Doctor-Approved SPF Lip Balms for Year-Round Protection

“Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Lip Sleeping Mask is another great product that not only feels rich, but definitely hydrates and helps minimize fine lines with hyaluronic acid,” says Dr. Hazim of this affordable and widely available option. The rich formula, which I'm personally a fan of, is perfect for use throughout the day or overnight as a reparative treatment, and is free of potentially drying ingredients like fragrance, alcohol, sulfates, and parabens. It also comes in a thin, convenient container that’s ideal for stowing away in your purse, pocket, or gym bag.

Pros: expert-approved; free of fragrance, alcohol, sulfates, parabens, and phthalates; contains hyaluronic acid and Vitamin B5

Cons: some reviewers found formula too thick

Customer Review: "I honestly wasn't expecting much when I first got this product, but now that I've been using it I have noticed a big difference in my lips! My lips are always feeling moisturized in the morning. This works so good I even like to use it as a lip gloss!" -Walmart

Dr. Halim also recommends this plumping mask, which not only enhances the appearance of lips, but also restores hydration and protects them from sun damage and free radicals. “I use it day and night, as it truly helps not only relieve dryness but also improves hydration and plumpness along with a healthy natural rosiness,” she attests. “It was developed along the lines of Maxilip, using peptides to help collagen synthesis via ceramides, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid.”

Pros: expert approved; improves appearance of lips; vegan; clean; cruelty-free; contains hyaluronic acid; contains zinc, which protects lips from the sun

Cons: requires finger application

Customer Review: "I use this all day long! It makes my lips feel so soft and moisturized without feeling sticky. Also the plumping effect doesn’t burn like others. It has more of a cooling sensation. Highly recommend this product." -Sephora

This lip balm, which contains SPF 30, is perfect for stowing away in your bag for easy application throughout the day. It contains super hydrating ingredients like coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, and avocado oil, all of which work to nourish the skin in order to repair damage while preventing any further dryness by helping skin retain moisture. It’s also scented with a light taste—perfect for Millennials and Gen Zers who miss the Lip Smackers days of yore.

Pros: vegan; clean; cruelty-free; contains natural nourishing ingredients

Cons: some customers dislike the taste; contains fragrance

Customer Review: "This stuff is pretty amazing. It's super nourishing, and not sticky and it provides the sun protection I like to have throughout the day. Plus, the coconut smell is awesome, not sunscreeny at all, but like fresh coconut. Love it!" -Ulta

Burt’s Bees will always have a special place in my heart. Its chapsticks are among the only products that relieve my lips when they’re super chapped and begin to sting, and I notice a difference after just a single day of consistent application (while also drinking lots of water!). Made from natural ingredients, including 100 percent ethically sourced beeswax, this formula is ideal for anyone concerned about keeping their lips hydrated, protected from the sun, and free of irritation. 

Pros: natural ingredients; editor-approved; affordable; water-resistant

Cons: contains zinc, which can leave a white residue

Customer Review: "I'm a chapstick/lip balm junkie....I have them everywhere (car, night stand, purse, work bag, work, etc), but so far this is my favorite. I originally bought this due to the SPF and thought it great to take to the lake and/or camping. However, found that this lip balm has staying power. This is especially so during cold season....I tend to be a mouth breather when sick which causes my lips to get dry and cracked, but I use this before bed and I no longer have this problem. I now wear it religiously to bed." -Burt's Bees

Aquaphor is another brand I swear by. This particular product’s consistency is soothing and quite thick, so a little goes a long way. And, unlike petroleum jelly, it’s water based, which means that it actively moisturizes rather than simply locking in moisture on a surface level. It’s also perfect for dabbing on dry spots in general, whether that dryness is from sun damage, cold temperatures, or waxing, so I keep a few tubes on hand all the the time. And because it’s free of preservatives, fragrance, and other irritants, it’s ideal for sensitive skin.

