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7 Best Lip Balms With SPF to Keep You Glossy and Protected
ICYMI: Lips can get sunburns. Swiping on one of the best lip balms with SPF is critical for shielding your pout from harmful UV rays—the menace responsible for drying lips out, speeding up the development of fine lines, and drastically increasing your chances of skin cancer. But regularly applying SPF doesn’t have to feel like a chore; these protective (dare we say cute?) balms are the sunscreen-lippie hybrid you’ll actually want to wear. These hybrid formulas keep the delicate skin on your lips hydrated, plump, nourished, and, most importantly, safe from sun damage—rain or shine, summer or winter (yes, UV rays are still out to play on chilly, overcast days). And thanks to plentiful tinted formulas, you can benefit from the wash of color you adore in all your other tints, balms, and glosses. So, we chatted with board-certified dermatologists on what to look for in your SPF formulas and tapped our editors to round up the best SPF lip balms to help your lips stay cute, comfy, and burn-free.
Our Top Lip Balms With SPF
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall Chemical: Ultra Violette Sheen Screen SPF 50 Hydrating Lip Balm
Why it’s worth it: Ultra Violette’s Sheen Screen SPF 50 Hydrating Lip Balm doesn’t half-ass any part of its operation. With high SPF protection and a juicy tint, this balm earns instant-classic status. Each shade is boosted with a cooling hit of peppermint—sans stickiness—and moisturizes lips with a dreamy combo of lanolin, cocoa butter, and vitamin E. If you love a subtle shimmer on your lips, the shade Bejewelled will be your go-to with its soft pink base infused with light-catching gold.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“Watch out, Aussie sunscreen is officially on the rise stateside. Sheen Screen is exactly what I look for in a lip balm—shiny and hydrating without feeling heavy or gloopy. I like the slightly curved applicator, which helps me apply the formula smoothly and cleanly. Dusk is a true my-lips-but-better color for me, but as a bold lip girlie, here’s to hoping Last Bite (a cool, jammy berry) will make its way over!” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Key ingredients: 3% avobenzone, 5% octinoxate, 4.7% octocrylene, lanolin, vitamin E, cocoa butter
- Shades: 2
- Sunscreen type: chemical
Best Overall Mineral: SunsolveMD LipidRestore Volumize + Condition SPF 40
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Why it’s worth it: It’s rare to find a plumping lip product we actually like—sure, they can make lips look fuller, but it usually comes at the cost of stinging, dryness, or both. SunsolveMD’s LipidRestore Volumize + Condition SPF 40, however, had us hooked from the first swipe. It skips the spicy, tingly ingredients and instead uses hydrating powerhouses like its patented Lipiderma Technology (primarily made up of lipids), Zno+ Mineral Repair Complex, squalane, and nourishing oils. The result? Fuller-looking lips with a beautiful nude gloss, plus serious barrier support and SPF 40 protection. It’s definitely the priciest option on this list, but you can feel the hydrating luxury the second you rub this oil between your lips.
“As a beauty editor, I often get questions about the best facial SPF—and I always reply that it’s whichever one you’ll actually wear. The same rule applies to SPF for your lips. SunsolveMD LipidRestore Volumize + Condition SPF 40 has such a beautiful, glossy formula—and imparts the prettiest natural-looking tint—that I happily apply it daily.” —Dianna Singh, features director
- Key ingredients: Lipiderma Technology, Zno+ Mineral Repair Complex, squalane, and nourishing oils, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide
- Shades: 1
- Sunscreen type: mineral
Best Water-Resistant: EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36
EltaMD
UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36
Why it’s worth it: EltaMD is a dermatologist-beloved brand for a reason: Its formulas are super-duper gentle and hydrating, making them great for sensitive and mature skin alike. Take the slippery, softening UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36, which is powered by quercetin, vitamin E, vitamin C, and antioxidants that reduce free radicals to reduce visible signs of aging. Also included are glycerin and 7% zinc oxide to create a creamy sun-safe balm that soothes and protects skin for 80 minutes of water-resistant coverage. (It does have a slight white tint to it, but it’s not noticeable after a few minutes; our tester didn’t mind it.) It also seems to have a cooling, but not tingly feel—so if you’ve already burned your lips (ouch), it works like a salve to relieve some of that discomfort.
