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Shop EltaMD UV Lip Balm Sunscreen SPF 30+
Treatment
EltaMD

UV Lip Balm Sunscreen SPF 30+

· 0.28 ozAM onlymineral filter
At a glance
Routine step
Treatment (stick)
When
Morning only
Pairs well with
Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Heartleaf, Hyaluronic Acid
How to use

Apply a thin layer to the areas you are treating, after serums and before moisturizer. Follow the label on frequency.

Ingredient research in this formula

These are ingredient-level research links, not evidence that this exact product has been clinically tested.

  • Zinc OxideGood evidenceFull dossier

    A physical sunscreen that sits on top of your skin and blocks UV. Broad-spectrum and gentle enough for sensitive or rosacea-prone skin.

    Good for: Sun protection

  • GlycerinGood evidenceFull dossier

    A workhorse hydrator that pulls water into your skin. In nearly every good moisturizer for a reason.

    Good for: Hydrating

  • PetrolatumExcellent evidenceFull dossier

    The gold-standard occlusive moisturiser. Locks water into damaged or compromised skin better than anything else, accelerates barrier repair, and (in newer research) actively boosts your skin's own antimicrobial defences. Cheap, non-allergenic, widely recommended by dermatologists for very dry, compromised, or post-procedure skin and for slugging.

    Good for: Barrier repair, Hydrating

  • BeeswaxGood evidenceFull dossier

    A wax film former that quietly does what petrolatum does (slows water loss and shields chapped skin) without feeling slick. Most evidence comes from honey/beeswax/olive-oil cerates that have shown improvement in dry, irritation-prone skin in controlled trials. CIR-affirmed safe.

    Good for: Barrier repair, Hydrating

  • OctinoxateGood evidenceFull dossier

    The UVB workhorse behind most chemical sunscreens: effective, well-tolerated, and found in over 90% of chemical-filter formulas in the US. Important caveat: it covers UVB only, so it always needs a UVA partner (typically avobenzone). Also banned in Hawaii and reef-sensitive areas due to coral toxicity, so check the label if environmental impact matters to you.

    Good for: Sun protection

  • Alpha-Lipoic AcidGood evidenceFull dossier

    A "universal antioxidant" that protects both the oily and watery parts of your skin. It's unique because it can recycle your Vitamin C and E, making them last longer. It also prevents "sugar-sag" (glycation) and reduces fine lines.

    Good for: Antioxidant, Anti-aging

Evidence behind the ingredients

Real citations from our research database, one per tracked active in this product. Click any ingredient name to read its full evidence dossier.

Zinc OxideGood evidence5 citations

A physical sunscreen that sits on top of your skin and blocks UV. Broad-spectrum and gentle enough for sensitive or rosacea-prone skin.

Kern C et al., Evaluation of an SPF50 Sunscreen Containing Photolyase and Antioxidants for its Anti-Photoaging Properties and Photoprotection, Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 2022;21(5):517-520: 10.7% zinc oxide SPF50 mineral sunscreen improved photoaging signs over 12 weeks

2022Positive (efficacy)PMID:35533024View source ↗

Schneider SL, Lim HW. A review of inorganic UV filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2019;35(6):442-446. Review confirms ZnO provides broad-spectrum UVA-UVB coverage; concludes zinc oxide sunscreens are safe with minimal percutaneous absorption risk.

2019Meta-analysis (positive)PMID:30444533View source ↗

CIR Safety Assessment of Zinc Salts as Used in Cosmetics (Scott et al.), final report 2018 / re-review 2024 (covers zinc oxide among 27 zinc ingredients)

2018Safety assessmentDOI:10.1177/10915818241227124View source ↗
GlycerinGood evidence6 citations

A workhorse hydrator that pulls water into your skin. In nearly every good moisturizer for a reason.

Danby SG et al., Different types of emollient cream exhibit diverse physiological effects on the skin barrier in adults with atopic dermatitis, Clinical and Experimental Dermatology 2022;47(6):1154-1164: glycerol+urea emollient delivered superior barrier-strengthening and irritant protection

2022Positive (efficacy)PMID:35167133View source ↗

Youssef R et al., Glycerol 85% efficacy on atopic skin and its microbiome: a randomized controlled trial, Journal of Dermatological Treatment 2021;32(7):730-736: topical glycerol 85% RCT on atopic skin

2021Positive (efficacy)PMID:31869257View source ↗

Evans NJ et al., Human axillary skin condition is improved following incorporation of glycerol into the stratum corneum from an antiperspirant formulation, Archives of Dermatological Research 2017;309(9):739-748: 4% glycerol penetrated axillary SC, reduced irritation, improved hydration

