out and make repeat purchases. This can be costly, but SPF lip balm doesn’t have to be expensive. Aquaphor’s Lip Repair Lip Balm with Sunscreen can be found at most drugstores, making it available at drugstore prices. It is less expensive than our other picks and comes in a larger tube so that it will last longer. What’s more, during testing, we found that a little goes a long way and lasts for hours before needing to be reapplied. This lip balm's sun-protective properties come from chemical sunscreen filters that absorb both UVA and UVB rays, giving your lips broad-spectrum coverage. This product offers a lot of protection (and value), which is why we stand by it as our best drugstore SPF lip balm. Keep in Mind The first ingredient, however, is petrolatum—an occlusive ingredient that’s effective at trapping moisture but is notorious for leaving a greasy residue. Also, our editor with dry skin found it a little sticky and noticed it bled outside the lip line but enjoyed the product’s hydration properties nonetheless. Best Moisturizing Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm Amazon View On Amazon $10 View On Walmart $19 View On Sephora $10 Pros Layerable with other lip products Strong staying power Without a shiny finish, it’s hardly detectable on the lips Cons Has a somewhat tacky consistency Contains added flavors Key Specs: Active Ingredients: Avobenzone, octinoxate | Size: 0.25 oz | SPF: 25 | Broad Spectrum: Yes Why We Recommend It As its name suggests, the Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm is extremely moisturizing, thanks to the shea butter and avocado oil. Avacado oil is great at moisturizing and repairing skin and protecting it from UV damage. During testing, we found this lip balm very moisturizing—enough to withstand the winds in New York that would otherwise result in dry, chapped lips. This lip balm is a sound choice for someone not specifically looking for SPF makeup. Its finish is much more discreet and doesn’t show much evidence you’re wearing anything at all. It can be layered under makeup, and our editors found it best suited for protection against the elements, like a sunny, windy day at the park. Keep in Mind We found that it felt a bit tacky at times, which didn't feel the best on our lips. Best All-Day Wear EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36 EltaMD View On Amazon $17 View On Eltamd.com Pros Highest SPF on our list Combines chemical and mineral sunscreen filters Water-resistant for up to 80 minutes Cons It goes on white, so you need to rub it in It can feel heavy on the lips Key Specs: Active Ingredients: Octinoxate, zinc oxide | Size: 0.28 oz | SPF: 36 | Broad Spectrum: Yes Why We Recommend It Replication won't be necessary with EltaMD UV SPF Lip Balm. This pick is great for all-day wear because it protects your skin against harmful sun damage due to zinc oxide, a common ingredient in sun protection and is super hydrating (so much so we felt we could use it as an overnight lip mask). Glycerin, a humectant, draws in moisture from the environment to further moisturize the skin while helping wounds heal faster and protecting the skin from irritants. We didn't need to reapply constantly for the hydrating benefits, though you may want to add another layer if you’ve been in the sun for some time. If you’re looking for maximum sun protection and moisture, you'll like this formula. Keep in Mind Our editor with combination skin found the formula to be on the heavier side and noticed a slight white cast that improved when rubbed in. If you prefer lightweight products or have oily skin, you may find it too heavy-duty. Best Tinted MDSolarSciences Hydrating Sheer Lip Balm SPF 30 MDSolarSciences View On Amazon $25 View On Walmart $20 View On Walmart $19 Pros Vegan-friendly formula Comes in multiple shades Contains hyaluronic acid and antioxidants Cons Not as moisturizing as other options Tinted shades are subtle but buildable Key Specs: Active Ingredients: Avobenzone, octisalate, homosalate | Size: 0.15 oz | SPF: 30 | Broad Spectrum: Yes Why We Recommend It If you’re looking for an SPF lip balm that combines the sun protection of sunscreen, hydration of lip balm, and color payoff of lipstick, this is it. The MDSolarSciences Hydrating Sheer Lip Balm is our pick for the best tinted SPF lip balm. It's more lipstick than lip balm but is jam-packed with skincare-like ingredients to protect and nourish your lips, such as shea butter, avocado oil, and olive butter (which is great at healing skin due to its anti-inflammatory properties). It uses chemical sunscreen filters to stave off UV rays, while hyaluronic acid improves skin hydration. It also contains plant oils for intense hydration and antioxidants like vitamins C and E to protect you from environmental damage. We found it to be comparable to a lip tint, and it didn’t have to be reapplied as often as other SPF makeup we've used to get the same dose of hydration. Keep in Mind It wasn’t moisturizing enough to soothe dryness so you may want to find another product to layer with it that does. We also noticed the tinted shades are more subtle and on the natural side, so it