Best Sunscreen for Lips in 2021

After thorough research into the requirements for sunscreen to be effective on the lips, SimplySunSafe recommends Loving Naturals Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 30+ as the best sunscreen for lips. Read on for a detailed buyer’s guide, comparison table, and in-depth reviews of the top 5 sunscreens for lips.

Buyer’s Guide

For a lip balm / lip sunscreen to provide effective protection from the sun, soothe, and moisturize, it must have a number of factors:

Broad spectrum protection

An effective sunscreen protects you from the full spectrum of the sun’s damaging radiation. This means when looking for a sunscreen you should only consider buying those labeled as offering ‘broad spectrum’ or ‘UVA/UVB’ protection.

Products without this labeling will stop you from being burned by the sun (UVB radiation), but won’t protect you against UVA radiation. Even though the damage done by UVA radiation (skin aging and cancer) is invisible to the eye in the short term, protection against it is just as (if not more) important.

Protection from UVA will help shield you from its skin-sagging and wrinkling effects, working to prevent the appearance of blemishes and fine lines on and around your lips.

Skin cancer in the lip is incredibly common. Lip skin is thin and delicate when compared to the rest of the face, which makes protecting it even more important. My dad had to have his bottom lip removed because of melanoma and, to put it simply, that surgery is something you should work very hard to avoid.

Make sure your your lips are safe from dangerous UVA radiation by choosing one of the lip balms recommended below – they all offer excellent broad spectrum protection.

Best SPF for Lips

SPF is a confusing measure of sunscreen effectiveness. Most people’s knowledge of the rating system stops at knowing that a higher number means better protection, but what does SPF actually mean?

SPF multiplies how much sun you can be exposed to without burning. So if you take 1 minute to burn without any sunscreen, wearing an SPF 15 sunscreen will result in you burning after 15 minutes. If If you take 10 minutes to burn, the same sunscreen will protect you for 150 minutes.

These numbers don’t tell you much and this doesn’t mean that an SPF 50 sunscreen will protect someone with naturally sun-resistant skin for hours on end. SPF doesn’t change how long a sunscreen will last on your skin (usually a maximum of two hours but water and sweat can reduce this time). You still need to reapply frequently even though the SPF calculation above might suggest you won’t burn for hours. You should also still use shade and sun-protective clothing to hide your skin from the sun whenever you can.

There are other problems with the most common method of rating sunscreens:

• SPF only refers to UVB radiation and doesn’t indicate a sunscreen’s ability to block UVA radiation. You’ll need to check the active ingredients to ensure you’re getting decent UVA protection (see below for details).
• SPF ratings are also arbitrary as they work based on your skin’s natural photosensitivity, the intensity of sunlight you’re exposed to, and the thickness of application. This makes it almost impossible to predict how long you’ll be protected for.
• The way sunscreens are marketed makes people think SPF 15 offers half the protection as SPF 30 – which isn’t true.

To fix these SPF issues, let’s take a look at SPF from a different angle – the amount of UVB radiation each SPF rating actually blocks.

SPF Rating	UVB Protection
None	0%
2	50%
15	93%
30	97%
50	98%
100	99%

This makes things a lot clearer. From these numbers you can see that the gains from SPF 30 up are negligible. This is why the FDA introduced a SPF 50+ cap on rating a couple of years ago.

So what SPF rating should you be using? Dermatologists suggest that an SPF as low as 15 is suitable for everyday use when your lips will be exposed for limited periods. When you’ll be out in the sun for hours at a time, experts recommend SPF 30 or higher and it’s hard to argue with them. This provides fantastic protection (97%) and anything above this doesn’t get you much more. So choose an SPF 15 sunscreen or more depending on what you’ll be using it for and you’ll have no problem keeping your lips out of trouble.

Physical preferred to chemical

Sunscreens work in two ways and are classified as either physical or chemical based on this. Physical sunscreens work by acting like a mirror to reflect harmful radiation. Chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin and stop harmful radiation reaching the skin by absorbing it.

