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Best Lip Balms With SPF

The Best Lip Balms With SPF — and Why You Need One

Best Lip Balms With SPF: A Cult Classic Plus SPF
Image Source: ulta.com

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Whether we are packing our duffels for a trip to the beach or heading out for a jog on a cloudy day, POPSUGAR editors and dermatologists alike will urge you to slather on the sunscreen (on every part of your body — and that includes your lips) before heading out. SPF protects the skin from UVA and UVB damage that comes from the sun's rays, which can lead to changes in your complexion such as spots, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and skin cancer.

It's worth readdressing: Your lips need protection as well. Even though it can be hard to remember, your skin there is more delicate compared to other parts of your body. "Without SPF, you can develop skin cancers and precancers on the lip," said dermatologist Kavita Mariwalla, MD. "It is more common than you think and presents as a scaly area on the lips or as constant dry lips that don't get better with other treatments." Sun exposure can also cause chapped lips, cracked skin, and general dryness in the area.

It's important to reapply — and often — as sweeping on an SPF balm won't protect you for the entire day. Mariwalla recommends doing so every two hours: "Like other sunscreen, they are self-consuming — meaning that the minute you put it on, it starts working. So the time it lasts really starts from the minute it is applied." Think SPF lip balms taste like sunscreen? That's fair, but trust us, they can taste like coconuts or fresh fruit. You don't have to worry about any of our picks not tasting great. Ahead, see our favourite SPF lip balms.

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