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Tester feedback from contributing editor Deanna Pai
“I’m pretty devoted to my favorite tinted balm, so I don’t wear a formula with SPF unless I plan to be outside all day or am going for a run. I love that it prioritizes function—great sun protection—over form, and because it’s not goopy or sticky, I can easily layer a color over it if I want to. Also, it has a slightly minty flavor that feels refreshing.” —Deanna Pai, contributing editor
- Key ingredients: 7% zinc oxide, 7.5% Octinoxate, glycerin, vitamin E, vitamin C, quercetin
- Shades: none
- Type of sunscreen: hybrid
Best Scent: Vacation Chardonnay Lip Oil SPF 30
Vacation
Chardonnay Lip Oil SPF 30
Why it’s worth it: Applying and re-upping SPF every two hours can feel a bit burdensome, but Vacation’s Chardonnay Lip Oil SPF 30 is motivation enough. Not only is this oil loaded with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin E, but it also has a delicious, gourmand flavor profile powered by vanilla and caramel. It imparts a stunning, glassy finish that allows for a buildable sheen, complete with a cushy doe-foot applicator for full coverage in every swipe. Wear it as a lip mask, a top coat, or solo for a more natural look.
“If you told me that there was SPF in this, I wouldn’t believe you—that’s how luxurious it feels. Not to say SPF isn’t a luxury, of course it is, but this feels different than your typical sunscreen lip product. It’s silky, never sticky, and gives the perfect glossy finish with a hint of warmth. Plus, the Chardonnay grapeseed oil keeps my lips feeling soft and nourished long after the shine fades.” —Angela Trakoshis, shopping market editor
- Key ingredients: 2.9% avobenzone, 5.0% homosalate, 4.9% octisalate (4.9%), 8% octocrylene, peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
- Shades: 1
- Sunscreen type: chemical
Best Tinted: Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin Moisture Lip Balm
Iris & Romeo
Weekend Skin Moisture Lip Balm
Why it’s worth it: The super hydrating, super glossy-glassy, and super protective Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin Moisture Lip Balm is one for the books…and the pocketbooks. It delivers a sweet, tinted glaze powered by pomegranate seed oil and buriti oil and spiked with bisabolol to help soothe and smooth cracked lips. During testing, our editors found that the tint lasts for hours and the color payoff is impressive, which isn’t the case for most oils. The mineral-based SPF 30 comes into play to keep your precious lips safe from dangerous UV rays so you can look cute and feel confident stepping out into the sun.
“I was blown away by this product, particularly the wear and pigment payoff! Lip oils can be quite thin (and not super buildable or long-lasting) in my experience, but this new addition to the brand’s Weekend Skin line goes on like an oil and deposits color like a tinted lip balm or stick. There’s mineral SPF 30 in this, which I love as I don’t tend to use chemical sunscreens. And, true to its name, this Moisture Lip Balm doesn’t dry my lips out or enhance fine lines; instead, it plumps them up. The only downside? I’m not the biggest fan of the applicator tip—I love that it’s flexible, but that makes it tricky to apply when on the go and without a mirror. Luckily, the colors are so blendable and natural-looking, coloring outside the lines is no biggie.” —Shanna Shipin, shopping director
- Key ingredients: 10% zinc oxide, pomegranate seed oil, buriti oil, bisabolol
- Shades: 3
- Sunscreen type: mineral
Best Soothing: Sun Bum SPF 30 Lip Balm Sunscreen
Sun Bum
SPF 30 Lip Balm Sunscreen
Why it’s worth it: For the days you remember applying SPF on your lips a little too late, Sun Bum’s SPF 30 Lip Balm has your back. It’s packed with soothing aloe to calm and hydrate sun-stressed lips, plus vitamin E to help fend off free radicals (aka the culprits behind early fine lines). Of course, the ideal move is to wear it all day—but if you don’t, this balm helps repair some of the damage. We’re obsessed with the rich, cushiony texture of this coconut-scented formula, and the skin-loving ingredients are a welcome bonus.
