When it comes to using an SPF we’re all well advised in the body care department. But with ‘no makeup makeup’ becoming a huge trend for the summer seasons, we’re far more likely to be ditching our SPF packed lipstick for a nude, bare and somewhat unprotected lip. Leaving your lips exposed to harsh UV rays which can make them chapped, dried-out and all round painful.
Speaking to Vogue, Manhattan-based dermatologist Gervaise Gerstner explains: “The lips are an area we often sunburn, and needs protection every day with an SPF 15.
“They can swell when they are getting too much sun, and constantly chapped lips are a sign of precancer.”
Gerstner explains that the reason that the reason that lips are so prone to sunburn is because rays of light bounce of surfaces such as water and sand, attracting themselves to super reflective lacquers and glosses usually found on the lips.
Do lips need SPF?
Believe it or not skin cancer can affect any part of the body, including the lips. The skin on the lips is much thinner than anywhere else, making them more prone to sun damage and environmental aggressors such as the cold, heat or wind
As well as being packed with SPF protection, most lip balms are also packed with moisture boosting ingredients such as Shea Butter and Vitamin E which help to repair damage and nourish any chapped areas.
Shop our top SPF lip balms below:
