Best Lip Balm With SPF (Products To Try)

We’re well aware of the importance of protecting our faces with sunscreen during a hot day, but what about our lips? Do they deserve the same care and attention as the rest of our face? Let’s find out and discover some of the best recommendations.

Do you need to protect your lips with SPF?

Hopefully, you already use a sunscreen with sufficient SPF on your face and body (if not, you certainly should start to), and so you’re already aware of the importance of doing so, and the inevitable damage caused to your skin if you don’t. However, does the same apply when it comes to our lips?

The truth is, the lips are made up of layers of skin, just like the face and body, but the lips are much thinner, without the same number of cells in thickness as the skin on the face. This already leaves them more vulnerable and exposed than other parts of skin, as they’re more delicate and easier to damage.

On top of this, the lips don’t have any sebaceous glands, which are the oil glands usually found in the skin which secrete oil in order to create a barrier on your skin to prevent water loss and keep the skin moisturised. However, without these glands, the lips are more prone to dryness, which is why we wear lips balms.

Sebaceous glands aren’t the only structures missing from the lips, and they also lack melanocytes, which are the structures found below the surface of the skin responsible for producing melanin. Usually, this melanin is produced in the skin to create a tan, and it’s your body’s response to sun exposure, working as a method of protection.

Without this method of protection and a much more delicate surface, your lips are prone to sun damage, and potentially even more vulnerable than the rest of your face. For this reason, a lip balm with SPF is required, just like a face sunscreen is.

What makes a good lip balm with SPF?

When it comes to choosing a lip balm for you, the decision can be difficult, especially if you’re not sure what to look for. You want a lip balm that’ll keep your lips smooth and plump, while also providing adequate protection for your lips. So, what can you look out for when purchasing one?

The first thing to consider is the categories of moisturising ingredients, and a good lip balm should contain both humectants and emollients. Humectants moisturise and hydrate the skin by attracting water to the upper layers, where the product is, and keeping it close. At the same time, emollients are ingredients which create a seal on the skin to trap in moisture.

Examples of humectants are aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, butylene glycol and more, while some popular emollients include lanolin, cocoa butter, petrolatum, and shea butter.

Of course, your lip balm should also contain a level of SPF, but we’ll come back to that later. When choosing your product, it’s also good to steer away from ingredients such as fragrances and similar potential irritating ingredients, as these can result in drier lips overall.

Also read: Best Organic Lip Balm With SPF (My Recommendation)

Sum Bum SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm

If you click Buy on Amazon and make a purchase, I'll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

When it comes to sun protection, finding a name that’s well-established and trustworthy is key, as sunscreen is the last thing you want to go wrong. Sun Bum are a sun care favourite all around, and for so many reasons, and their lip balms have become a staple in every single area a lip balm can be kept.

This one comes in lots of different flavours, but the best one is obviously the original, classic Sun Bum coconut scent, as nothing quite beats it. However, you can find it in lots of different scents, so you can find one to suit you.

If you click Buy on Amazon and make a purchase, I'll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

The product listed above is a pack of three coconut lip balms from Sun Bum, coming in an economical value pack, but this option is even more budget-friendly. It’s like lip balms are just destined to be lost around the house, in the bottom of handbags and wherever else they’re left behind.

However, this pack should last you for a fair amount of time, as it contains six different lip balms, each coming in a different exotic, fruity flavour for you to try and decide which one you like best.

Vanicream Lip Protectant Sunscreen SPF 30

If you click Buy on Amazon and make a purchase, I'll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

What would this list of the best lip balms containing SPF be without a good, solid, budget-friendly product that not only works, but outruns it’s competitors. While the product and its packaging may seem basic and simple, sometimes that’s the best approach, as we can see in this case.

The formula is completely free from fragrances and unnatural additions, such as sweet chemicals for flavour, or other substances added for flavour and other purposes. This makes it great for sensitive skin and, if your lips tend to be irritated by certain products, maybe it’s time to try yourself.

Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 50

If you click Buy on Amazon and make a purchase, I'll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

It’s great to find a lip balm containing SPF in order to protect your lips from the dangerous UV rays, but what about one that won’t just rinse of whilst you’re sweating. During the heat of the day, it doesn’t take much to break a sweat, and you don’t even need to do any exercise.

So, perhaps it’s time for a sports’ lip balm with SPF that’ll keep to your lips for a little longer before they run off, and even then then it’s not as messy. Moral of the story? Use a sports lip balm with sunscreen to protect against your own sweat during the daily Sun to keep mess-free.

EltaMD UV Lip Balm with SPF 36

If you click Buy on Amazon and make a purchase, I'll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

While this lip balm doesn’t look quite as appealing as the other son this list might, don’t let the packaging fool you – it’s still a very good product, and it’s definitely worth your consideration. The SPF 36 is a slightly unusual number, but it offers your lips just a little more protection than all the others on this list.

As well as this, you can expect the balm to be nourishing and soothing for chapped or severely dry lips. It’s made to target extremely dry lips, so it makes for an excellent option if you’re already suffering a little damage. One of the best occasions is for winter sports such as skiing, as the balm will protect from both dryness and sun damage.

COOLA Organic Mineral Sunscreen Tinted Lip Balm SPF 30

If you click Buy on Amazon and make a purchase, I'll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Organic lip balms, sunscreens and more are taking the world by storm at the moment, and everyone’s starting to care a little more about where all of their products are coming from. For the more environmentally conscious, COOLA are an amazing brand from everything organic, without compromising on quality or efficacy.

One of the best things about this lip balm is, not only does it protect you from the Sun with a sun protection factor of 30, but it also has a sheer tint to add a little colour to your lips. Lip glosses and lipsticks aren’t always practically during the heat, so this may work just a little more comfortably.

Frequently asked questions

What SPF should my lip sunscreen be?

Lip sunscreens haven’t become too popular until recently, and so many of us aren’t sure what SPF is necessary for plenty of protection. As mentioned earlier, a sufficient level of sun protection is required if you want to keep your lips protected, but exactly how much protection is enough?

In most cases, dermatologists recommend an SPF 15 or high for the lips, and an SPF 30 is even better if you can find it. Anything lower than SPF 15 is usually not so great, so look for something with as high protection as you can for the safest option.

Do I need to wear a lip balm with SPF in the winter too?

Usually, a lip balm with SPF is something we’ll start using in the summer months, as the Sun starts making its appearance, and we start to spend more time below its dangerous rays. Of course, during the summer the need for sunscreen is more apparent, but it’s not the only occasion where it’s required.

Normally, in the winter, you don’t need to worry so much about wearing a lip balm with SPF, as your lips are being damaged by the cold instead, so the greater focus is on a product with extreme moisturising properties. Winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding, however, will require a protective lip balm, as the sun’s rays are reflected up by the snow, and can result in sunburnt, dry lips that’ll be uncomfortable if you don’t protect them.

Final thoughts

Using a lip balm with SPF is an easy way to protect your lips in the Sun, and it doesn’t require much thought. Protecting your lips is more important than you may think, and you can never go wrong with a bit of nourishment and protection for you and your body.