Sunburnt lips are a thing of the past with these SPF lip balms (2025)

We're all well-versed in the importance of daily facial SPF, but there's one crucial area of our face that most of us tend to neglect: our lips. "The lips are fragile and subject to early and accelerated ageing because of exposure to the elements – especially the sun," says Dr Charlene Dehaven, iS Clinical's clinical director.

Similar to under-eyes, the skin on your lips is thinner and more delicate than that on the rest of your complexion. "There are only three-to-five cell layers on the lip compared to 15-to-20 layers on the face, and lips have fewer melanocytes to make the protective pigment melanin," explains Dr Dehaven. According to her, our lips experience three times more water loss than the skin in our cheeks too, which is why it's often more prone to dryness and flaking.

Leave your lips unprotected during the hottest months, and you're opening yourself up to sunburn, peeling and premature ageing. The solution is simple: swipe on a lip balm with SPF, and use it religiously. Look for formulas that are not only infused with sun protection, but also antioxidants such as vitamin C to keep fine lines at bay, and hydrating ingredients including squalane, glycerin, and plant oils to replenish moisture.

Bazaar's edit of the best SPF lip balms ticks all the right boxes, and in some cases, go the extra mile of imparting a gentle wash of colour and shine (should you want that). Now is the perfect time to stock up and keep one in every handbag.

The best SPF lip balms to try now

This over-achieving stick SPF is great for getting into smaller areas such as eye contours, ears, and yes, your lips. It is tinted with a bronzy hue that works best on tanned to deeper skin tones and scores points for portability.

For shine and plumpness without any greasy residue, look no further than Lanolips' tinted balm. The soft texture sits comfortably on lips and it packs enough pigment to bring a pop of colour to the complexion.

Next to providing high UVA/UVB protection, the texture of this lip treatment is balmy enough to use on cheeks too. An indispensable product for your travel bag.

Squalane and avocado oil restores moisture to parched lips while built-in vitamin C and SPF30 protects lips from the elements. It's intensely hydrating without feeling sticky or heavy, and wears nicely on top of or under lipstick. What more could you ask for?

If you enjoy lip balms with a hint of flavour, this one by Sun Bum will go down a treat. Plus, it contains cooling aloe vera to soothe irritated lips.

A swipe of this hyaluronic acid-infused tinted lip balm instantly perks up tired complexions, all while providing SPF25 protection. A one-and-done lip product we can all get behind.

Fans of the iconic Eight Hour Cream will love how moisturising this tinted balm is. It glides on smoothly, imparting the slightest wash of colour and SPF15.

This little tube checks all the right boxes. It offers high SPF protection, goes on clear and the unscented formula is great if you're sensitive to perfume. At less than £10 a pop, this deserves a spot in every handbag.

You wouldn't know this hydrating balm boasts UVA and UVB filters when wearing it - there's no white residue, only the slightest translucent gleam. Striking the perfect balance between softening lips and shielding them, it's a great all rounder.

This vegan formula is rich in shea butter, castor seed oil and synthetic beeswax to keep your lips feeling comfortable all day long. It is a little thicker than the rest, but the white tint disappears once its rubbed in. The juicy mango scent is perfect for summer getaways too (or you know, when you're dreaming of one...).

Just like it's skincare counterpart, iS Clinical's formulas are hard-hitting and no-frills. This lip balm uses physical UVA/UVB blockers along with antioxidants to prevent environmental damage, all while nourishing lips with jojoba and soybean oil.

For something with a hint of shimmer, try Ultra Violette – the Australian SPF brand making some of the chicest, most user-friendly sunscreens on the market. The lip balm imparts a gentle shine, while offering high SPF protection. There are four shades within the range.

Save space in your handbag for lipsticks, and keep this balm at home. In true Ultrasun style, you need only apply it once for all-day protection, so do it as a skincare step. The brand’s patented technology gives long-lasting, high level SPF30 protection that resists water.

If skincare authority Paula Begoun wants you to do anything in life, it’s to wear sunscreen. We trust her brand’s rich SPF50 lip balm to protect and prevent damage, making it ‘anti-ageing’ by its very nature.

If you prefer a pot balm, look to Bobbi Brown. This chic, sleek tin houses a hydrating yet non-greasy formula with SPF15 and lends a gentle sheen to cheekbones too.