Lips are one of the most UV-exposed areas on the face. The one most people give zero sun protection.
The one most people give zero sun protection. There's no melanin in lip skin, which means no natural defence against UV damage whatsoever. The lower lip in particular faces the sun directly and is significantly more prone to UV-related damage, dryness, pigmentation changes, and in more serious cases, actinic keratosis. Most people apply SPF carefully around the lips and stop there.
It's a straightforward fix.
A good SPF lip balm takes two seconds to apply and reapply. The difficulty has always been finding ones that feel good enough to actually use rather than ones you put on once and forget about because the texture is wrong or the flavour is unpleasant.
Here are the ones we stock, love, and reach for every day in summer
Albus and Flora SPF30 Lip Balm
A step up in both formula and finish. This is the one tagged Dr Laura Loves on the site for good reason. It's a multi-active lip balm with SPF30 that hydrates, protects and restores dry or sensitive lips, and it comes in five shades from completely sheer to a hint of colour. Naked Flora and Sheer Flora are the everyday wearable options for anyone who wants protection without any colour. Snowberry Red and Mountain Rose add a wash of colour that works as a standalone lip look. The formula is nourishing enough to use as an overnight treatment as well as daily SPF.
Bondi Sands Lip Balm SPF50+
The accessible everyday option and the one to keep in every bag, every jacket pocket, on every bedside table. SPF50+ in a nourishing balm formula with sweet almond oil and vitamin E, available in five flavours: Sweet Vanilla, Wild Strawberry, Juicy Watermelon, Toasted Coconut and Tropical Mango. At €9 there's no reason not to have several on the go at once, which is honestly the only way to guarantee consistent lip SPF use. You reach for the one that's closest. Keep them everywhere.
Solas SPF Lip Balm
New in and worth knowing about. The Solas lip balm brings broad-spectrum SPF protection in a formula that sits beautifully on the lips without any heaviness or stickiness.
A clean, comfortable everyday option that earns its place in the rotation. From SOLAS, a gorgeous new Irish SPF brand that is recently PHARE Approved.
Colorescience Lip Shine SPF35
The premium option, and the one I reach for when I want something that does more than just protect. The Colorescience Lip Shine is a treatment gloss with SPF35, formulated with peptides, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. It plumps, smooths and conditions the lips while protecting from UV, and the shine finish makes it genuinely wearable as a gloss rather than something that just sits there being functional.
Five shades: Clear, Champagne, Coral, Pink and Rose. The Clear is great for if you want the treatment benefits without any colour. Champagne and Rose work as a standalone lip look. I love it because it it's not just a gloss with SPF, it's actually treating the lips as you wear it.
A note on reapplication
Like all SPF, lip balm needs to be reapplied. Lips are particularly vulnerable to losing protection because we eat, drink, talk and lick our lips constantly throughout the day. Every two hours in direct sun, or after eating and drinking. Keeping a Bondi Sands in your bag means this is easy rather than an afterthought.
The information in this article is intended for general educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have concerns about your skin, please speak to a qualified medical professional. If you'd like to discuss your skincare with us, we're happy to help.
