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In my near decade as a beauty writer, I’ve had a front-row seat to the evolution of modern sunscreen in all its forms. From eyeshadows with mineral blockers to dry shampoos and even setting sprays with SPF, the category continues to expand beyond the traditional face sunscreens and body lotions. All the while, the often-overlooked category of lip balms with SPF remained relatively untouched — until this year, when sunscreen lip balms began arriving in glosses, oils, and beyond.

As a Fitzpatrick II skin type who grew up in the South, I experienced more sunburns in my teenage years than I’d like to admit. Those burns were always the most intense on my chest and lips — the latter being a part of my face that burned frequently. That discrepancy always puzzled me, but there’s a physiological explanation.

“Our lips are especially vulnerable to sun damage because they lack melanin — the pigment that helps protect skin from UV radiation — and the skin on the lips is much thinner than the rest of the face,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ellen Marmur. “This makes them more prone to burns and long-term damage,” she adds.

I’ve become much smarter about sun exposure and sunscreen use, but I know the reality: I’m still at risk for paying the price of those burns down the line. Compounding this was a squamous cell carcinoma that surfaced on my dad’s lower lip earlier this year — one that, thankfully, was fully removed with a Mohs procedure, leaving him with a small scar and some permanent numbness.

It’s a timely reminder of how vulnerable the lips can be — especially the lower lip, which, as Dr. Marmur explains, faces the most sun exposure. “Up to 90 percent of lip cancers occur on the lower lip, which receives more direct sun exposure,” she says, adding that men are particularly at risk due to less frequent lip protection and cumulative sun damage. “According to the American Academy of Dermatology, lip cancer — usually squamous cell carcinoma — is more aggressive than other forms of nonmelanoma skin cancer and can spread if untreated,” Dr. Marmur says. “Squamous cell carcinoma tends to be more aggressive on the lips than elsewhere on the body.”

Most of us who are mindful of the sun are likely diligent about our SPF application — and reapplication — on areas like our noses and the tops of our ears. As the derm-loved adage goes, “The best sunscreen is the one you want to apply.” But that’s been the issue with SPF lip balm: in my experience, there just haven’t been any sensorial, luxurious, or genuinely lip-softening formulas to wear. For years, finding a good lip balm with SPF meant settling for a chalky, tropical-scented stick — the kind you’d reluctantly scrub on your lips at the beach, but not something you’d want to wear on a regular Tuesday.

This spring, as I began the annual beauty editor rite of researching all the newness in the sunscreen category, I noticed something new: SPF lip products are trending — big time. The new generation of lip sunscreen is taking new forms, branching out from basic balms into silky lip glosses, hydrating lip oils, and even tinted lip balms with SPF that actually feel like a treat to wear. In the realm of this 2.0 version of lip protection, a few truly stand out. I found that some come in colors so flattering that you’d be inclined to swipe it on for a night out, while others feel good enough to wear indoors on a cloudy day.

I’m picky about my lip treatments — I’ve tested everything from pharmacy lanolin to $90 cult-favorite balms said to all in the name of shiny, soft lips. My longtime favorite in the SPF lip balm category has always been Sun Bum Lip Balm SPF 30 — a tried-and-true balm that I’ve reached for more times than I can count. But this season’s newcomers just might be edging it out.

From sheer, shimmery glosses to intensely hydrating balms with serious staying power, these are the best tinted lip balms with SPF and beyond — products that don’t just protect, but feel like a luxury to reapply (every two hours, mind you).

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Meet the Expert

Dr. Ellen Marmur is a New York-based board-certified dermatologist. After 8 years as Chief of Dermatologic Surgery at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, plus 10 years at Marmur Medical, Dr. Marmur is a leading dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon whose expertise includes skin cancer diagnosis and surgery, Mohs surgery, reconstructive surgery, women’s health dermatology, and cosmetic surgery. She also is a master of aesthetic procedures like neuromodulators, fillers, lasers, body sculpting, liposuction and more.

Meet the Author

Claire Sullivan is a contributing beauty writer for WWD, where she writes and edits beauty, fashion, and lifestyle stories. She has over eight years of experience as a writer and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She’s tested hundreds of products during her time as an editor, so she’s well-versed in selecting the products that make a meaningful difference in your skin and hair. Sullivan conducted original reporting and product testing to write this article on the best tinted lip balms with SPF.