Physical sunscreens are preferred as they have been shown to stop more of the dangerous UV spectrum and stop a higher percentage of radiation reaching the skin. Other benefits of physical sunscreens include their less toxic ingredients (less likely to irritate), working without delay, and having a longer shelf life.

Chemical sunscreens also have their downsides. The active ingredients in chemical sunscreens are often classified as endocrine disruptors (can disrupt hormones in the body). The worst of these, oxybenzone, should be avoided altogether.

Chemical sunscreens do have the cosmetic advantage of absorbing into the skin. This makes them less likely to leave a white cast, discolor makeup, or be obvious on the lips. This is why one chemical lip sunscreen has been included at the end of this list. Choose it if you want these features but pay attention to the ingredients so you know what you’re putting on your body.

Suitable for daily use (including with makeup)

As with any sunscreen, you want it to be gentle enough so you can use it everyday. The lip sunscreens featured have the EWG seal of approval, so the ingredients are safe on the body and gentle enough for even sensitive skin.

Having only non-toxic ingredients is particularly important as you’ll be applying really close to your mouth. Just in case you swallow some of the lip balm, the 5 products below are completely safe.

For the cosmetically inclined, you’ll be happy to know that number 1 and 5 are also great to use as a base for lipstick. They should not interfere with the appearance or coloring of products applied over the top. Your pout will be protected and pretty!

If you’re concerned more generally about how your cosmetics will mix with your sunscreen, check out the SimplySunSafe breakdown of the best sunscreen for makeup.

Must moisturize

Chapped lips aren’t just a winter problem as burning can cause the lips to dry out and blister. Plus, constantly chapped lips are an indication of precancer. So to fully protect your lips, make sure the lip sunscreen you pick up is going to hydrate and nourish your lips to prevent damage.

What about lip gloss?

Lip glosses simply don’t do enough when it comes to sun protection. In fact, the gloss they provide can amplify the sun’s light, increasing the damage done to your lips.

Make sure you’re protected all year round by choosing one of the lip balms below. You’ll get great sun protection, won’t get chapped lips, and know the sunscreen’s ingredients will be working to protect you without causing any unexpected side effects.

Best Sunscreen for Lips Comparison

 

5 Best Sunscreens for Lips

 

After thorough research that combined discussing issues with customers, reviewing customer feedback, examining manufacturer specifications, and participating in skincare forums, SimplySunSafe has chosen the 5 best sunscreens for lips. All of these sunscreens provide broad spectrum protection, contain effective moisturizers, and are suitable for daily use.

1. Loving Naturals Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 30+

Last update on 2021-07-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Loving Naturals Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 30+ is a physical sunscreen that provides broad spectrum protection using zinc oxide (24.7%) as its active ingredient. This product’s high SPF rating and the high concentration of zinc oxide makes it the most effective sun protection lip balm featured on this list – which is why it comes in at number one. However, some sacrifices were made for this product to offer such amazing sun protection.

It has a sticky and relatively thick texture that enables the great sun protection, but not everyone will enjoy this. Also, the high concentration of zinc oxide means the product goes on the lips white. If you’re using the right amount and rub it in sufficiently, the white should fade and become unnoticeable.

Feel free to apply makeup on top of Loving Naturals as it will be completely unaffected if the sunscreen has been applied correctly. This is a unique feature of Loving Naturals Sunscreen Lip Balm as most often physical sunscreens leave a white coating. The only other lip sunscreen recommended here that is appropriate for use with makeup is a chemical sunscreen (Beyond Coastal Active Lip Balm).

The ingredients are all natural, organic, cruelty-free, and contain no nanoparticles. This makes Loving Naturals safe and gentle enough to use everyday, appropriate for sensitive skin (unlikely to cause irritation), and environmentally friendly. Plus, there’s no risk associated with accidentally ingesting some.

This sunscreen is gluten free but it does come with a warning about the potential for traces of macadamia seed or sesame seed oils, so be careful if you have allergies!

Loving Naturals doesn’t have an overpowering scent (it smells a little like grass) and only a slight taste that isn’t offensive. This lip balm provides effective hydration that keeps its users chap-free and happy!

