Beauty & Grooming
The Best Lip Balms with SPF: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
We compared SPF lip balms on the SPF and broad spectrum claim each maker states, mineral versus chemical actives, water resistance wording and ingredient lists.
The short version
The best overall pick is Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30, a zinc oxide stick with a full ingredient list on the maker page and a pack that states 80 minutes of water resistance. The value pick is Blistex Five Star, a chemical-filter SPF 30 stick whose page states broad spectrum and 80 minutes of water resistance. Aquaphor Lip Protectant + SPF 30 depends: it is a heavy petrolatum tube for very dry lips, but it uses five chemical filters and states no water claim on its page. Skip Sun Bum CocoBalm for outdoor use, because the maker says it contains no sunscreen and sends you to its SPF balms instead. All three SPF products state SPF 30 and a broad spectrum claim, so the real differences are the filter type, water wording and how much of the ingredient list is published. Best for: a mineral stick for sensitive lips, a cheap chemical stick for every pocket, or a heavy protectant for winter wind.
Our picks at a glance
- Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm - Buy. A zinc oxide stick with a short, plant-oil ingredient list and a broad spectrum SPF 30 claim.
- Blistex Five Star Lip Protection SPF 30 - Buy. A conventional chemical-filter SPF 30 stick that states 80 minutes of water resistance.
- Aquaphor Lip Protectant + SPF 30 - It depends. A petrolatum-heavy tube for dry, cracked lips that also carries a broad spectrum SPF 30 claim.
- Sun Bum CocoBalm Lip Balm - Banana Cream - Skip. A flavored coconut and aloe balm from a sunscreen brand that states it contains no sunscreen.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- SPF stated by maker
- Broad spectrum claim
- Active ingredients
- Filter type
- Water resistance claim
- Inactive list on maker page
Lips burn easily and get chapped by wind and cold, so a lip balm with SPF is one of the most useful things in a ski jacket or hiking pack. The labels vary more than the shelf suggests: some sticks use zinc oxide, some use four chemical filters, and some flavored balms use no sunscreen at all. We compared four from Sun Bum, Blistex and Aquaphor using only what each maker states on its own product page. Sunscreen for the rest of your face is covered in our mineral sunscreens review, and shade for your head in our sun hats review.
A zinc oxide stick with a short, plant-oil ingredient list and a broad spectrum SPF 30 claim.
Best for: Anyone who prefers a mineral filter, including people who react to chemical lip sunscreens.
- The only active ingredient is zinc oxide at 8%, so there is no chemical filter to sting cracked or windburned lips.
- The maker states Broad Spectrum SPF 30, and the pack image reads Water Resistant (80 minutes) and Fragrance Free.
- The full inactive list is on the maker page and is mostly plant oils, butters and waxes such as jojoba, shea and beeswax.
- Zinc sticks can leave a faint pale cast on lips.
- The product page itself never uses the words water resistant, only a direction to reapply after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, so check the pack.
- SPF 30 is the only strength offered in this version.
- It is a thin 0.15 oz stick, so a heavy skier will go through it.
A conventional chemical-filter SPF 30 stick that states 80 minutes of water resistance.
Best for: A cheap, no-fuss stick to keep in every jacket pocket for sunny days outdoors.
- The maker page states Broad Spectrum SPF 30 and Water Resistant for up to 80 minutes.
- Actives are fully listed with percentages: avobenzone 3.0%, homosalate 15.0%, octisalate 5.0% and dimethicone 2.0% as the lip protectant.
- It is a standard 0.15 oz stick that is easy to reapply with gloves on.
- It uses chemical filters, not a mineral one, so it is not the pick for filter-sensitive lips.
- The inactive list includes flavor and sucralose, so it tastes sweet.
- The ingredient list is long, with preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and sorbic acid.
- The pack shows a New Look flash, so older packs may still be on shelves with the same formula.
A petrolatum-heavy tube for dry, cracked lips that also carries a broad spectrum SPF 30 claim.
Best for: Dry-lip sufferers who want a heavy protectant first and do not mind chemical filters.
- Petrolatum is listed as an active at 31%, which makes it a real barrier on windburned winter lips.
- The maker page states Broad Spectrum SPF 30 providing UVA/UVB protection.
- Actives are fully listed with percentages, so you can see exactly what you are applying.
- Five chemical filters are listed, including oxybenzone at 5.4% and octinoxate at 6.75%.
- The maker page does not state any water resistance claim.
- The page has an Ingredients section but no inactive list, only a note to check the package.
- The tube format is slower to apply than a stick.
A flavored coconut and aloe balm from a sunscreen brand that states it contains no sunscreen.
