Can your lipgloss cause skin cancer?
And we’re not talking about lead content. Or the presence of parabens.
This is something that’s probably so obvious that we don’t really think about it: the highly reflective nature of lipgloss may work to actually amplify the sun’s UV rays and, as a result, increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
But we don’t have to ditch our lipglosses or freak out about this. There’s a common sense key to staying safe: If you’re going to be outside for an extended period of time, make sure you’re wearing some form of SPF protection on your lips (and everywhere else, for that matter ; ).
Ideally, you should swipe on a high-level SPF lip balm before applying your lipgloss. At the minimum, make sure your lipgloss has some level of sunscreen in it.
Some SPF lipglosses that you might want to try are Clinique Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 ($14, Nordstrom), The Balm’s Balm Shelter SPF 17 Tinted Gloss
($18, Sephora) and Bare Escentuals Lip Guard SPF 15
($14, Sephora).
Do you have a fave lipgloss or lipbalm with SPF protection? Feel free to dish in the comments, moxies ; )
DISCUSSION:
31 comments so far...
1 Critty // Apr 30, 2008 at 9:08 am
Oh no, now I have something else to add to my worry list! I know Revlon lipgloss has SPF 15 in it as well. I am definitely going to buy some lipbalm with SPF in it today! Thank you!
2 sarahPUFFY! // Apr 30, 2008 at 4:03 pm
funny that you mention it: I learned about this at a young age, and I’ve been anal about lip protection ever since. I’ve even been planning on ordering the Shiseido lip balm with that insane amount of SPF in it [ ahahaha, I JUST noticed that you linked to it! go girl!] and their foundation with SPF 42. great to see you educating the readers - most people don’t even know about this scary little fact!
3 Jazmin // Apr 30, 2008 at 8:08 pm
You’re welcome, Critty! And, don’t worry your beautiful self about it…just wear that spf lipbalm ; )
Yeah, Sarah, it’s something I’ve always been concerned about, but, admittedly, I haven’t been too good about it…especially living in the desert!
4 Portia // May 1, 2008 at 7:03 am
Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother - SPF 20
5 Pouneh // May 1, 2008 at 10:47 am
Good thing i have always been a sun protection freak. To the pt that i wear a jacket over my top in 100 F weather. The good old Chap stick has SPF 15 in it, and i am always wearing it :)
6 Jazmin // May 1, 2008 at 11:48 am
Portia: Good one! Thanks for sharing it!
Pouneh! It’s good to be a sun protection freak…I need to be much more of one! Though I don’t know if I could handle the jacket in 100 degree weather!
: )
7 Pouneh // May 1, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Hehehe i know i go over board, but it is worth it. Especially cancer is common in both side of my family (oral, breast, bone, and blood). I am basically afraid of sun some ppl say i will make a fantastic vampire! Lucky for me i HATE getting tanned so i am happy with my vampire life. And guess where i live? THE O.C.!! I am always dizzy and sick cs of the weather here, but i will be moving to Canada (YEEY LESS SUN). Cosmopolitan had a GREAT artical about sun protection in their May issue.
8 Jazmin // May 1, 2008 at 5:31 pm
LOL, Pouneh, well at least you’re a vampire with long, thick, curly, eyelashes!!
Wow, and there aren’t too many places that are sunnier than Socal! It sounds like your move to Canada will definitely be better for your health (and peace of mind : )
9 jeni // May 1, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I was going to write about this too! I just got a press release about it, and I’ve been paranoid all day! I use chapstick with SPF, and then apply lipgloss, but I think I need to take more care to read the sunscreen ingredients in various lip products.
10 Pouneh // May 1, 2008 at 7:40 pm
LOL, long, think, curly lashed AND long, think, dark, curly hair to go with it HAHAHA. Speaking of SPF, what do u think is a GOOD moisturizer with high spf (higher than 30), cs i am on a search for that, and i am about to buy the Neutrogena’s. DO u think that is a good one?
11 Charlotte // May 2, 2008 at 1:07 am
hey, can one of you recommend a high-SPF lip balm that is beeswax-based (not petroleum based like chapstik)? beeswax-based lip balms hold lipstick better when you put on lipstick over them, but I can’t seem to find a beeswax-based one with a lot of SPF in it! any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks so much!!
12 Jazmin // May 2, 2008 at 10:53 am
Hey Jeni! Yep, I need to do that, too. Having a decent SPF in my lip products hasn’t been a big priority to me…though it should be!
13 Jazmin // May 2, 2008 at 10:57 am
Pouneh, which one is it from Neutrogena that you’re considering? My fellow beauty blogger Christine over at 15-Minute Beauty did a great review of Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock and while she like the sun protection it offered, she wasn’t that wild about it as an everyday moisturizer.
The sunblock that I wear that has an SPF over 30 is this SPF 40 sunblock made by Rilastil. But my problem with it is that it can tend to look white (which is of course to be expected), especially if you jump in the water.
One that I’ve been wanting to try is Aveeno’s Continous Protection Sunblock (SPF 55), which is supposed to be pretty good.
