What Makes Lip Balm With SPF Worth Using Daily
Yes, it is worth it for most people. Lips get as much sun as the rest of your face, they have very little natural protection, and ordinary sunscreen tends to get skipped around the mouth, so a lip balm with SPF closes a gap that most routines leave open.
The benefits of lip balm with SPF are mostly about what it prevents. Lips can sunburn, and sunburned lips crack, peel and sting. Over the years, sun exposure also adds up on lips the same way it does on the nose and cheeks. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that dry, chapped lips burn more easily, and that sun can trigger cold sores in people who get them.
What to look for in a lip balm with SPF
The AAD’s tips for healing dry, chapped lips recommend a non-irritating balm with SPF 30 or higher before going outdoors, including in winter. Beyond that, a few label checks help:
- Broad spectrum on the label, so it covers both burning and ageing rays. Our explainer on what SPF numbers mean covers the difference.
- Mineral or chemical filters. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are common in balms for sensitive lips; the trade-offs are the same as for face sunscreen, covered in our comparison of chemical and mineral sunscreen.
- Fewer irritants. Fragrance, flavorings and ingredients that tingle or cool can irritate lips that are already dry. If a balm stings, try a plainer one.
Tinted balms and lipsticks that list an SPF count too. A clear gloss without SPF offers no meaningful protection, so if you like gloss, wear an SPF balm underneath it and reapply both through the day.
Making it a habit
The hardest part is remembering. Lip balm wears off quickly with eating, drinking and licking your lips, so one application in the morning doesn’t carry you through a day outside. The easiest fix is to keep one where you will see it: in your jacket pocket, your bag, your car, or next to your keys.
Put it on before you head out, not once you are already in the sun, and reapply after meals and whenever you have been outside for a while. On days spent at the beach, on the slopes or on the water, reapply more often; snow and water reflect sunlight back up at your face.
Don’t forget the lower lip in particular. It sticks out a little further and catches more direct sun, so give it a full, even coat rather than a quick swipe across the middle.
At night, a plain, thick balm or petroleum jelly is enough. SPF isn’t needed in the dark, and a simple ointment seals in moisture while you sleep.
One caution: if you have a sore, crust or rough patch on your lip that doesn’t heal within a few weeks, or a spot that bleeds without a clear reason, have a dermatologist or your doctor look at it rather than covering it with balm.
For everyone else, the next step is small: buy one balm with SPF 30 or higher that you like the feel of, and put it where you keep your keys.
