You probably already know the importance of applying sunscreen daily to protect your skin. But many people overlook how important it is to protect their lips, too. In addition to skin cancer, exposure to harmful rays can cause a precancerous condition called actinic cheilitis, 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 I spoke to recommend using an SPF lip balm daily. To help guide you on your search, I spoke to dermatologists about how to shop for one and rounded up options that NBC Select editors use and love.
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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 has sweet almond oil to hydrate and won’t leave a white cast on lips, according to the brand.
This lip balm, which has one of the highest SPF ratings on this list, has 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 hydrate and smooth lips, says Dr. Jaimie DeRosa, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon.
This option 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.
This Aquaphor lip balm has avobenzone, which protects your lips and gives it some water resistance, says Deignan. Like other Aquaphor products, it has a thick texture and hydrates your lips so they don’t feel rough, dry or chapped, says former NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez.
This balm is a personal favorite of Deignan and Dr. Jaimie DeRosa, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, because it feels smooth on their lips and doesn’t leave behind a white residue. It’s made with zinc oxide, which blocks the sun’s rays from penetrating your skin. It also has octinoxate, a UVB ray shield and includes the humectant glycerin, according to the brand.
This SPF 30 lip balm has several 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,” says DeRosa. There’s also a tinted version if you want a little color.
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 by 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 even her younger siblings enjoy the other four flavors, which means they actually want to put it on and protect their lips.
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.
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. It’s lightweight and available in two different flavors: acai and mint.
For under $20, this set comes with four scented lip balms: dreamsicle, mango, tropical and vanilla. Each balm has SPF 45 and doesn’t have oxybenzone, making it a good option for those with sensitive skin, according to the brand. It is also available in a set of five.
If you’re looking for a creamy lip balm that provides buildable, tinted coverage, consider this option from Tatcha, the brand behind one of our favorite lip masks. This chemical and mineral sunscreen hybrid locks in moisture and smoothes lips. Reviewers say this goes on smoothly and has a natural finish. It’s available in three shades: Camellia (warm red), Plum Blossom (pink) and Midnight Lily (dark purple).
This hydrating gloss has a sheer pink tint and has glycerin, cucumber and chamomile to hydrate, plus SPF 20 to protect. Reviewers say it has a pleasant cucumber scent and appreciate that it doesn’t feel too sticky on the lips. Just be sure to apply it at least 15 minutes before you go outside for maximum protection.
When shopping for SPF lip balm, experts recommend paying attention to the ingredients and finding a formula that offers both sun protection and nourishment for your lips.
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, says 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,” she says.
In addition to sun protection, a good SPF lip balm should keep lips from drying out and cracking, says DeRosa. Consider humectant ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe vera and honey, which add moisture, she says.
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.
You might want to be cautious when using lip balms with cooling ingredients (like menthol, camphor or phenol) because they can be drying, experts say. Alcohol is also known to dry out the lips, so if you see signs of irritation, you may want to avoid it, says DeRosa. Some lip balms also have 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.
As with face sunscreens, you’ll need to use this product daily. You should be reapplying it multiple times daily, too, says DeRosa. Reapply it every two to three hours, but more often if you’re eating or wiping your lips frequently, says Deignan. You should wear SPF lip balm in all types of weather, because harmful rays can still impact your skin when it’s cloudy outside. The same applies if you’re sitting near a window or riding in the car, experts say.
At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I am a commerce editor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers topics like beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, I interviewed two experts to gather their guidance on what to look for when shopping for SPF lip balm.
Bianca Alvarez is a former associate reporter at NBC Select.
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