My New Favorite Lip Balm Has 1 Hidden Skin Care Benefit
If there's one thing that dermatologists seem to emphasize the most, it's diligent sunscreen use — especially if one of your main concerns is preventing skin cancer and premature aging . This also extends to the lips, which can get damaged just like any other area of the skin and even develop cancers, according to Calgary-based double-board-certified dermatologist Dr. Danny Guo .
Despite this knowledge, Guo said that, in general, people are less concerned with sunscreen application on the lips than on the face or body, which he thinks is due to a combination of less social media emphasis and less SPF-containing lip products available. Though I can't offer a solution for the former, I certainly have one for the latter: Sun Bum's SPF 30 lip sunscreen .
Before reaching out to Guo, I had come across a TikTok creator who claims to be an esthetician and dedicates much of her content to "uncovering" how well SPF products really protect by applying and monitoring them with a UV light. It was through her that I discovered the Sun Bum SPF 30 lip sunscreen , which I purchased for myself — and it looks and feels vastly different from any SPF-containing lip formulas I've used in the past.
If you are also familiar with sunscreen balms, then you most likely know what I mean when I say this: those thick or chalky balms that taste horrendous if they happen to get into your mouth. The Sun Bum formula, on the other hand, feels strikingly high-end and looks like a beautiful gloss with a lasting sheen and a cushiony, hydrating texture on the lips. It has the perfect amount of stick, so you know it lasts, and the tints, especially the shade Heat Wave, are shockingly pretty. Beyond that, there's barely a bitter taste, and the scent smells lightly of coconut — all told, it's a lip formula that I would willingly opt for regardless of whether it had sun protection or not.
The Sun Bum sunscreen lip balm comes in four shades, including a clear option. Amazon/Tessa Flores
But in the name of cancer prevention and anti-aging, I asked Guo if he thought the Sun Bum balm could really protect as well as I hoped.
"The short answer is yes because it has SPF 30 (the minimum recommended SPF level) and broad spectrum, which means it can cover both UVA and UVB. The active ingredient list supports these claims as well," he said, emphasizing that true, just like any SPF product, adequate reapplication every two hours is just as important.
Guo also appreciates the inclusion of other ingredients in the formula, such as vitamin E, "an antioxidant which neutralizes free radicals from UV exposure and aloe can be soothing for dry skin."
Available in three sheer tints and one clear (my favorites are the shades Heat Wave and Bonfire), the Sun Bum lip balm contains humectants like glycerin, which draw moisture into the skin, argan oil and bisabolol , a soothing ingredient that can calm inflammation and strengthen the skin barrier.
According to one Amazon customer , after battling with stubborn sun blisters on their lips to no avail, the Sun Bum sunscreen lip balm was the simple $7 product that saved the day. Others speak highly of this protective sunny weather essential, which you can see for yourself up ahead.
Promising Amazon reviews:
"I literally only bought this because it was an affordable lip balm with SPF. I tested it out and went ahead and put it in my bag. I absolutely love it! I love the texture, the cushion, the shine, it's not sticky, and the color is great. It also stays on really great. This is going to be my go to purse lip balm from now on." – Amber Carter
"Really nice for a sunscreen lip balm! The texture is really nice, it feels similar to the Ole Henrickson Peptide lip balm, which is impressive considering this is half the price.
The scent is okay, it smells a bit like sunscreen and has the slightest sunscreen taste to it if you wear it while eating, but its much less than other brands of sunscreen lip balms.
The color though is the best part! Its so pretty and decently pigmented for a balm! The nice texture and minimal sunscreen flavor also make this a great purchase. It lasts a while before you have to reapply." — Sally P" This is the first SPF lip protectant I have ever found that doesn't taste like sunscreen! I'm not licking my lips to taste it, but everything else feels like sunscreen runoff in your mouth at some point. The stuff smells great, feels great, and doesn't leave behind a gross feeling on my tongue." — Hailey
" I can't say enough about this lip protector. I've been battling with blisters from the sun for a while. I've tried everything. Even a prescription tablet from my dermatologist. This is my miracle! " — Donna G.
The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.
If you want to expand your lip protection products to include more than just this one from Sun Bum, take a look at some of these SPF balms previously covered by the HuffPost shopping team:
Amazon
Aquaphor lip protectant plus sunscreen SPF 30
Aquaphor is a trusted staple when it comes to softening and protecting chapped lips, you just can't beat that classic, nourishing formula. This version includes SPF 30 to keep your lips safe from harmful UV rays year-round. It's perfect for a hot day spent outdoors.
Dermstore
EltaMD UV lip balm SPF 36
Few brands know sun protection like EltaMD, and their water-resistant lip balm is a must before you hit the beach or pool. It's long-lasting, moisturizing and soothing for already chapped, burned lips.
Amazon
Coola organic mineral sunscreen tinted lip balm SPF 30
Available in four different shades, Coola's organic balm adds a wash of natural color while keeping lips nourished and safe from the sun's harmful rays.
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