may not completely replace your favorite lipstick. Best Gloss Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm SPF 30 Cayskin View On Sephora $15 Pros Comes in a large quantity Noticeably hydrates dry lips Shea butter softens and moisturizes Cons Mild sunscreen flavor Your hair may get stuck to it Key Specs: Active Ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate | Size: 0.35 oz | SPF: 30 | Broad Spectrum: Yes Why We Recommend It The Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm SPF 30 is the middle ground between SPF and lip oil. That's why we picked it for the best SPF lip gloss (slash balm). It has a glossy finish, making it more like a lip gloss than a lip balm—but we loved this product. It contains vitamin E, shea butter, sea moss (which is known for being packed with ingredients like zinc, potassium, and phosphorus, which are all essential minerals), and aloe (boosts collagen production)—all of which soothe and moisturize lips (including sensitive ones). While some lip glosses can leave your lips thirsting for more, this one quenches dry lips. We didn’t feel the urge to reapply, though you should habitually reapply SPF if you’re outdoors. It rescued our editor’s chapped lips, leaving them soft and supple even after eating and drinking. We tested the clear version, but it’s also available in multiple tinted versions. Keep in Mind It had a slight stickiness to it, which may not be ideal for some people. Best Lip Plumper Sunnie Skin Plump It Lips Sunnie Skin View On Sunnieskin.com View On Ecosmetics.com $58 View On Verishop.com $45 Pros Gives lips a fuller appearance Contains ceramides and peptides for anti-aging benefits Applicator sponge is easy to apply on the go Cons Smallest size on our list Steep price tag Has a tingling sensation on skin outside of lips Key Specs: Active Ingredients: Homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, avobenzone | Size: 0.14 oz | SPF: 30 | Broad Spectrum: Yes Why We Recommend It It contains the typical sunscreen filters you’d find in your standard SPF product, but it’s also packed with anti-aging ingredients like ceramides, peptides, and niacinamide. These ingredients, combined, work to reduce fine wrinkles, promote collagen growth, and fight hyperpigmentation. It felt thick and tacky during testing—but in a good way. In the middle of winter, you want a thick layer of protection and moisture, and this product delivers. According to our editor, with dry skin, this lip plumper banished flakiness and delivered plump and gorgeous lips as promised. As to be expected with any lip plumper, we found this lip balm to be quite tingly. This could be attributed to peppermint and spearmint essential oils. Keep in Mind Our editor who doesn’t usually have sensitive skin noticed some redness on areas of skin where this product bled outside of the lip line. Best Mineral Everyday Humans Big Mood Lip Balm Amazon View On Amazon $9 Pros Lightweight Smells like an oat milk latte Immediate relief Cons Leaves a slight gray cast Key Specs: Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide, oat extract, blue agave, oil blend | Size: 0.15 oz | SPF: 30 | Broad Spectrum: Yes Why We Recommend It The Everyday Humans Milky Lip Balm is our pick for the best mineral SPF lip balm. This product is equally as protective as it is moisturizing. We loved the immediate relief to our dry, chapped lips when we wore it. Oat extract and oatmeal are popular soothing agents in skincare because of their anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants. As soon as we applied the lip balm, we could feel those properties at work as our lips felt cool, tingly, and healed. Zinc oxide, commonly found in mineral sunscreens, provides a high level of defense against UVA and UVB rays. We loved using this product during testing. Its pleasant smell reminded us of an oat milk latte, but it wasn’t overpowering or lingering. We had to reapply a few hours later, but that wasn’t a problem. Overall, we had a great experience testing this product and plan to continue using it. Keep in Mind Mineral sunscreens tend to leave a gray or white cast, and that did happen when we used this SPF lip balm. Best Water-Resistant Eos SPF Coconut Lip Balm Amazon View On Amazon $4 View On Walmart $14 View On Evolutionofsmooth.com $4 Pros All natural Hypoallergenic Cons Thicker consistency Key Specs: Active Ingredients: Beeswax, sunflower oil | Size: 0.14 oz | SPF: 30 | Broad Spectrum: Yes Why We Recommend It If you’re heading to the beach or the pool, the last thing you want to do is constantly reapply your SPF lip balm whenever you get wet. Our pick for the best water-resistant SPF lip balm is the EOS SPF 30 Lip Balm. During testing, we saw that the lip balm stayed securely on our lips even after drinking liquids all day. The staying power makes us confident that it's a great choice for swimming or participating in water sports. Beeswax, one of the active ingredients in the lip balm, creates a protectant layer on the lips. It sucks in moisture while the sunflower oil hydrates the skin. At first, this product seemed a little underwhelming, but we couldn’t ignore the instant