Best for: Indoor or night use as a plain moisturizer, never as your outdoor lip protection.
- It is a pleasant moisturizer, with sunflower, castor and coconut oils plus beeswax and shea butter.
- Listed attributes include gluten free and made without mineral oil.
- It comes in several flavors, so it is easy to tell apart from an SPF stick.
- The maker page says CocoBalm does not contain sunscreen and points shoppers to the Original SPF balms.
- The Sun Bum name and beach styling make it easy to grab for a ski day by mistake.
- With no SPF at all, it adds nothing to UV protection on snow or at altitude.
- A tasty flavor invites constant reapplication without any sun benefit.
| Criteria | Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm Top pick | Blistex Five Star Lip Protection SPF 30 | Aquaphor Lip Protectant + SPF 30 | Sun Bum CocoBalm Lip Balm - Banana Cream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | Anyone who prefers a mineral filter, including people who react to chemical lip sunscreens. | A cheap, no-fuss stick to keep in every jacket pocket for sunny days outdoors. | Dry-lip sufferers who want a heavy protectant first and do not mind chemical filters. | Indoor or night use as a plain moisturizer, never as your outdoor lip protection. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget | $ · budget | $ · budget |
| SPF stated by maker | 30 | 30 | 30 | None (no sunscreen) |
| Broad spectrum claim | Yes | Yes | Yes | No sun claim |
| Active ingredients | Zinc oxide 8% | Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 15%, octisalate 5%, dimethicone 2% | Petrolatum 31%, avobenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone | None |
| Filter type | Mineral | Chemical | Chemical plus petrolatum | None |
| Water resistance claim | Pack: 80 minutes; page: reapply after 80 minutes | 80 minutes on maker page | Not stated on page | None |
| Inactive list on maker page | Yes, full | Yes, full | No, check package | Partial, check package |
| Format | 0.15 oz stick | 0.15 oz stick | Tube | 0.15 oz stick |
| Best for | Mineral preference | Cheap pocket stick | Very dry lips | Indoor moisture only |
Which one is right for you?
- Anyone who prefers a mineral filter, including people who react to chemical lip sunscreens. Buy it Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm
- A cheap, no-fuss stick to keep in every jacket pocket for sunny days outdoors. Buy it Blistex Five Star Lip Protection SPF 30
- Dry-lip sufferers who want a heavy protectant first and do not mind chemical filters. It depends Aquaphor Lip Protectant + SPF 30
- Indoor or night use as a plain moisturizer, never as your outdoor lip protection. Skip it Sun Bum CocoBalm Lip Balm - Banana Cream
How we judged the field
Five things matter on a lip balm with SPF. First is the SPF number and whether the maker states broad spectrum, which adds UVA coverage. Second is the active ingredient, mineral zinc oxide or chemical filters, since that decides how it feels on chapped lips. Third is the water resistance claim and how it is worded. Fourth is the ingredient list, active and inactive, and whether the maker publishes it. Fifth is whether you will reapply, which depends on format and taste.
The field splits into mineral sticks, chemical sticks, heavy repair protectants and plain flavored balms. We picked one of each to show the trade-offs. We could not load a verified product page for every brand on our list, so we kept only products whose maker pages we read, and every figure here comes from those pages.
Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm is the one to start with if you want a mineral filter. The maker page lists zinc oxide at 8% as the only active ingredient and states Broad Spectrum Protection. The full inactive list is published and reads like a food label: sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, beeswax, candelilla wax and argan oil, plus vitamin E. The pack image reads Water Resistant (80 minutes) and Fragrance Free, though the page text only tells you to reapply after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, so check the pack in hand. The trade-off is a slight pale cast that comes with zinc, and the stick is small. For skiers or hikers with sensitive lips, this is the safest default.
Blistex Five Star Lip Protection SPF 30 is the practical value choice. The maker page states Broad Spectrum SPF 30 and Water Resistant for up to 80 minutes, with actives listed in full: avobenzone 3.0%, homosalate 15.0%, octisalate 5.0% and dimethicone 2.0% as the lip protectant. The inactive list is long and includes flavor and sucralose, so it tastes sweet, and it also contains phenoxyethanol and sorbic acid as preservatives. It uses chemical filters rather than zinc, which glides on clear. If your lips are not reactive and you want something you will not mind losing in a coat pocket, it does the job. Buy it for the label detail and low cost tier.
