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Byrdie / Lecia Landis
We’ll answer the question on everyone’s mind first—yes, you do need SPF in your lip balm. After all, the skin on your lips is just like the skin on the rest of your face and is susceptible to burning, sun damage, and even skin cancer.
Because lip skin is thinner and more delicate, however, a lip burn is seriously painful (just ask anyone who’s experienced one). And somewhat ironically, many people forget that they need to apply sunscreen to this sensitive area. You’re likely using a lip balm already, so why not make it one that contains SPF? There are more standout formulas out there than ever before, ones that are so darn good you’ll forget you chose them for their protective prowess.
To find the perfect lip balm with SPF, narrow your search to products that contains at least SPF 30 and super hydrating ingredients to make lips smooth and soft. You may want to avoid heavily fragranced options depending on your lip and skin sensitivity.
Swipe on any of these best lip balms with SPF and you’ll see what we mean.
Best Overall
Sun Bum Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 30
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Target
Who else recommends it? NBC News, Allure, and Elle all picked Sun Bum Lip Balm.
What do buyers say? 85% of 16,700+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
Super, super creamy, this balm, a favorite of Byrdie’s Commerce Editorial Director Jessica Mahgerefteh, hydrates lips just as well as it shields them from damaging UV rays. Credit a base made with aloe and cocoa butter for mega-moisture. But arguably the best part is the lip-smacking fruity flavors—coconut, pineapple, banana, pomegranate, key lime, and mango—that are incentive enough to keep swiping this on. Use it alone or layer it over any lip color for added protection.
Price at time of publish: $4
Best Drugstore
Aquaphor Lip Protectant & Sunscreen Ointment SPF 30
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Courtesy of Ulta
Your beloved tube o’ Aquaphor just got a major upgrade, thanks to a dose of broad-spectrum sun protection. Still, it delivers those same hydrating benefits, with plenty of shea butter, glycerin, and beeswax to quench a parched pout. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick, this one is a great option for those with dry or cracked lips. "The ointment maintains all the great benefits of Aquaphor with the added bonus of SPF 30 protection," she says. "It's also free of fragrance and preservatives, making it especially good for those with sensitive skin."
Price at time of publish: $5
Best Tinted
EleVen by Venus Williams Perfect Form Lip Balm SPF 15
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Courtesy of EleVen by Venus Williams
Formulated with 20% zinc oxide, this silky tinted balm offers SPF 15 protection from UVA and UVB rays while shea butter and bayberry fruit wax deeply nourish and soothe the lips. It’s available in two universally flattering pink shades, and the lineup also includes a clear shade and a vibrant red, so there’s a shade for every situation or occasion. Plus, we love that the packaging is made from PCR and other recyclable materials.
Price at time of publish: $19
Runner-Up, Best Tinted
Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment
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Fresh
This beloved cult classic may be lauded for its creamy texture and gorgeous, sheer color, but did you know that it also boasts an SPF 15? All of the 12 shades—ranging from clear to rosy to berry to red—have it, ensuring that your lips stay protected. Though it is those beautiful tints that keep us coming back to this tube anytime we want just a little something to perk up our pout.
Price at time of publish: $24
Best Natural
W3ll People Nudist Lip Butter
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Given the fact that we inevitably end up ingesting some of the products we put on our lips, it makes sense that you might want to go with a clean lip balm. This one fits the bill, using several different organic oils for hydrating purposes. Even the sun protection is natural, non-micronized mineral zinc, a rarity given that many lip products use chemical sunscreen ingredients. It comes in both a clear version, as well as two tinted options.
Price at time of publish: $15
Best Multitasker
Colorescience Brush-On Sunscreen Mineral Powder
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Amazon
What’s better than a multi-purpose color stick that you can swipe on lips, cheeks, and eyes? One that contains SPF, of course. This newbie delivers gorgeous pigment on all those spots—it comes in three shades, a berry, blush, and bronze—along with a hefty dose of sun protection. Not to mention that you can easily layer and mix and match the colors wherever you apply them. Sold.
Price at time of publish: $69
Best Budget
Carmex Classic Medicated Lip Balm SPF 15
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Courtesy of Carmex
Byrdie Associate Editor Holly Rhue recommends stocking up on this affordable option; a three-pack of this classic stick rings in at just a few bucks. Pick up a whole bunch and keep one in every purse, pocket, you name it. It’s the original beloved formula, which boasts camphor and menthol to help soothe chapped lips, but with added SPF 15 sun protection.
Price at time of publish: $5
Best Hydrating
Kiehl's Butterstick Lip Treatment SPF 30
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Courtesy of Sephora
When your lips are chapped to begin with, protecting them from the sun is more imperative than usual; after all, exposing them to the sun is only going to dry them out even further. This crazy creamy pick offers the best of both worlds, thanks to a coconut oil base that keeps lips hydrated for up to 12 hours, plus broad-spectrum SPF 30. There’s a clear choice, as well as five tinted versions, too.