2017Positive (efficacy)PMID:28889318View source ↗
PetrolatumExcellent evidence7 citations

The gold-standard occlusive moisturiser. Locks water into damaged or compromised skin better than anything else, accelerates barrier repair, and (in newer research) actively boosts your skin's own antimicrobial defences. Cheap, non-allergenic, widely recommended by dermatologists for very dry, compromised, or post-procedure skin and for slugging.

van Zuuren EJ, Fedorowicz Z, Christensen R, Lavrijsen APM, Arents BWM. Emollients and moisturisers for eczema. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2:CD012119. Cochrane review of 77 studies (n=6,603) found most moisturisers prolonged time to flare, reduced flares, and reduced topical corticosteroid use; moisturisers combined with active treatment outperformed active treatment alone.

2017Meta-analysis (positive)PMID:28166390View source ↗

Czarnowicki T, Malajian D, Khattri S, et al. Petrolatum: Barrier repair and antimicrobial responses underlying this 'inert' moisturizer. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;137(4):1091-1102.e7.

2016Mechanism onlyPMID:26431582View source ↗

Genuino GAS, Baluyut-Angeles KV, Espiritu APT, Lapitan MCM, Buckley BS. Topical petrolatum gel alone versus topical silver sulfadiazine with standard gauze dressings for the treatment of superficial partial thickness burns in adults: a randomized controlled trial. Burns. 2014;40(7):1267-1273. RCT: petrolatum gel at least as effective as silver sulfadiazine for re-epithelialization (mean 6.2 vs 7.8 days) with similar infection/allergy rates.

2014Positive (efficacy)PMID:25172229View source ↗
+3 more ingredients
BeeswaxGood evidence4 citations

A wax film former that quietly does what petrolatum does (slows water loss and shields chapped skin) without feeling slick. Most evidence comes from honey/beeswax/olive-oil cerates that have shown improvement in dry, irritation-prone skin in controlled trials. CIR-affirmed safe.

Souza C et al., Topical Formulation Containing Beeswax-Based Nanoparticles Improved In Vivo Skin Barrier Function, AAPS PharmSciTech 2017;18(7):2505-2516: controlled: beeswax-based nanoparticle topical formulation

2017Positive (efficacy)PMID:28213845View source ↗

Al-Waili NS. Clinical and mycological benefits of topical application of honey, olive oil and beeswax in diaper dermatitis. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2005;11(2):160-163.

2005Positive (efficacy)PMID:15679495View source ↗

CIR Expert Panel. Safety Assessment of Beeswax, Candelilla Wax, Carnauba Wax, Japan Wax, and Beeswax-Derived Ingredients. Int J Toxicol. (Reaffirmed 2005.)

2005Safety assessmentDOI:10.3109/10915818409010515View source ↗
OctinoxateGood evidence2 citations

The UVB workhorse behind most chemical sunscreens: effective, well-tolerated, and found in over 90% of chemical-filter formulas in the US. Important caveat: it covers UVB only, so it always needs a UVA partner (typically avobenzone). Also banned in Hawaii and reef-sensitive areas due to coral toxicity, so check the label if environmental impact matters to you.

Rai R, Shanmuga SC, Srinivas CR. Update on Photoprotection. Indian J Dermatol. 2012;57(5):335-42.

2012Mechanism onlyPMID:23112351View source ↗

Golmohammadzadeh S et al., Evaluation of liposomal and conventional formulations of octyl methoxycinnamate on human percutaneous absorption using the stripping method, J Cosmet Sci 2008;59(5):385-98: controlled comparison, liposomal octyl methoxycinnamate SPF efficacy

2008Positive (efficacy)PMID:18841304View source ↗
Alpha-Lipoic AcidGood evidence2 citations

A "universal antioxidant" that protects both the oily and watery parts of your skin. It's unique because it can recycle your Vitamin C and E, making them last longer. It also prevents "sugar-sag" (glycation) and reduces fine lines.

Lee WJ et al., Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidative Effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid on Cultured Human Sebocytes, Annals of Dermatology 2019

2019Mechanism onlyPMID:33911546View source ↗

Beitner H, Randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study on the clinical efficacy of a cream containing 5% alpha-lipoic acid related to photoageing of facial skin, British Journal of Dermatology 2003;149(4):841-9

2003Positive (efficacy)PMID:14616378View source ↗

Sources: 10 clinical journals and regulatory databases across the US, EU, Korea, Japan, and China. Every entry points to a specific document. See methodology for the full list and what each outcome label means.

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