It is water resistant, but carefully follow the instructions to ensure you remain protected. In general you should be reapplying every 1-2 hours or after using your lips (eating, kissing etc.).

For the quality and protection it provides, Loving Naturals is very reasonably priced.

2. All Terrain Lip Armor Lip Balm SPF 28

Last update on 2021-07-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

All Terrain Lip Armor Lip Balm SPF 28 is a broad spectrum, physical sunscreen that uses zinc oxide (22.5%) as its active ingredient. This lip balm has been reformulated and is now purely a mineral sunscreen (no chemical active ingredients) and has a higher SPF! This move was made to remove oxybenzone from the formula as this is quite a nasty ingredient present in a lot of chemical sunscreens.

This new and improved paraben, cruelty, and oxybenzone-free formula means All Terrain is looking out for your health and the environment from which their natural ingredients are sourced. Just reading through some of their ingredients makes me feel healthier: jojoba oil, beeswax, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and vitamin E!

These ingredients help to protect you from the sun and the elements. You won’t feel the drying effects of the sun, wind, or cold and your chapped lips will be hydrated and repaired by the vitamin E. All of this mixed in with an awesome peppermint flavor that makes accidentally ingesting some of the sunscreen a pleasant experience.

The best feature of this product is the UVA/UVB protection it offers. The high concentration of zinc is great and, with proper application, this product won’t let you get burnt. Keep in mind though that it’s called Lip Armor, not Lip Thin Fabric. This lip balm goes on thick and leaves a slight, but noticeable, white coating on your lips. This product isn’t for people who want to use cosmetics over the top, but rather for those who don’t want to compromise on being protected from the sun.

3. Raw Elements Lip Rescue SPF 30+ Lip Balm

Last update on 2021-07-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Raw Elements Lip Rescue SPF 30+ Lip Balm is a physical, broad spectrum sunscreen that protects you from the sun using 22.75% zinc oxide. This all natural product has a raft of certifications attached. It’s Non-GMO Project verified, certified natural, has certified organic ingredients, is Leaping Bunny cruelty-free certified, and is EWG #1 Rated.

That impressive list is complemented by Raw Elements Lip Rescue’s use of uncoated, recycled, non-nano zinc oxide that makes this sunscreen both biodegradable and reef safe. All of this guarantees Raw Elements values your health and the environment.

The amazing natural ingredients like organic sunflower oil, green tea, black tea, coffee, hemp seed oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, and all natural vitamin E are packed with biologically active antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

This means your lips are effectively protected and hydrated, preventing chapped lips and repairing damaged lips. The natural ingredients also make this product gentle enough for everyday use, and give it a pleasant smell and inoffensive flavor.

This sunscreen is a tough product great for outdoor use. It is water-resistant beyond 80 minutes and Raw Elements claims that it never runs, which is backed by consumer feedback. If you’re into intense outdoor activities that expose you to the sun like running, surfing, and swimming – this is the lip sunscreen for you!

The high zinc oxide concentration provides great sun protection that has excellent balance (both UVB and UVB protection are fantastic). Because the UV protection is so good, you are left with a white coating on the lips. This shouldn’t trouble this product’s target market as it’s about protecting you while you’re in the sun being physically active. However, it is a downside if you want to a lip sunscreen you can use with makeup.

4. Vanicream Lip Protectant/Sunscreen SPF 30

Last update on 2021-07-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Vanicream Lip Protectant/Sunscreen SPF 30 is a physical sunscreen that offers broad spectrum protection by combining zinc oxide (15%) and titanium dioxide (1.5%) as its active ingredients. This lip sunscreen has been specifically formulated to be suitable for people with very sensitive skin and allergies.

Vanicream Lip Protectant is free from sensitizing chemical sunscreens, dyes, flavoring, fragrance, masking fragrance, lanolin, parabens, formaldehyde and other preservatives, and gluten. Because it is so meticulously formulated to avoid the potential for irritation and aggravation of skin conditions, doctors and dermatologists strongly recommend it to their patients.