hydration that we felt. Over time, our lips appeared healthier, and at the end of the test, we noticed that consistent re-application benefited the long-term health of our lips. It has a tropical scent that isn’t overpowering. Keep in Mind It has a thicker consistency, which may feel uncomfortable for some people. We Also Tested Sun Bum Sunscreen Lip Balm: This SPF lip balm did what it’s supposed to—left lips feeling more hydrated and protected from the sun. However, we didn’t find it to be as long-lasting as the others we tested.Salt & Stone SPF 30 Lip Balm: This SPF lip balm is a good option for those looking for a 100% mineral sunscreen. Its zinc oxide formula makes it more gentle than other options. Still, we weren’t thrilled by its performance. Ultimately, it wasn’t comfortable on the lips and seemed to wear off quickly.Vacation Bananas Foster Lip Balm: This SPF lip balm gets a green light as a protective barrier against the elements. However, as a lip balm for daily wear, we found the scent to be overbearing and not exactly pleasant. If you enjoy the signature scent, you may like this product. How We Tested the SPF Lip Balms Concluding whether we recommend a product requires long-term testing. We tested the look and feel of 27 SPF lip balms in The Verywell Testing Lab and at home over a two-week period. To put the best SPF lip balms to the test, 21 of our editors applied and assessed one or more products each. We consider our skin types, our lip's natural conditions and struggles, and the weather conditions around us, all impacting how lip balms perform. For optimal sun protection, we narrowed down our choices to those with SPF 25 or higher and broad-spectrum coverage to align with the CDC’s recommendations for choosing sunscreen based on the following: Feel: We paid attention to how the lip balms physically felt (sticky, clumpy, glossy, etc.). We wrote down if they felt cooling, tingly, or soothing and how the lip balm settled and absorbed into our lips.Hydration: We followed the provided manufacturers’ directions on how to apply and how often to reapply. We closely examined whether the product resulted in a noticeable increase in hydration. We noted how quickly our lips felt hydrated and how long the hydration lasted. Finally, we compared the hydration of our lips at the end of the testing process to the beginning to see how long-term the effects were.Look: We assessed how the lip balms looked on our lips, noting their shine levels, whether they were glossy, matte, satin, or natural-looking and whether there were any tints or colors. We also took into account whether the product bled onto our lips or if it transferred easily.Value: At the end of the testing period, we considered everything above and compared it to the price point, assessing the overall value compared to the lip balms' performance. What to Look For in Lip Balms With SPF Other Health Benefits: Those with dry, chapped lips may find relief using SPF lip products that moisturize and hydrate the lips. The formula’s ingredient list heavily influences this. Geria says lip balms made with beeswax, shea butter, or coconut oil can provide moisture, which will help prevent them from being dry, chapped, or cracked. Salyards recommends moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, petrolatum, dimethicone, or squalane for those who routinely experience dry, chapped lips. Our Experts Aanand Geria, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Verona, New JerseyJill Salyards, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Refine Dermatology in Knoxville, Tennessee Frequently Asked Questions Is it safe to use sunscreen on lips? Sunscreen is safe to use on lips, though some SPF products may be better than others. Dr. Salyards says that you can use regular sunscreen on the lips, but the texture may feel weird and it may not be as long-lasting as a balm made for the lips. They also note that a lip balm with SPF is likely a better choice since it’s less likely to dry or irritate the lips. What SPF should lip balm be? Lip balm with SPF should be at least SPF 15, but SPF 30 or higher is even better. Higher SPF indicates higher protection from UV rays. To protect against both UVA and UVB rays, choose an SPF lip balm with broad-spectrum coverage. How often should you reapply SPF lip balm? Lip balms with SPF should be reapplied frequently—as often as you reapply sunscreen to your face and body. While the general recommendation is to reapply SPF every two hours, you may need to reapply more frequently if swimming or sweating. Even water-resistant sunscreens wear off quickly when immersed in water. Why Trust Verywell Health Lacey Muinos is a health and wellness writer with a speciality in skin health and sun care. After interviewing dozens of board-certified dermatologists, she has developed a deep understanding of how optimal sun protection prevents sunburns, sun damage, and skin cancer. Now, she uses an SPF lip balm every time she goes outside. Sunscreen 101: A Complete Guide to Avoiding Sunburns 20 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. 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