Tester feedback from senior director of audience development Lexi Herrick
“Sun Bum is my go-to for SPF lip balm that keeps my lips hydrated and protected for days in the sun. Bonus points for the lovely tropical smell and taste!” —Lexi Herrick, senior director of audience development
- Key ingredients: 3% avobenzone, 10% homosalate, 5% octisalate, 8% octocrylene, aloe vera, vitamin E, castor oil
- Shades: 0
- Sunscreen type: chemical
Best Glossy: Supergoop! Glow Gloss SPF 40 Lip Balm
Supergoop!
Glow Gloss SPF 40 Lip Balm
Why it’s worth it: Nonsticky, super hydrating, and ultra-glossy, Supergoop’s Glow Gloss SPF 40 Lip Balm is a no-brainer in our books. The juicy flavors—Vanilla Soft Serve! Pink Peppermint! Strawberry Spritz!—make reapplying feel like a treat rather than a burden and our editors love how glossy they look without ever feeling goopy. As for the all-day softness and fine-line-minimizing hydration, we have a few skin-care favorites to thank: shea butter that deeply moisturizes and heals dry lips, and a peptide complex that adds a natural plumping effect for a fuller-looking pout. Bonus points for how well it stays on—it doesn’t disappear the second you rub your lips together.
“I’ve tried a lot of lip products with SPF, and while I absolutely love the concept, many (if not most) of them left a lot to be desired. Textures were goopy and chunky, flavors were chemical-y, and the pigment just wasn’t there. But then I tried the Supergoop Glow Gloss SPF—and it changed my mind about sunscreen-spiked lip products of the past. This balm is shiny (not sticky), comes in a lot of pretty shades (my favorite is Pink Peppermint), and is long-lasting—even when sweating in the Brooklyn heat. I wore it for a recent tennis lesson (why didn’t anyone tell me tennis was so fun?!), and it stayed put throughout the hour-long class and during my many, many water breaks.” —Sarah Kinonen, associate beauty director
- Key ingredients: shea butter, peptide complex, 3% avobenzone, 5% homosalate, 4% octisalate, 4.5% octocrylene
- Shades: 3
- Sunscreen type: chemical
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it important to wear lip balm with SPF?
Your lips are some of the most delicate and sun-sensitive skin you have, so using a broad-spectrum SPF during the day isn’t optional; it’s essential. Admittedly, lip balms rarely steal the spotlight in your beauty routine, but that’s exactly why upgrading to a sunscreen-packed formula with a hint of flattering color feels like a small but mighty act of self-care.
According to Robert Finney, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, lips are often neglected regarding sun protection. “This is concerning because it has been shown that if you get skin cancer on the lip, it can behave more aggressively than other areas of the body,” he explains.
What type of SPF lip balm should I get?
To shop mineral- or chemical-based, that is the question. Like any sun protection product you purchase, finding the right lip sunscreen is based on preference and skin type. If you have sensitive skin, experts recommend an unscented, mineral-based formula to minimize the risk of irritation. ICYMI: Chemical sunscreen uses UV filters that soak into the skin for inside-out protection, while mineral actives sit on the surface of your skin, physically defending against UV rays, explains New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD.
Of course, ideally, these lip care products go above and beyond SPF protection. Many formulas are spiked with moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter, vitamin E, and cooling aloe, so you can pick one that will satisfy all of your hydration, plumping, and soothing needs. As for aesthetics, you’ll find a variety of options with hints of tint, glossy shine, and satin finishes. These lip treatments make UV protection look—and feel—good. But, above all else, you need a lip balm with a minimum of SPF 30. Anything lower won’t get the job done.
Meet the experts
- Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist is based in New York City
- Robert Finney, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best lip balms with SPF, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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