Best SPF lip balms to wear on repeat this summer, tried & tested
One thing about me is that you’ll always find me with a lip balm - whether it’s attached to my phone (thanks Hailey Bieber), in my pocket or shoved in my bag. Another beauty product I apply every single day is face sunscreen, so an SPF lip balm felt like the perfect fit for my routine - especially now that the sun’s finally shining
While most of us have hopefully come to accept a face sunscreen as a staple in our everyday skincare routine, lots of us still forget about our lips. But the skin there is delicate too, and going without protection can lead to dryness, chapping, discolouration and sun damage - yes, it really is that serious.
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According to Dr Richard Devine, aesthetic doctor and founder of Devine Clinic: “Lips are one of the most overlooked areas when it comes to sun protection, yet they’re particularly vulnerable because the skin here is thinner and contains very little melanin. Wearing SPF on the lips helps prevent sunburn, dryness and cracking, but more importantly, it protects against long-term damage like pigmentation, loss of definition around the lip border and accelerated ageing."
Seeing as I’m already lip balm obsessed, testing the best SPF lip balms didn’t exactly feel like work. From tinted formulas to ultra-hydrating heroes, I tried plenty to find the ones actually worth keeping in your bag, pocket or attached to your phone this summer.
How I tested SPF lip balms:
Testing products is a huge part of my job as a beauty writer, and no, that doesn’t mean swiping something on once and calling it a day. Most products I test for weeks, months and sometimes even years (LED face masks I'm looking at you), because that’s the only way to get a proper feel for how they actually perform day to day IMO.
When it came to SPF lip balms, I tested each one on my own lips and made sure to try a good mix of formulas - from cooling balms and lip oils to glossy finishes and tinted options. I paid attention to how hydrating they felt, how comfortable they were to wear, the taste (because there’s nothing worse than that lipstick tasted IYKYK), and if they actually protected my lips from the sun.
Why you can trust me:
I’d definitely class myself as a beauty obsessive, and lip balm has been a staple for me for as long as I can remember. I was stealing my mum’s lip balms when I was younger, and ever since, I’ve rarely left the house without one. It’s one of the few beauty products I use every single day without fail, so safe to say I know a good formula when I find one.
After six years as a beauty journalist - five at The Mirror and the past year at Glamour - I’ve tested a lot of lip products. So when it comes to SPF lip balms, I know exactly what I’m looking for: hydration, comfort, no weird taste, and a formula I’ll actually want to reapply. If it’s made it into this guide, it’s because it passed the test.
Shop the best SPF lip balms for sun protection below…
1.Best SPF lip balm overall: Ultra Violette Sheen Screen SPF50
- Tester: Shani Cohen, Glamour's Beauty Commerce Writer.
- SPF rating: 50.
- Shades: 7.
- Key ingredients: Vitamin E, cocoa butter, lanolin, UVA & UVB filters.
- What I liked: Cushion applicator, lovely tint, nourishing feel, SPF 50 protection.
- What I didn’t like: It has quite a strong sunscreen taste.
Glamour-tester review: "If you’re after an SPF lip balm and tint in one, this is a great one to add to your basket. I’ve given this top spot for a reason - given that the cushion applicator, and sleek tube design reminds me of my ride-or-die Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm. What sets this one apart from the rest is that it’s a tint, SPF and nourishing glossy balm all-in-one - basically everything you’d want from a lip product. There’s six shades to choose from, and as someone who loves a natural brown/beige lip, I of course opted for Choc Top. You can see my before and after photos below - but it added the perfect amount of colour and shine.
While I’m a big fan of the tint addition, what really won me over is how nourishing it feels. It’s packed with vitamin E, cocoa butter and lanolin which leaves lips feeling soft and hydrated, while SPF 50 UVA and UVB offers that all-important protection. I also love that the balm has a slight cooling sensation when applied - so I like to think of it as aftersun, but for your lips. The only downside? The taste. If it gets in your mouth, which is pretty common with lip balms, the sharp sunscreen taste is quite unpleasant."
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2. Best affordable SPF lip balm: Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Toasted Coconut Lip Balm
- Tester: Shani Cohen, Glamour's Beauty Commerce Writer.