Vanicream Lip Protectant’s third active ingredient is dimethicone (1.2%), a silicon-based polymer that works as a skin protectant and conditioner. Studies have shown this low-risk ingredient can soothe skin inflammation and irritation. This means if you have sensitive skin, a skin condition or allergies and other lip balms have caused reactions in the past – this is the best lip sunscreen for you!

The combination of all three active ingredients allows this lip balm to protect the lips while moisturizing and relieving the skin of irritation.

It is water resistant up to 80 minutes which makes it suitable for use while swimming or during water sports. This, combined with the great broad spectrum UV protection if offers, results in a white coating being left on the lips. However, this is a small price to pay for a fantastic lip sunscreen that sensitive skin won’t react to.

The negative feedback provided on this product is mostly because of the white coating it leaves on the lips. As long as you understand this before you buy it, this product will not disappoint.

5. Beyond Coastal Active Lip Balm SPF 15

Last update on 2021-07-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Beyond Coastal Active Lip Balm SPF 15 is a chemical lip sunscreen that offers broad spectrum protection. This is the only chemical sunscreen recommended in this guide as they often use questionable ingredients to absorb UV radiation.

This particular product uses octocrylene (10%), octinoxate (7.5%), and avobenzone (3%) as its active ingredients. Although it doesn’t use the notorious oxybenzone, avobenzone also gets a bad rap. Feel free to read up on it before purchasing, but this product is deemed safe by EWG and they’re an authority in this space.

The benefits of a chemical sunscreen is that it has a pleasant texture and goes on clear. You won’t have any trouble getting this balm to absorb and it’ll work perfectly as a base for lipstick and other cosmetics. This is hard for physical sunscreens to achieve, although the number 1 pick Loving Naturals Lip Sunscreen does a great job.

This product is gluten, cruelty, paraben, and oil free. The inactive ingredients are natural and rich in antioxidants. The aloe vera, shea butter, and jojoba seed oil work to nourish the lips, the yerba mate and vitamin E combine to repair damage to the lips, and the beeswax naturally hydrates. This restores chapped lips and leaves your lips soft and smooth.

This sunscreen is citrus flavored and scented (although it’s marketed as fragrance-free). Both are mild and inoffensive and make accidental ingestion a pleasure. If citrus isn’t your thing, they also make it in pomegranate pear, mint leaf, and coconut flavors. All flavors are created using natural oil extracts which limits the potential for a reaction to the fragrance.

Conclusion

This summary of the best sunscreens for lips should help you choose the perfect lip balm for you. I hope it has also shown you the must-have features to look for in a quality lip sunscreen.

SimplySunSafe recommends Loving Naturals Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 30+ as the best lip sunscreen. Having said that, all 5 products featured are of the highest quality, will provide the required protection, and are able to be used with makeup. Keep in mind that only one of these products might suit your skin and that you might have to experiment a little to find the best sunscreen for your lips.

If you know of another great sunscreen for lips, let me know in the comments and I might add it to this guide after looking into it.

FAQs

Q: Why do lips need sun protection?

A: The skin on your lips is just as susceptible to the sun’s radiation as the rest of your body which means it’s vulnerable to cancer. Our lips actually don’t have any melanin in them at all – the darker color comes from blood vessels. This makes them even more sensitive to damage caused by UV-rays! Therefore, you need to protect your lips from sun damage. 

Q: What can sun damage do to your lips?

A: Sun damage may make your lips extremely dry and chapped due to sunburn. Apart from this, your lips may develop scales and become precancerous, especially if the lip surface thins or reddens with sores. 

Q: How can you treat sunburned lips?

A: You may apply cold compresses to soothe the sunburned lips. Keep your lips dry and clean. Apply a layer of hydrating lip balm with cooling agents such as aloe vera to give them some comfort. 

Q: Does your lip balm need SPF?

A: Yes, lip balms should ideally have SPF because they’re applied directly to the lips. SPF is essential in lip balms for sun damage protection. Besides, lip products do not last as long as face products. So, you may need a lip balm with SPF for re-application throughout the day.