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Top Tinted Lip Balms With SPF, Tested by Editors
As beauty writers, our team has had front-row seats to the evolution of modern sunscreen in all of its manifestations. From eyeshadows with mineral blockers to dry shampoos and even setting sprays with SPF, the category continues to expand beyond what you expect to see lining the shelves of your local drugstore.
Yet, amidst this shift, the oft-overlooked realm of lip balms with SPF has remained relatively untouched — until last year, that is, when lip-focused sunscreen products began showing up in a way that was worth paying attention to.
“Our lips are especially vulnerable to sun damage because they lack melanin — the pigment that helps protect skin from UV radiation — and the skin on the lips is much thinner than the rest of the face,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ellen Marmur tells WWD. “This also makes them more prone to burns and long-term damage.”
Specifically, the lower lip faces the most risk, as Dr. Marmur explains that “up to 90 percent of lip cancers occur on [this region], which receives more direct sun exposure.”
Translation: You’d be wise not to overlook the lips when layering that sunblock underneath your makeup for the day, but it’s just as important to be strategic about the kinds of SPF lip selections you’re investing in.
For years, buying a lip balm with SPF meant settling for a chalky, tropical-scented stick, which might’ve worked well for the beach but was less practical as far as your nine-to-five or date night was concerned.
In the 2000s and even 2010s, there weren’t any sensorial, luxurious, and genuinely lip-softening formulas to write home about or so much as stash in your makeup bag. The new generation of lip sunscreens, however, is branching out beyond the basics and venturing into the territory of silky lip glosses, lip oils, and even tinted lip balms with SPF that feel like a treat rather than an annoying obligation.
Former WWD Shop Commerce Editor Claire Sullivan tests SPF lip balms from Supergoop!, Caliray, and Ultra Violette.
Courtesy WWD/Claire Sullivan
It is this latter subset of SPF beauty that we’ll be focusing on, having tested dozens of recent options from brands like Supergoop!, Ultra Violette, and Caliray to hone in on the eight you shouldn’t spend the rest of your summer without.
The colors here are so flattering that you’ll be inclined to keep the balms in your purse around the clock, reapplying them by the pool, in front of your date, on sunny days, and on rainy ones, too.
If you believe in something called the “lipstick index,” you’re sure to appreciate the below discoveries.
Ultra Violette Sheen Screen Hydrating Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 50
This lip balm from Australian sunscreen destination Ultra Violette, with an SPF rating of 50, stands out from the crowd courtesy of its hydrating action and four stunning colorways (peep the new purple-tinted Last Bite and light-pink Silk Pillow arrivals).
The salve has a thicker composition than most competitors — you’ll need to squeeze the tube a good amount to get the product out! — but this also contributes to the silky-smooth sensation it leaves in its wake. Another plus: That sheer color payoff, which makes it easy to layer Sheen Screen with other lip go-tos when you’re going for more visual oomph outdoors.
Price upon publish date of this article: $22
Courtesy WWD/Claire Sullivan
Supergoop! Glow Gloss Lip Balm With Peptides and Shea Butter SPF 40
WWD Shop editors adore this SPF lip treatment from Supergoop! because it goes on just like a typical lip gloss, meaning you won’t smell or feel the skin-protecting ingredients involved even if you’re wearing a generous amount of the product. Glow Gloss is also the shiniest of the bunch that we tested, making our lips look plump and healthy with a single application.
Typically sold online in three universally attractive shades, the TikTok favorite was just blessed with a never-before-seen one — Caramel Glaze, whose brown overtones will be especially pertinent come fall (yes, keeping your lips safe from the sun in the colder months is still a must).
Price upon publish date of this article: $22
Courtesy WWD/Claire Sullivan
Caliray Lipguard Hydrating Lip Gloss Balm SPF 31
If you prefer lippies that err on the matte side of the spectrum, cosign Caliray’s Lipguard SPF 31 Hydrating Lip Gloss Balm. The hybrid innovation establishes impressive saturation and shine, turning it into an overachiever that can step in to save the day (that is, your daily glam) as a tinted balm, gloss, or even sheer lipstick alternative.
The texture in question is cushiony — more balm than gloss — and benefits from mighty staying power sans stickiness. Grab it at Sephora in one of five hues, all of which appear elevated but never overdone. For bonus points, the Caliray bestseller is made up of good-for-you components like shea butter and almond oil, helping lips stay quenched long after that tint fades.