- SPF rating: 50+.
- Scents: 5.
- Key ingredients: Shea butter, jojoba oil and vitamin E.
- What I liked: The toasted coconut scent, glossy finish, hydrating, SPF 50.
- What I didn’t like: It’s quite thick to squeeze out and doesn’t last for ages, heavily fragranced may not be for everyone.
Glamour-tester review: "As someone who’ll buy almost anything coconut-scented, I was always going to be into this, but beyond the dreamy scent, the formula really impressed me too. The toasted coconut fragrance is quite strong, but in the best way - sweet, tropical and instantly reminiscent of being on holiday. It makes this feel less like a practical SPF product and more like something you’d actually be excited to pull out of your beach bag. If you're not a fan of coconut, there's another four fruity scents to choose from - mango, strawberry, vanilla and watermelon.
The texture is what really sets it apart. I wouldn’t call it a traditional balm at all - it’s more like a thick lip oil, and it genuinely reminds me of coconut oil in both texture and appearance. Once it’s on, it melts down beautifully and leaves lips looking glossy, nourished and instantly more hydrated. Because the formula is quite thick, it can be a little stiff and tricky to squeeze out of the tube, and I did find myself reapplying fairly often due to it being more of an oil than a balm."
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3. Best luxury SPF lip balm: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick SPF 15
- Tester: Shani Cohen, Glamour's Beauty Commerce Writer.
- SPF rating: 15.
- Shades: 4.
- Key ingredients: Petrolatum, castor seed pil, and vitamin E.
- What I liked: Precise applicator, glossy finish, and lovely natural tint.
- What I didn’t like: Low SPF.
Glamour-tester review: "As a dry skin girlie, I can always tell within about ten seconds whether a lip product is actually going to help or whether it’s just there to look pretty - and this one definitely falls into the first camp. Because it’s from the Eight Hour line, I expected it to have that same comforting, nourishing feel, and it does. The formula is packed with emollients, vitamin E and SPF filters, so it feels properly softening and protective on the lips, rather than like one of those tinted balms that disappears instantly and somehow leaves your lips feeling even drier.
There are four shades to choose from, and I opted for Honey - a subtle beige-nude that on me gave a sheer, brown-toned tint and made my lips look healthier, smoother and a bit more polished. I also really loved applying this one. The bullet-shaped balm meant I could be much more precise, and it feels a bit more luxe than a standard squeezy tube. It glides on super smoothly, adds the perfect amount of shine, and it’s one of those products I’d happily wear on its own. My only real drawbacks were the slight sunscreen taste and the fact it’s only SPF 15, which is the lowest protection of the lot."
4. Best soothing SPF lip balm: Malin+Goetz SPF 30 Lip Balm
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- Tester: Shani Cohen, Glamour's Beauty Commerce Writer.
- SPF rating: 30.
- Shades: 1.
- Key ingredients: Vitamin E and spearmint.
- What I liked: Cooling effect and hydrating feel.
- What I didn’t like: The white cast and strong sunscreen taste.
Glamour-tester review: "This one definitely ticks a lot of boxes on paper: SPF 30, broad UVA and UVB protection, plus vitamin E to help keep lips feeling moisturised - and, to be fair, it does feel nicely hydrating once it’s on. The main issue for me was the finish. As you can see from my photo and video, it left a noticeable white cast on my lips, even after I tried blending it in with my finger, so it’s not one I’d wear on its own. I also don’t think it’s the most universal formula, as that cast would likely be even more obvious on deeper skin tones.
One thing I did really like, though, was the spearmint in the formula. It gives the balm a fresh, cooling sensation as soon as you apply it, which I found really soothing - especially when my lips were feeling particularly dry or a bit sun-stressed. So while I wasn’t fully won over by how it looked on, I did really appreciate the hydrating feel and that refreshing, comforting finish."
