Dermatologists point to SPF lip balms as daily sun-care step
NBC Select’s 2026 guide says lips need daily SPF, citing doctors who warn sun exposure can damage lip skin and raise health risks.
By Priya Raghavan · Science Reporter
3 min read
Dermatologists are urging consumers to protect their lips from the sun, an area that can be missed in daily sunscreen routines. NBC Select’s 2026 guide to SPF lip balms says doctors recommend daily use because UV exposure can damage lip skin and contribute to serious conditions.
Dr. Eileen Deignan, a board-certified dermatologist, told NBC Select that sun exposure can contribute to skin cancer and actinic cheilitis, a precancerous condition also called “sailor’s lip” that can cause rough, scaly areas. Deignan also said long-term sun exposure can weaken the skin barrier around the lips and leave them looking aged or discolored.
What doctors say to look for
NBC Select said its recommendations were based on interviews with dermatologists and products used by its editors. The guide highlighted both mineral and chemical sunscreens, including zinc oxide, avobenzone, octocrylene and octisalate.
Deignan told NBC Select that zinc oxide works by blocking the sun’s rays from entering the skin. Dr. Jaimie DeRosa, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, also pointed to moisturizing ingredients such as coconut oil and jojoba oil in some formulas, according to NBC Select.
Products highlighted in the guide
NBC Select named Sun Bum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Lip Balm as its best overall pick. The guide said the mineral stick uses zinc oxide, includes sweet almond oil and, according to the brand, does not leave a white cast.
For higher SPF coverage, NBC Select listed Banana Boat Sport Ultra Lip Balm SPF 50. The guide said it uses avobenzone, octocrylene and oxybenzone and is water-resistant; DeRosa said its coconut oil helps hydrate and smooth lips, according to NBC Select.
Several lower-priced options were also included. NBC Select cited Blistex Five Star Lip Protection, an SPF 30 stick with avobenzone, as a choice for chapped lips, and Aquaphor Lip Protectant and Sunscreen as a pick for dry lips. Former NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez said the Aquaphor balm has a thick feel and helps prevent lips from feeling rough, dry or chapped.
Elta MD UV Lip Balm with SPF 36 was listed as a water-resistant pick. NBC Select said Deignan and DeRosa both use the balm, which contains zinc oxide; the brand says it also includes octinoxate and glycerin.
The guide also included Coola LipLux Organic Classic Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 30, which DeRosa described to NBC Select as one of her favorites because it offers UVA and UVB protection and contains jojoba oil. NBC Select noted that a tinted version is available.
For flavor and tint, NBC Select pointed to Vacation Bombe Alaska SPF 30 Lip Balm and Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm SPF 30. Alvarez said the Vacation balm has a sweet flavor and lacks a chemical taste, while NBC Select said Cay Skin’s option provides a sheer tint, high shine and UVA and UVB protection, according to the brand and reviewers cited in the guide.
Bottom line
The guide’s central advice is straightforward: lips need sun protection along with the rest of the face. NBC Select said experts recommend using SPF lip balm every day, especially as part of a broader sunscreen routine.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.