Seriously, You Need to Use Lip SPF Every *Single* Day

Hopefully by now you’re starting your mornings with a healthy heaping of sunscreen. Seriously, if you want your skin to look youthful and radiant throughout your life, SPF is the best anti-aging tool in your beauty arsenal. But sadly, one of the most vulnerable parts of your face, your lips, is often forgotten, even though cases of skin cancer in this area are on the rise.

Dr. Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, explains that he is seeing an increase of patients with skin cancer on the lips year after year and urges his patients to remember to protect their lips, just like the rest of the face and body. “The skin on the lips is thinner and has less protective melanin than skin on other parts of the body,” he explains. “The lower lip in particular is at risk for sun damage because it faces up to the sun.”

For anyone nervous about using an SPF product on your mouth—considering that people tend to “eat” their lip products throughout the day, whether it is lipstick, lip balm, or otherwise—Dr. Zeichner has a few suggestions. “I typically recommend keeping lip sunscreens, both mineral and chemical, on the dry part of the lip and on the wet border that faces the teeth. It is unlikely that the small amount of sunscreen applied on the lips will be absorbed to any significant degree.” When in doubt, just remember that if your dermatologist does it (and Dr. Zeichner does use lip sunscreen), it’s probably a good idea to follow suit.

In terms of reapplication, more is more with your lips. “Make sure to reapply right away, especially if you are eating, drinking, or lip licking.” So whether you’re spending a day at the beach, going for a long afternoon walk, or having a picnic in the park with some friends, remember to keep an SPF on hand to protect your lips from damaging UVA and UVB rays. Trust us—a lip sunburn is not fun.

Shop a few of our favorite and dermatologist-recommended lip sunscreens below.