10 Best Lip Balms With SPF We Tested 2025, Dermatologist-Approved
The best lip balms with SPF hydrate and protect the delicate skin on your lips. Sure, you could technically use any face sunscreen, but reach for one of the wrong mineral SPFs and you might end up with a ghostly white pout. Probably not quite the look youâre going for. And no, you canât just skip that area altogether, hoping to avoid a sunburn. âChronic sun damage on lips can lead to a condition called actinic cheilitis, a precancerous condition that appears as rough scaly patches, as well as actual skin cancers,â says Carmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. Not to mention, burned lipsâŠouch.
Because thereâs a seemingly endless selection of lip treatments with SPF available, we asked dermatologists to tell us what formulas they recommend the most. We also tapped our expert editorial team for their favorite lip productsâthe ones they reach for on the regular. Our top pick was the Innbeauty Project Sun Balm because it provides a hint of color, protects lips with SPF 30, and leaves behind a glossy finish that wonât stick to your hair. We also found tinted picks for some added color and water-resistant options perfect for warm weather.
The best lip balms with SPF, at a glanceBest Overall: Innbeauty Project Sun Balm Mineral SPF 30 Broad Spectrum Lip Balm, $24Best Drugstore: Aquaphor Lip Protectant + SPF Lip Balm, $5Best Mineral: Burtâs Bees SPF 30 Lip Balm, $11Best for Dry Lips: Supergoop Play Açai Lip Balm SPF 30 (2-Pack), $24Best Tinted: Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm SPF 30 With Sea Moss and Aloe Stem Cells, $16Your lip balm with SPF questions, answeredDoes lip balm SPF actually work?
Yes, lip balm SPF actually worksâsimilar to any other broad-spectrum SPF you might use on the rest of your face and body. âHowever, the key to getting adequate lip protection is constant reapplication,â says Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. âThink about how frequently we use our lipsâtalking, drinking water, eatingâall of these habits will cause the SPF to wear off.â Dr. Yadav generally recommends reapplying SPF on the body after two hours (or sooner if youâve been swimming or sweating) but says lip balm should be reapplied âway more frequentlyâ to ensure youâre keeping your lips protected. A water-resistant formula can also help, as can hats that cast a shadow over the lips, since they provide an additional layer of sun protection.
What to look for in lip balms with SPF
âThere are three major elements to look for when purchasing lip balms with SPF. The first is to ensure that the lip balm contains a UV radiation protection of SPF 30 or above which blocks around 97% of UV rays. The second thing to note is to make sure the formulation provides a broad-spectrum protection that can protect the skin from UVA or UVB rays,â says Dr. Spearman. Finally, she says that you should look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help maintain the moisture levels of the lips.
How we tested lip balms with SPF
We tested the best lip balms with SPF by evaluating their ingredients, textures, and how they felt on the lips. We looked for formulas that have hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help keep our lips hydrated and soft all day long, plus picks that had an SPF 30 or higher. We also looked for textures that werenât heavy or sticky on the lips and instead, felt lightweight and silky, giving us a comfortable and protected wear.
Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Facet DermatologyCarmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York CityDara Spearman, MD, a board certified dermatologist and founder of Radiant Dermatology AssociatesJaimie Glick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at New York Dermatology GroupRoseanne Paul, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at Case Western Reserve UniversityMarisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York1/10
iNNBEAUTY Project Sun Balm Mineral SPF 30 Broad Spectrum Lip Balm
If youâre on the hunt for the perfect balm-meets-gloss-meets-SPF, let us point you to this silky smooth formula that manages to nail all three. Itâs infused with squalane, jojoba oil and mango and shea butter for an ultra-sleek and hydrated lip finish that hugs the lips in a blanket of hydration and shine without making them feel sticky.
âI couldnât stop putting this on over and over since I tried it for the very first time,â says Glamourâs commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary. âIt instantly revitalized my chapped lips and actually blurred some of the fine lines developing in the area. Itâs ultra glossy as well so it can basically act as a makeup product, too, and protects lips with SPF 30, so I can see myself reaching for it on those days where Iâm spending a lot of time outside or in the sun. The best part? Itâs not sticky either, feels super plush and makes your lips look juicy. Itâs kind of everything Iâve ever wanted in a lip balm with SPF and Iâll be incorporating this into my skincare routine ASAP.â
Type: Mineral / SPF: 30 / Active ingredients: Zinc oxide / Water-resistant: No / Applicator: Tube
2/10
Aquaphor Lip Protectant + Sunscreen Lip Balm
Aquaphorâs balm is another product that garnered praise from multiple dermatologists, particularly for its excellent overall value. The drugstore pick is one of the most reliably hydrating, thanks to an ingredient list complete with skin nourishers including shea butter, vitamin E, and castor seed oil. âItâs highly occlusive, works well for very, very dry lips, and gives a glossy finishâall at an affordable price point,â says Dr. Castilla.
âIâve been using this lip balm for as long as I can remember,â says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley. âSure, itâs a little bit greasy upon application, but itâs not at all sticky, and thereâs really nothing that compares when it comes to hydration.â
Type: Chemical / SPF: 30 / Active ingredients: Avobenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone / Water-resistant: No / Applicator: Tube
