As the dog days of summer approach, remember that it’s easy to fall short on safe sun practices—including wearing lip balm with SPF—even when you know better. The reality is that no body part is safe from the sun, and one of the most important and overlooked areas for protection from harmful UV rays is the lips. That’s why a sunscreen-laced balm is a must-have for any makeup bag, says New York dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross.
Best Lip Balms with SPF
“Lips have no ability to produce a protective suntan, unlike other skin areas, so they’re prone to burning,” he explains, adding that oily balms and glosses attract more sun to the skin and increase radiation to boot. Over time, exposure can lead to a loss in volume, discoloration, the formation of fine lines—and worse. “Skin cancers on the lower lip are particularly dangerous because they can spread internally into the chest via the lymphatics vessels,” says Gross.
To safeguard your mouth during the sun-drenched months and beyond, there is a crop of shielding lip treatments that are impressively lightweight, free of chalky white residue, and don’t taste, well, icky. Tried-and-true favorites include EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad Spectrum SPF 36, which is a take on the brand’s oft-recommended facial sunscreen, and Supergoop! Play Lip Balm SPF 30, which provides broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen protection, yet smooths on easily and injects the lips with hydration. And whether you’re looking for a popsicle-stain-like wash or something a little bolder, you don’t have to sacrifice color. Tinted formulas like MDSolarSciences Tinted Lip Balm SPF 30 deposit rich pigment along with a slew of moisturizing butters and antioxidant-packed oils. From the beach to your daily walk, refresh your UV defense with the best lip balms with SPF, according to Vogue.
In this Article
Supergoop! Play Lip Balm
- Why we love it: Expect Supergoop!’s bestselling lip balm to glide on without a sticky feel. Broad-spectrum, chemical SPF 30 pairs with shea butter, acai, and a handful of botanical oils to give your lips the treatment it deserves on a hot sunny day.
- How long it lasts: 2 hours
- Key ingredients: Shea Butter, Acai, Mint
- SPF: SPF 30
EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36
- Why we love it: A lip-friendly version of EltaMD’s cult-favorite sunscreen? It’s a no-brainer. This balm offers an optimal SPF 36 protection with zinc oxide and octinoxate working together to block UV rays, while vitamin C and E reduce free radical damage and innovative moisturizer hydromanil works its magic to keep lips hydrated.
- How long it lasts: 2 hours
- Key ingredients: Zinc Oxide, Octinoxate, Glycerin, Quercetin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Thioctic Acid, Hydromanil
- SPF: SPF 36
MDSolarSciences Hydrating Sheer Lip Balm SPF30
- Why we love it: Offered in a trio of nude, pink, and crimson shades, the creamy MDSolarSciences SPF 30 balm blends naturally moisturizing ingredients such as shea and olive butters with a pitch-perfect wash of tinted pigment.
- How long it lasts: 2 hours
- Key ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, octisalate 5%, homosalate 10%
- SPF: SPF 30
Sunforgettable Total Protection Color Balm SPF 50
- Why we love it: A punchy balm you can use on both your lips and cheeks, Colorescience’s Sunforgettable all-mineral formula comes in three different shades—berry, blush, and bronze; offers SPF 50 protection, and shields against other environmental aggressors, such as pollution and infrared radiation.
- How long it lasts: 40 minutes
- Key ingredients: Zinc Oxide 12.5%
- SPF: SPF 50
Aquaphor Lip Protectant + SPF 30
- Why we love it: A longtime editor staple, a dose of Aquaphor is as conditioning as they come (there are vitamins and shea butter to provide instant relief to dry, cracked lips) and this edition offers SPF 30 to keep lips protected too.
- How long it lasts: 2 hours
- Key ingredients: Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter, Petrolatum, Avobenzone, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Oxybenzone
- SPF: SPF 30
Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm SPF 30
- Why we love it: A beach favorite from Winnie Harlow’s Cay Skin (‘Cay’ is short for the Caribbean), the vanilla brown sugar-flavored Isle lip balm is infused with tried-and-true niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. It also has nutrient-rich sea moss that strengthens the skin’s natural barrier—and nods to the model’s Jamaican heritage.
