These 15 Lip Balms With SPF Will Protect Your Lips From the Sun's Rays (2024)

By now, you probably know that it's important to slather your face and body in SPF before you go outside, but what about your lips? You likely have a favorite lip balm that you reach for whenever your lips are feeling cracked or parched, but it may or may not contain SPF. If you're going to be exposed to UV rays at all, it might be a good idea to consider adding a lip balm with SPF to your beauty repertoire (you can even wear it under or over your favorite lipstick).

Though you may not think about it, your lips are actually hypersensitive to the sun's harmful rays. "It is very important to wear SPF on your lips because the UV rays can speed up the aging process by increasing collagen and elastin damage," says DiAnne Davis, M.D., F.A.A.D., a dermatologist in Dallas, Texas. "The skin on the lips is very thin and has very little melanin, so there is not much protection from the damaging UV rays on the lips. Not wearing SPF will not only lead to lip wrinkles, but also precancerous lesions called actinic keratosis, or even skin cancer."

What should you look for in lip balms with SPF?

• Choose hydrating ingredients. Dr. Davis recommends looking for a lip balm containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin or occlusives like shea butter and petrolatum. These ingredients help draw moisture into the skin to keep your lips hydrated throughout the day, according to Dr. Davis.
• Look at the SPF number. "Your lip balm should be SPF 15 or higher," she says.
• Be weary of ingredients. Lips can be more sensitive than other areas of the body, so opt out of heavy fragrances or long ingredient lists if you know that your skin falls on the easily irritated side.

While the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab has never tested lip balms with SPF specifically, the Lab has tested 175 lip treatments from more than 70 brands, some of which contain SPF. Below, based on dermatologist recommendations, Beauty Lab input and editor favorites, find the best mineral and chemical lip balms with SPF, guaranteed to protect and heal your delicate lip area.

Since this lip balm is made with titanium dioxide, a mineral sunscreen, you won't even be able to tell that you're putting SPF on your lips. It's packed with antioxidants like vitamins C and E and green tea, and it imparts a subtle shine and wash of sheer color to lips (though there's also a colorless version).

Not only is this lip balm packed with aloe vera and vitamin E, it also has SPF 45 and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes — making it perfect for any outdoor adventurer or avid beach-goer."This is the SPF lip balm I keep coming back to," one reviewer says."It offers very high SPF. The scent is delicious but not obnoxious. Because it uses chemical sunscreen ingredients, there is no white cast."

Dr. Davis recommends this lip balm as a gentle option for those with even the most sensitive skin. "Vanicream’s lip protectant has SPF 30 and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes," she says. "It also has a nice silky texture and is free of common allergens that may cause irritation or allergic reactions."

Not only does this lip balm protect lips from the sun's harmful rays and lock in moisture, it also helps protect lips from wind and heat. Dr. Davis recommends this lip balm as an affordable drugstore option that works well.

Beloved by beauty editors and dermatologists alike, Elta MD's products are a surefire bet for sun safety. "Elta MD UV Lip Balm SPF 36 contains glycerin and vitamin E that help retain moisture and zinc oxide for SPF protection," says Dr. Davis.

Good Housekeeping Institute Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann's favorite lip balm with SPF is this pick from Fresh, which she's been using for years. Blended with sugar and grapeseed oil to moisturize and soothe, this cult-favorite lip balm also protects lips from the sun while blending into skin seamlessly — without a white cast.

Aquaphor's traditional healing ointment holds a Good Housekeeping Seal for its efficacy on everything from cracked knuckles to diaper rash to chapped lips. Just like the traditional formula, this balm helps repair severely dehydrated skin with pantheol and glycerin, but it has an added bonus: SPF 30 to protect against sun damage.

When Beauty Director April Franzino needs a lip balm with SPF protection, this is the one she reaches for. "If you want alipbalmwitha real tint, this one gives a wash of true color yet feels softening thanks to shea and olive butters — plus it has broad spectrumSPF30," she says."I love the red shade for a hint of brightness that doesn’t look overly made-up."

That's right: Burt's Bees' cult-favorite lip balm comes in an all-weather formula that contains SPF 15. Beeswax, shea butter and vitamin E help moisturize and soothe your lips while sunscreen protects them."Triedallsorts of chapsticks and this is the absolute best option for hard conditions," says one reviewer that spends most of their days outdoors. Keep in mind: it may leave a white cast.

Available in tons of tropical flavors like banana, mango and watermelon, this lip balm packs a major punch of both hydration and sun protection. "The most amazing lip balm," one reviewer raves."Softer than any other lip balm I have tried. Not sticky. Banana scent is a perfect amount —not too overwhelming." Aloe and vitamin E soothe and moisturize lips.

Honey, vitamin C and vitamin E work together to nourish lips while sunflower seed oil locks in moisture."It's glossy but not sticky, smells great, and I love that it has SPF protection," one reviewer says. Use it over your favorite lip color for a sun protection boost.

Unlike many lip balms, this one goes on as more of a lotion, coating your lips in sun protection. Its mineral formula may leave behind a bit of a white cast if you choose the untinted version, but reviewers love how it feels on their lips. "This lip balm is very light and comfortable," one reviewer says.

With four pretty tints that accentuate your natural lip color and leave behind a subtle stain, this lip balm is a great choice for anyone hoping for a lip balm that packs on somecolor. "The color and shine I get from this lip balm is my favorite," one reviewer says."It's shiny without being greasy. It adds color just enough to enhance your own lips and it smells of rose Turkish delight."

While it offers plenty of sun protection, this lip balm is also ultra-hydrating thanks to superstar humectants likecupuaçu butter and mongongo oil."This lip balm has such a beautiful stain effect on the lips," one reviewer says. "It has great staying power and is definitely moisturizing."

Swipe this color balm on both your lips and cheeks. This dual-purpose stick goes on highly pigmented, but sheers out as you blend it. Jojoba and squalane help moisturize, while SPF 50 keeps your skin protected. "I find it easiest to apply with a brush," one reviewer says. "Perfect to throw on for a no-makeup day over tinted SPF."