Aquaphor Lip Protectant + SPF 30 is for a specific problem: lips that are already dry, split or windburned. The maker page lists petrolatum at 31% as an active, which is a real occlusive barrier, plus avobenzone 3%, octinoxate 6.75%, octisalate 4.5%, octocrylene 2% and oxybenzone 5.4%. It states Broad Spectrum SPF 30, but no water resistance claim appears on the page, and the page has no inactive list, only a note to check the package. That is a lot of chemical filters, so it is a poor fit if you react to them. It also comes in a tube, not a stick. It suits someone treating winter chapping who wants SPF included.
Sun Bum CocoBalm Lip Balm in Banana Cream is a nice flavored balm and the wrong thing to carry for sun. The maker page is explicit that CocoBalm does not contain sunscreen and points shoppers to the Original SPF balms. Ingredients include sunflower seed oil, castor seed oil, beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter and aloe leaf extract. The risk is confusion: it comes from a sunscreen brand, comes in beach flavors, and sits next to the SPF sticks in the same collection family. On a snow or high-altitude day, using it alone leaves your lips unprotected. Keep it for the evening and buy a stick that states an SPF for the daytime.
Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm vs Blistex Five Star Lip Protection SPF 30: which should you buy?
Sun Bum Mineral and Blistex Five Star both state SPF 30 and broad spectrum, so the choice comes down to filter type and price tier. Sun Bum Mineral uses zinc oxide only, publishes a short plant-based inactive list and suits reactive lips. Blistex uses four chemical-filter ingredients, states 80 minutes of water resistance on its page and sits in the budget tier.
If your lips sting or you want fewer synthetic ingredients, choose Sun Bum Mineral. If you want the simplest stick with a stated water resistance claim and you do not react to chemical filters, choose Blistex. Many people buy one of each, using one in the car and one in the pack.
What to look for
- SPF and broad spectrum: look for both on the label, since SPF alone describes UVB and broad spectrum adds UVA.
- Active ingredient: zinc oxide means mineral, while avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, octinoxate and oxybenzone are chemical filters.
- Water resistance wording: a time such as 80 minutes is the maker’s test claim, so reapply sooner after eating, drinking or wiping.
- Published ingredient list: prefer makers that list both actives and inactives, and note that several pages say to check the package for the latest version.
- No-SPF imposters: flavored balms and moisturizers may sit beside SPF sticks, so confirm the word sunscreen and an SPF number on the pack.
- Format and reapplication: a stick is faster to reapply with gloves, while a tube suits very dry lips but is slower to use.
Our final take
Choose Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 if you want a mineral stick with a fully published ingredient list, and Blistex Five Star if you want a budget stick that states 80 minutes of water resistance. Pick Aquaphor Lip Protectant + SPF 30 only if heavy repair matters more than filter simplicity. Skip CocoBalm for sun, because its own page says it has no sunscreen. Whatever you pick, reapply often, since lips get licked and wiped off quickly. See our mineral sunscreens review for your face and our sun hats review for extra shade.
Questions, answered
Does the SPF number on a lip balm matter?
SPF measures protection against UVB, so a higher number means more of that burn-causing light is blocked. All three SPF sticks here state 30, so the number does not separate them. What does is the broad spectrum claim, which covers UVA, and how long the film stays on your lips. Lips are licked, wiped and eaten off, so reapplying matters more than chasing a bigger number.
Mineral or chemical lip sunscreen?
Mineral means zinc oxide as the active, which sits on the surface and does not rely on absorbing UV. Chemical means organic filters such as avobenzone, homosalate or octisalate. Neither is better at blocking light when used correctly. Mineral is the usual choice if your lips sting or react, and chemical sticks tend to go on clearer.
Is a water resistant claim reliable on a lip balm?
The claim is time-limited, and on a label it means 40 or 80 minutes of tested resistance, not all day. Blistex states 80 minutes on its page. Sun Bum Mineral shows 80 minutes on its pack image, while its page only gives a reapply direction. Aquaphor does not state a water claim on the page we read. Eating, drinking and wiping your mouth cut real-world wear time well below the label.
Do I need lip SPF in winter?
Snow reflects UV back up toward your face, and altitude increases exposure, so a cold sunny day can burn lips as readily as a beach. Lips have little protective pigment, so they are an easy place to burn. For skiing, pair a stick with the face sunscreen covered in our mineral sunscreens review and a brim from our sun hats review.
Can I use a flavored balm over my SPF balm?
You can, but putting a plain balm on top may thin the sunscreen film and wipe some off. If you want moisture and sun protection, apply the SPF stick last and reapply it often. A plain balm such as CocoBalm is fine at night or indoors, and the maker is clear that it does not contain sunscreen.
Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm vs Blistex Five Star Lip Protection SPF 30.
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