Lip balms tend to use thicker wax-based ingredients intended to protect the thin skin of the lips while also sealing in moisture to add hydration. Lip gloss tends to be thinner in consistency and focused more on adding shine. SPF products for lips can be difficult to come by. Read more...
Topics
What is Lip Balm and How Does it Differ from Other Lip Treatments?
What is the purpose of a lip balm, and who might benefit most from using one?
What are some SPF-containing lip balms on the market that you would recommend?
Lastly, can you please share some tips on how to choose an SPF-containing lip balm?
Photo: Wix
Disclaimer: This page contains an affiliate link to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through this link.
Lip balms during the cold winter months have become a staple in many skincare routines out of necessity. However, choosing the right lip balm for the summer - even if your lips are not dry and cracked - has more to do with sun protection than dryness. Not all balms are created equal—especially when it comes to sun protection. Understanding the difference between lip balm types and the importance of SPF can help you keep your lips healthy, hydrated, and protected from excess UV exposure.
What is Lip Balm and How Does it Differ from Other Lip Treatments?
Lip balms tend to feature thicker wax-based ingredients intended to protect the thin skin of the lips while also sealing in moisture to add hydration. Lip glosses, on the other hand, tend to be thinner in consistency and focused more on adding shine. Not all lip balms or glosses have an SPF as many are focused on hydration or cosmetic appeal.
The Importance of SPF in Lip Balms
Our lips are uniquely positioned to interact with both the environment as well as our mouth. The skin of our lips is thin making it highly susceptible to both environmental stresses. The mouth itself is home to constant moisture, yeast and bacteria- some of which can be problematic, enzymes from saliva and a slew of other risks associated with constant movement of food and drink through this space. Lip balms are designed to add a sealant or layer of protection to the lips protecting them from environmental factors as well as evaporation of moisture from the surface of the lips from saliva and fluids. They also can trap moisture close to the lips to address hydration. Focusing on the hydration and sealant aspect, most can benefit from the use of lip balms in particular ideal for overnight use with mouth breathers who find that their lips are excessively dry in the morning.
Sun protection is a factor that not all consider when purchasing lip products. The lips are highly susceptible to the damaging effects of excess UV light. SPF is not just for your skin; your lips need defense too. Incorporating SPF into your lip care helps prevent the long term impact of excess UV exposure for conditions such as actinic cheilitis—a precancerous change mostly seen on the lower lip. Cases of actinic cheilitis, precancerous changes to the lips (especially lower lip), are often missed simply because the initial changes noted are a textural change to the lips where they can feel waxy or taut. Over time they crack or bleed easily and often can be uncomfortable. SPF lip balms are especially important for those using medications like Accutane by mouth or even anti aging or anti acne preparations topically, which increase sun sensitivity. Also for those prone to fever blisters or cold sores, the routine use of an SPF lip balm can help reduce the chances for a breakout.
Tips for Choosing a SPF Lip Balm
When choosing a lip balm with SPF remember to avoid ingredients that can dry out or irritate your lips. Examples of ingredients that can be irritating include menthol, which often provides a misleading sensation of effectiveness without necessarily having actual benefits. Instead, look for lip balms that use physical sunscreen ingredients like zinc or titanium, avoiding chemical sunscreens due to their higher risk of ingestion.
SPF Lip Balms
There are not many options available but we have taken the time to compile a list of the ones we could find. As we come across new ones this list will be updated so be sure to check back frequently.
Sun Bum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Lip Balm. This is a nice affordable choice for lip sunscreen making use of Zinc oxide as its active ingredient. Consider this for year round usage to gain the benefit of protecting your lips from UV and cold.
eos Sun Protect | SPF Lip Balm with SPF 30. This Zinc oxide based lip sunscreen has the added bonus of specifying that it is gluten free. eos has been a trusted name for lips with ease of application.
Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother Gloss with SPF 20. Although its probably not true across the board, most lip glosses I have come across that make SPF claims tend to use chemical sunscreen additives. This one has octinoxate and oxybenzone. Given the goal of achieving a glossy look it is likely difficult to achieve this with mineral based products. This offers a nice shine for occasional use with and SPF of 20.
EltaMD UV Lip Balm SPF 36. This SPF lip balm is water resistant and has both Zinc and Octinoxate as its active ingredients. I do like this product but it is a bit more expensive than other options. Although it references "Transparent Zinc Oxide" as its active ingredient on the front of the tube, the ingredient label does, as of the time of this publication, include octinoxate as well. If you are seeking a lip balm without chemical sunscreen additives please be aware of this.
Aquaphor Lip Repair Lip Balm with Sunscreen, Lip Protectant, Lip Balm SPF 30. Aquaphor is a common name to come across in the lip balm category. This SPF lip balm makes use of chemical sunscreen additives include avobenzone, octinoxate, oxybenzone, octisalate, and octocrylene.
Comentários