Price upon publish date of this article: $19
Courtesy WWD/Claire Sullivan
More Tinted SPF Lip Favorites to Shop Today
Coola Organic Liplux Classic Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 30
Award-winning, Cali-based sun care company Coola is encouraging shoppers to reprioritize their pouts with its Liplux Classic Sunscreen Lip Balm, a veritable holy grail in the beauty industry. Doling out broad spectrum protection that lives up to marketing copy claims, the balm harnesses a range of fruit butters to condition on a cellular level: providing an effective, lasting solution for chronically chapped lips.
As if that weren’t enough of a selling point, the under-$20 buy also fights free radicals, resists water for up to 80 minutes, and comes in a berry-evoking color that will pamper all complexions.
Price upon publish date of this article: $15
Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm Broad Spectrum SPF 20
Neutrogena’s Revitalizing Lip Balm takes the cake for being the most affordable tinted SPF lip offering on this list, but don’t be fooled by that wallet-salvaging price tag. Mightier than it appears, the $10, 0.15-ounce wonder improves lip texture via a potent injection of moisture with each swipe while serving as a shield against sun damage.
Its color is translucent but buildable, and we’re particularly partial to the pictured Fresh Plum — a deep yet cheery no-brainer for summer. Paraben-free, sulfate-free, and phthalate-free, the purchase skips the B.S. and grants results your smooch has long been seeking.
Price upon publish date of this article: $10.69
Kopari Lip Love Moisture Balm SPF 30
Known for its clean, fast-absorbing, coconut-scented body mists, Kopari is also a brand to watch (and shop) if you’re on the market for SPF lip balms. This one, fittingly named Lip Love, guarantees all-day moisture thanks to its ceramides inclusion, not to mention hyaluronic acid– and squalane–fueled suppleness and vitamin C–secured brightness. The formula is completely vegan and should be reapplied every two hours when you’re out in the sunshine.
As for its strawberry flavor? It’s lip lickin’ good.
Price upon publish date of this article: $26
MDSolarSciences Tinted Sheer Lip Balm SPF 30
A complex of jojoba, olive, and avocado oils is behind both the virality and the extensive resume of this SPF balm from MDSolarSciences. Over 400 were bought on Amazon in the past month alone: testament to just how nourishing, dryness-reversing, and pleasant on the eyes the tinted treasure is.
Defending against blue light and environmental stressors besides UVA and UVB rays, the dermatologist-developed release is an apt complement to your “anti-aging skin care,” according to MDSolarSciences, and even has a shade (Shimmer) that tailors to your unique lip hue with pH-reactive technology.
Price upon publish date of this article: $18.20
Well People Lip Butter Tinted Balm SPF 15
High-performance beauty is Well People’s specialty, and the Lip Butter SPF 15 Tinted Balm is proof of concept. Sensorially speaking, it’s a buttery dream, operating on the basis of a plant-based ingredient portfolio (think zinc, jojoba oil, and raspberry seed oil) that delivers an evened-out tone, far-reaching hydration, and a bright finish. Use the creamy, FSA-eligible concoction generously, knowing that a refill is always just a few clicks away at ulta.com.
Price upon publish date of this article: $15.99
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Meet the Expert
Dr. Ellen Marmur is a New York–based, board-certified dermatologist. After spending eight years as Chief of Dermatologic Surgery at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, she founded her own practice, called Marmur Medical. Dr. Marmur is a leading dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon whose expertise includes skin cancer diagnosis and surgery, Mohs surgery, reconstructive surgery, women’s health dermatology, and cosmetic surgery. She also is a master of aesthetic procedures like neuromodulators, fillers, lasers, body sculpting, liposuction, and more.
Meet the Authors
Claire Sullivan was previously a Commerce Editor at WWD, where she wrote and edited beauty, fashion, and lifestyle stories. Sullivan has over eight years of experience reporting for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She’s sampled hundreds of products during her time in commerce, being well-versed in selecting the ones that can make a meaningful difference in the health of your skin and hair. Sullivan conducted rigorous reporting and testing to write the original version of this article on the best tinted lip balms with SPF.
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, wrote about tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on innovations in beauty that are truly worth readers’ time and money.