- How long it lasts: 2 hours
- Key ingredients: Sea Moss, Aloe Stem Cells:, Vitamin E
- SPF: SPF 30
Salt & Stone Lip Balm SPF 30
- Why we love it: This balm by Salt & Stone, a brand that has earned Niall Horan’s stamp of approval, delivers a water-resistant, reef-safe treatment in its balm. Sun protection is achieved through broad-spectrum mineral SPF 30 (non-nano zinc oxide, to be exact) that should leave lips feeling ultra soft sans a white cast.
- How long it lasts: 2 hours
- Key ingredients: Sweet Almond Oil, Argan Oil, Bisabolol.
- SPF: SPF 30
Malin + Goetz SPF 30 Lip Balm
- Why we love it: Delivering a lip gloss-like sheen, Malin+Goetz’s balm is a summertime staple: 100% mineral titanium dioxide leads its formula and works in tandem with vitamin E and ursolic to keep lips in tip-top shape. It’s even a sensorial experience through spearmint (which has a very low concentration of mention, so it won’t be drying!) leaves which imparts a cooling feel.
- How long it lasts: 40 minutes
- Key ingredients: Titanium dioxide, vitamin e, ursolic, moisture shield, natural spearmint
- SPF: SPF 30
Paula’s Choice Lipscreen SPF 50
- Why we love it: In search of a no-fuss lip balm with SPF that prioritizes function over form? Look no further than this Paula’s Choice formula that glides on smooth, revealing a velvet never-greasy finish.
- How long it lasts: Several hours
- Key ingredients: Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydrogenated, Jojoba Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Octisalate, Avobenzone
- SPF: SPF 50
SunBum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm
- Why we love it: There are many reasons to love Sun Bum’s SPF-infused lip balm. Formulated to be reef-safe and chemical-free, it’s enriched with broad-spectrum zinc oxide for effective sunblock alongside a moisturizing blend of shea butter and vitamin E. Upon application, expect a silky, non-chalky texture that feels lightweight on.
- How long it lasts: 2 hours
- Key ingredients: Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 8%
- SPF: SPF 30
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm, SPF 25 Sun Protection
- Why we love it: Looking for a way to spend a few leftover FSA dollars? This $10 lip balm is perfect for healing and repairing chapped lips on a budget. Its restorative power lies in a mix of grapefruit, ginger, shea butter, and avocado oil. Plus, there are various scents to choose from, so you can find the one that speaks to you.
- How long it lasts: Several hours
- Key ingredients: Shea Butter, Avocado Oil, Vitamin E, Green Tea
- SPF: SPF 25
Vacation Chardonnay Lip Oil SPF 30
- Why we love it: Vacation understands the power of branding— seriously, how cute is this retro-inspired lip oil? But it doesn’t just look good in the tube; it also looks and feels amazing on your lips. You can safely apply it over your lip products for the perfect, non-sticky, caramel-vanilla pout.
- How long it lasts: 2 hours
- Key ingredients: Chardonnay grapeseed oil, sweet cherry oil, shea butter, meadowfoam seed oil, hyaluronic acid, peptide blend, vitamin E
- SPF: SPF 30
Coppertone Sporty SPF 50 Lip Balm
- Why we love it: If you have an active day ahead of you (think: hiking, swimming, long-distance running), it’s best to layer on a higher SPF so you don’t have to reapply as often. This one is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, allowing you to safely sweat or splash around for longer.
- How long it lasts: 80 minutes
- Key ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 15%, Octisalate 5%, Petrolatum 40%
- SPF: SPF 50
What SPF level is best for lips?
According to Ellen Marmur, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of MMSkincare, any lip balm or chapstick with SPF 30-50 is best for year-round lip protection. She suggests avoiding glossy lip SPFs due to concerns about magnifying UV intensity and recommends using flavor-free lip SPF to discourage licking. Dr. Marmur advises, “Never use anything with minty menthol as this dries out the lips. Mineral-based lip SPF is better, and tinted matte or clear is best.”
When, and how often should you be applying lip balm with SPF?
Dr. Marmur says you should reapply lip SPF every hour, or even more frequently depending on the weather conditions. “The product can easily wear off due to eating and drinking, so it’s best to apply more than usual when spending time in the sun,” she advises. One tip is to use lip SPF around the border of the lips to protect against lip lines. “The lower lip eversion and the upper lip border are the most common sites of skin cancer due to the way they capture more UV rays.”
Meet the experts
- Ellen Marmur, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of MMSkincare
- Dennis Gross, MD, is board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon in New York City and founder of Dr Dennis Gross Dermatology, as well as the cofounder of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare.