Pros: editor-approved; a little goes a long way; good for sensitive skin; free of fragrance

Cons: some users find it too thick and greasy

Customer Review: “Amazing effect. It helps with chapped lips so much, but is a bit greasy.” -Ulta

This tinted lip shine looks like a lip gloss, with its versatile pink hue and shiny finish. However, it packs more of a punch than what meets the eye, with hydrating and protective ingredients designed to keep your lips looking and feeling their best, long term. More specifically, it contains 5 percent zinc oxide, which goes a long way in protecting lips from UVA and UVB rays. It also boasts SPF 35 and ingredients like peptide palmitoyl oligopeptide and essential oils like Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil.

Pros: tinted; shine-enhancing; comes in three colors

Cons: some reviewers say it has an unpleasant taste

Customer Review: "This stuff is awesome! It's not sticky at all, color is great, last all day and the sunscreen in it is perfect. I will never go back to regular lipstick or gloss." -Dermstore

This popular lip balm from Cay Skin is ideal for daily use and repeated reapplication throughout the day. Not only does it protect from harsh UV rays (it contains SPF 30), but it’s also tinted and has a sweet vanilla brown sugar that reviewers adore. It comes in three colors, including a clear gloss, and leaves lips shiny but never sticky. In terms of formula, it contains nourishing ingredients like protective sea moss, soothing aloe stem cells, and Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant.

Pros: clean; cruelty-free; free of silicones; comes in three colors; long staying power

Cons: some users dislike the taste (say it tastes like sunscreen)

Customer Review: "Love this! On my third tube, it's long lasting and smells great. It stays on my lips even when I go on long runs and love that it has SPF." -Sephora

This is another product I love stowing away in my bag—particularly in the summertime, when the sun, sand, salt, and chlorine wreak havoc on my skin and lips. It’s packed with over 70 percent certified organic ingredients proven to nourish skin, including camellia oil, jojoba oil, and Vitamin E. It also contains SPF 30 protection, of course, so you can bask in the sun (within reason) without fear. Plus, its oil consistency lends lips a universally flattering glossy shine.

Pros: reef-friendly; editor-approved; free of gluten; cruelty-free; vegan

Cons: some users find the formula runny

Customer Review: "This lip oil is fabulous. It is super moisturizing and great protection from the sun. I also put it on at night before I go to bed for the excellent moisturizing benefits. Love this product!" -Dermstore

This dermatologist- tested option comes highly recommended by countless users who say that the no- nonsense, premium formula relieves their chapped lips in record time. It contains seven percent zinc oxide, which is proven to protect lips from both UVA and UVB rays, as well as Vitamin C Ester and Vitamin E, which are antioxidants that reduce visible signs of aging. It also includes glycerin, a powerful hydrator. Finally, the formula is water- resistant, making it perfect for wear when you’re swimming, skiing, sweating, or simply dealing with inclement weather. 

Pros: shine-enhancing; water- resistant; contains antioxidants; free of fragrance and parabens

Cons: may leave a white residue because of its zinc content

Customer Review: "I really like this lip balm. It feels hydrating for my lips and offers extra protection with SPF. It soaks in nicely and even leaves a nice shine with a little extra application." -Dermstore

This product from Jack Black skincare, with its fragrance- free formula and unisex packaging, is perfect for people of all genders. It also has a subtly shiny finish that reviewers praise for not being gooey, runny, or sticky. It’s also packed with natural ingredients that soothe sunburnt, dry, or otherwise irritated skin, such as beeswax, green tea leaf extract, cocoa seed butter, and avocado oil. Reviewers also say that they can feel the moisture sinking into their lips after each use, because their lips remain plump, soft, and hydrated even hours after last application.

Pros: affordable; cruelty-free; free of parabens, sulfates, gluten, and alcohol

Cons: some users dislike the smell and taste

Customer Review: "My lips used to be so dry, chapped, peeling, & bleeding... I stumbled upon this in store, and my lips were noticeably softer after just one day. I will not use anything else on my lips going forward!" -Ulta