More SPF lip balms I'm in the process of testing:
KIKO Sun Protection Lip Balm SPF 50
Why we love it: This SPF 50 lip balm sounds like the ultimate beach-bag staple. Flavoured with exotic monoi, reviews say it smells like holiday, glides on effortlessly and leaves lips feeling soft, smooth and comfortable with an invisible finish. The formula is enriched with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, offers high UVA and UVB protection, and is water-resistant too — so it’s easy to see why it’s being hailed as a great summer lip balm.
The only slight downside is that reviews suggest it doesn’t stay on the lips for particularly long, so reapplication is key - but for an SPF, you should be reapplying every two hours anyway.
- SPF rating: 50
- Shades: 1
- Key ingredients: Vitamin E and hyaluronic acid
- Customer feedback: Pleasant smell, leaves lips soft and smooth, not the longest lasting
Ultrasun Lip Protection SPF 50
Why we love it: If you’re especially prone to burning, or heading somewhere hot and sunny (lucky you), this Ultrasun balm sounds like one of the safest SPF bets. The brand is known for its serious approach to sun protection, and this formula really leans into that with high SPF, broad-spectrum coverage and a waterproof finish that won’t immediately disappear the second you get in the sea or pool. It’s also completely colourless, so it works well if you want something invisible and low-maintenance.
Customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive too, with lots of people saying it lasts for hours, stays put even in water and is one of the few lip SPFs they genuinely trust. Several also mention that it helps keep lips feeling moisturised and comfortable, with one reviewer saying it’s been particularly helpful at protecting against pigmentation on the upper lip. There are very few negatives overall, although a small number of reviewers did find it a little drying. Still, for long-lasting, hard-working protection, this one sounds very impressive.
- SPF rating: 50
- Shades: 1
- Key ingredients: Shea Butter, argan oil and vitamin E
- Customer feedback: Lasts for hours, water-resistant and keeps lips moisturised and comfortable
FAQ's
Meet our experts:
| Dr Richard Devine | Aesthetic doctor and founder of Devine Clinic. |
| Anastasia Koles | Aesthetic nurse and founder of ALTA Medi Clinic. |
What are the benefits of wearing SPF on lips?
“Lips are one of the most overlooked areas when it comes to sun protection, yet they’re particularly vulnerable because the skin here is thinner and contains very little melanin. Wearing SPF on the lips helps prevent sunburn, dryness and cracking, but more importantly, it protects against long-term damage like pigmentation, loss of definition around the lip border and accelerated ageing. You’ll often see people investing in skin treatments while their lips still look weathered or uneven in tone, and that’s usually down to cumulative sun exposure. Consistent SPF use keeps the lips smoother, more even in colour and better hydrated overall.” - Dr Richard Devine, aesthetic doctor and founder of Devine Clinic.
What is the recommended SPF for lips?
“Ideally, you want to be using at least SPF 30 on the lips, but SPF 50 is preferable, especially in environments with strong or prolonged sun exposure. The key is broad-spectrum protection, meaning it shields against both UVA (ageing) and UVB (burning) rays. Lips don’t have the same natural defence as the rest of your skin, so going higher with SPF is always a sensible choice rather than something minimal.”- Dr Richard Devine, aesthetic doctor and founder of Devine Clinic.
How often should I apply SPF lip balm?
“SPF lip products need to be reapplied more frequently than your standard facial SPF because they’re easily removed through eating, drinking and even just talking. As a general rule, reapply every two hours, but realistically, it should be topped up after meals or drinks as well. If you’re outdoors, at the beach or by the pool, you may find yourself reapplying even more often to keep that protection consistent.” - Anastasia Koles, aesthetic nurse and founder of ALTA Medi Clinic.
Can you use your normal SPF on your lips or is it better to get an SPF lip balm?
"You can use your regular facial SPF on the lips, but it’s not always the most comfortable or practical option. Many face SPFs can taste unpleasant, feel too heavy or migrate into the mouth. A dedicated SPF lip balm is usually better because it’s formulated to sit well on the lips, often with added nourishing ingredients like shea butter or vitamin E, which help with hydration as well as protection. It also makes it much easier to reapply throughout the day, which is ultimately what makes the biggest difference." - Anastasia Koles, aesthetic nurse and founder of ALTA Medi Clinic.