Runner-Up, Best Hydrating
MDSolarSciences Hydrating Sheer Lip Balm SPF 30
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Courtesy of MDSolarSciences
Dr. Garshick is a big fan of this hydrating balm from MDSolarSciences. “It comes in a few different shades and offers SPF 30 protection, all while also providing hydration with avocado, shea, and olive butters,” she says. “It’s also gentle, so it’s safe to use even by those with sensitive skin.” While all of its shades—Bare, Blush, and Ruby—are sheer and universally flattering, we’re especially loving Ruby, a gorgeous red with blue undertones. Plus, the formula is creamy, not sticky, and is 100% vegan and gluten-free.
Price at time of publish: $20
Best Splurge
Clé de Peau UV Protective Lip Treatment
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Courtesy of Bloomingdale's
As the name suggests, this is truly more of a lip treatment than a basic lip balm. The ingredient list is similar to that of a in a fancy moisturizer, boasting smoothing Japanese pearl, tone-evening theanine, plus an array of herbs and botanicals. These all work together to improve the look of lips, while sunscreen and antioxidants offer necessary protection. The natural rose scent is subtle and sophisticated, and this also pulls double duty as a great lipstick primer.
Best Gloss
Supergoop! Lipscreen SPF 40
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Supergoop!
Gloss fans will appreciate the sheen this protectant delivers. While you can use it on its own, it’s best swiped over your go-to lip color, instantly imparting a soft shine, and, most importantly SPF 40 protection from the sun's rays. It also has sunflower oil for added hydration, never a bad thing.
Price at time of publish: $22
If you’re going to be out in direct sun all day, it’s best to avoid any kind of shiny finish on your lips as it can attract rays. Save this for everyday use instead.
Best Oil
COOLA Classic Liplux Organic Hydrating Lip Oil Sunscreen SPF 30
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Courtesy of Dermstore
For those who prefer a lip oil, Dr. Garshick suggests reaching for this product from sun care experts COOLA. “It combines SPF 30 protection with lip hydration, as it contains vitamin E and camellia and jojoba oils,” she says. “It leaves the lips looking healthy and plump while still being protected. It also contains an antioxidant-rich plant complex for additional protection.” Plus, the universally-flattering golden shade looks great on literally everyone.
Price at time of publish: $18
Best Sport
Banana Boat Ultra Sport Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 50
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Be sure to swipe this on before your next outdoor run, swim, or beach volleyball game. It’s hydrating, yes, but more importantly, it delivers an impressive SPF 50 to protect your pout from getting scorched during your workout. Not to mention that it’s also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so you don’t need to worry about reapplying it if you’re swimming or sweating.
Price at time of publish: $8
Best Unisex
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25
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Courtesy of Sephora
Packed with emollients and conditioning ingredients—think shea butter, vitamin E, and avocado oil—it’s choice for hydrating even the most chapped of lips. Bonus points for the addition of antioxidants that act as back-up for the sun protection it provides. There’s a flavorless option, but we suggest one of the yummy flavors—mint, lemon, grapefruit, and ginger, or black tea and blackberry.
Price at time of publish: $8
Final Verdict
We’re giving top honors to the mega creamy Sun Bum Lip Balm SPF 30. The aloe and cocoa butter base deeply nourishes and moisturizes your pout while protecting it from damaging UV rays. Plus, the fruity flavors are absolutely delicious! When we’re looking for something with a bit of color, we’re reaching for the MD Solar Science Hydrating Sheer Lip Balm SPF 30. Not only does it boast SPF 30 protection, but it also deeply hydrates with a trio of plant butters and imparts beautiful, sheer pigment. And finally, when we’re planning to get sweaty, there’s no better choice than the Banana Boat Ultra Sport Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 50. It provides impressive SPF 50 protection and is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, making it a great choice for any outdoor or water-related workouts.
What to Look For in Lip Balms with SPF
Adequate SPF Protection
According to Dr. Garshick, it’s important to find a lip product that provides adequate sun protection, which, in her opinion, is SPF of at least 30. “In general, it's recommended to treat your lips with the same protection you would the rest of your skin as they can be susceptible to sun damage, leading to skin cancer and aging,” she says. “I recommend SPF 30 or higher, and also to reapply every two hours or sooner if swimming or sweating.”
A Hydrating Formula
Dr. Garshick also says to look for products that are hydrating. “Because the lips are thin, they can become more susceptible to dryness, so it’s helpful for any lip balm, with or without SPF, to help hydrate the lips to boost overall moisture,” she says. “This feature can also make it more enjoyable and easy to wear SPF on your lips as it often makes it easy to apply and reapply and keeps them looking hydrated and plump.”
Avoid Heavy Fragrance
Lastly, Dr. Garshick recommends avoiding any product with heavy fragrance if you have sensitive skin. “Because the lips and the skin around the lips is thin, it can make it more susceptible to irritation,” she says. “For this reason, those with sensitive skin should stick with products with minimal fragrance or other common skin allergens to prevent any reaction or sensitivity from developing.”
Meet the Expert
Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD is a Board-certified dermatologist at MDCS: Medical Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Centers, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology, at Cornell University.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough lip products with SPF from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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