14 Jazmin // May 2, 2008 at 11:01 am
Charlotte…what a coinky-dink! I was just looking for an affordable, non petroleum-based Chapstick alternative this weekend, and I came up with Alba Un-petroleum SPF 18 lip balm. The main ingredients in it are castor seed oil and beeswax and it was about $2.50 from Whole Foods. It has a very subtle flavor (I got it in Vanilla) and it feels super smooth and not very waxy.
But I’ll do some more digging and see what else I can come up with ; )
15 Pouneh // May 2, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I actually read that blog, i am interested in trying Healthy defense spf 30 or 45. I am happy with my current suncream, but i want a moisturizer with Spf for my face. It will cut down a step in my daily routine, and i think it is better to have a separate one for face. I would try Aveeno’s but sadly my skin never really liked their products, while they do magic on my mother for me they never made any difference! The reason i am more interested in Neutrogena is that my aunt who has the driest, most sensitive skin and is allergic to 98% cosmetics is very happy with it. I surly DON”T have dry skin, and my skin naturally very soft, but that does not give me the excise not to moisturize! Do u think i should go with Neutrogena or give Aveeno another chance?
16 sarahPUFFY! // May 2, 2008 at 6:25 pm
blarg, thinking about it, I really need sunscreen - and I think I’ve found it with Neutrogena’s dry touch stuff. once it sinks in, it REALLY is dry to the touch! and no residue or white cast - which I’m pretty anal about, dark as I am.
arg, just realized you mentioned it in a comment above! man, I suck, haha.
17 Blake // May 3, 2008 at 12:21 pm
IT INCRESESEs THE AMOUNT OF U.V RAYS GOING INTO YOUR lips. The most common form of cancers
some signs you have lip cancer are white or orange spots peeling flaking and chapping Before you go out in the sun you need to put on a chap stick or is sunscreen. Lip balm with spf 30 wear lipstick in stead of lip gloss mint lipstick and lip-gloss with zinc oxide
18 Melissa // May 8, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I wrote about this topic too! I really had no idea that lip gloss could actually attract UV rays. Sheesh! Lots of good glosses with SPFs, too, but hardly any with SPFs higher than 15 - what’s up with that?
19 JB // May 13, 2008 at 11:51 am
It seems all the SPF lip stuff tastes terrible, not that I’m eating it but it’s on my lips and I will lick my lips every once in awhile or eat something…and I get an awful taste in my mouth that will not go away. Does anyone know of a good brand that doesn’t taste awful? I’ve tried both Neutrogena and Chapstick and a few Whole Foods brands.
20 Pouneh // May 13, 2008 at 7:13 pm
I believe it is a good idea for all of u to read this article:
http://www.naturalnews.com/023122.html
21 Jazmin // May 13, 2008 at 7:21 pm
lol, SarahPuffy, you don’t suck! I did mention it, but I haven’t tried it, so as usual, I love hearing your opinion ; )
22 Jazmin // May 13, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Blake: Thanks for the tips ; )
23 Jazmin // May 13, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Melissa: Thanks for weighing in! And I think JB may have explained part of the reason why there aren’t a lot of good lipglosses with SPF…they can taste sort of weird. Plus, I think that it can be difficult to get sunscreen into a product without changing its color or making look opaque (that’s just my guess ; )
24 Jazmin // May 13, 2008 at 9:09 pm
JB, have you tried the Alba Un-petroleum SPF 18 lip balm? I got mine from Whole Foods and has a really subtle vanilla flavor…but it’s mostly flavorless .
25 Jazmin // May 13, 2008 at 9:24 pm
And Pouneh…thanks for sharing that blog post! It’s amusing, though I think the author pretty much misses the point. Whether or not lipgloss magnifies light, UV rays can still cause damage and increase your risk for cancer. And the way to protect yourself is to stay inside or wear sunscreen (which he seems to have a big problem with).
26 Jazmin // May 13, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Oh and also, Pouneh, I say try whichever sunscreen you’re more interested in. But if your aunt and our fellow makeup moxie sarahPUFFY are loving their Neutrogena, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to try it out ;)
27 Pouneh // May 14, 2008 at 11:07 am
Yes i noticed he is lil over the top, but it good to c the different views…and u know me, i am a vampire ;) IN the next week i will buy the healthy defense…I am sure i will be pleased with….I am well aware of all the toxins around us, but suncream is one i will not stop using :) Thnx for all ur help
28 jaycee // Sep 4, 2008 at 6:17 pm
does anyone know why i have this black spot on my upper lip and i barely use lip gloss and when i do i use it inside the house. my lips feel kinda numb. im only 12, what happened……
29 Jazmin // Sep 5, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Pouneh, sorry I missed your comment there, babe! Did you ever end up trying the Healthy Defense sunblock??
30 Jazmin // Sep 5, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Hi jaycee,
The only person who can really tell you whether the black spot on your lip is anything to be worried about is your doctor. While it may not be anything serious (non-harmful beauty marks can sometimes seem to appear out of no where!), the best thing to do is tell a parent and get it checked out.
I wish I could be of more help to you, but I’m sure you’ll feel better if talk to a parent and then maybe your doctor about it : )
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