Skin Health Skin Care & Cleansing Products Best Moisturizing SPF Lip Balms and Sunscreen By Lisa Fayed Lisa Fayed is a freelance medical writer, cancer educator and patient advocate. Learn about our editorial process Lisa Fayed Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD on March 11, 2020 Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology. He is a clinical professor at the University of Colorado in Denver, and co-founder and practicing dermatologist at the Boulder Valley Center for Dermatology in Colorado. His research has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Learn about our Medical Review Board Casey Gallagher, MD on March 11, 2020 Print By now you're probably aware of how incredibly important it is to wear sunscreen, even when you aren't at the beach. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying 1 ounce of sunscreen, or enough to fill a shot glass, to exposed areas of the body to prevent sunburns, photoaging, and skin cancer. Henry Arden / Getty Images Skin cancer can affect any part of the body, even our lips. The skin on our lips is extremely thin, making them more prone to damage not just from the sun, but from extreme cold, extreme heat, and wind. Just like the rest of our bodies, our lips benefit from sun protection, too. Sun exposure destroys collagen, a protein that is abundant in the lips, over time, eventually making lips thinner. SPF lip balm protects the skin and collagen. Next time you go outside, apply a lip product that touts SPF protection. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing SPF 30 or higher. Why You Need to Wear SPF Lip Balm Not all lip care products are created equally. In order to protect your lips from the sun, a product must contain SPF. Many people think lipgloss and lipstick shield lips from the sun, but they don't. They make things worse. The shiny, glossy sheen so many cosmetic lip products provide actually attracts sunlight and UV radiation, further increasing the risk of developing skin cancer. Still, given how seriously our culture takes sun safety, there are many products with added SPF that allow you to protect your lips from the sun and look good at the same time. Depending on how sensitive your skin is, applying a layer of sunscreen to your lips might be too irritating. Lip care products that contain SPF are formulated specifically for lips: in addition to protecting against harmful UV damage, they also repair and moisturize. Top SPF Lip Products You probably already wear lip balm anyway, so why not switch to one that offers SPF? The best way to provide protection against the sun for our lips to apply any lip care product - lipstick, gloss or balm - that contains SPF. Lips are hydrated and protected without the smell of sunscreen. Some great products that will shield your lips from the sun include: Aquaphor Lip Repair & Protect: SPF 30; broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection; made with shea butter, castor seed oil, and vitamin E; fragrance, dye, and paraben freeAlba Botanica Lip Care: SPF 25; hypoallergenic; made with 100 percent vegetarian ingredients; no animal testingCarmex Cherry Lip Balm: SPF 15; relieves dry, chapped lips with cocoa butter; made with petrolatum for long-lasting hydrationChapStick Sun Defense: SPF 25; made with aloe and vitamin E; locks in moisture for soft, hydrated and healthy lipsCoola Liplux Sport: SPF 30; broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection; formulated with more than 70 percent certified organic ingredients; made with moisturizing raspberry and avocado fruit butters, vitamins and antioxidantsNivea A Kiss of Recovery Medicated Lip Care: SPF 15; broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection; protects and repairs lips; made with omega oils and sheaYes to Pomegranate Naturally Smooth Lip Balm: SPF 15; broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection; made with aloe, cocoa, and shea butter; 99 percent natural; paraben, petroleum, SLS and cruelty-free Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Academy of Dermatology Sunscreen FAQs