Beauty & Grooming · Head-to-head
Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm vs Blistex Five Star Lip Protection SPF 30
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Lip Balms with SPF: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
Sun Bum Mineral uses a single zinc oxide active and publishes its full inactive list. Blistex gives you a stated 80 minutes of water resistance in a basic stick at the lowest cost tier.
Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm
Buy itA zinc oxide stick with a short, plant-oil ingredient list and a broad spectrum SPF 30 claim.
- The only active ingredient is zinc oxide at 8%, so there is no chemical filter to sting cracked or windburned lips.
- The maker states Broad Spectrum SPF 30, and the pack image reads Water Resistant (80 minutes) and Fragrance Free.
- The full inactive list is on the maker page and is mostly plant oils, butters and waxes such as jojoba, shea and beeswax.
- Zinc sticks can leave a faint pale cast on lips.
- The product page itself never uses the words water resistant, only a direction to reapply after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, so check the pack.
- SPF 30 is the only strength offered in this version.
Blistex Five Star Lip Protection SPF 30
Buy itA conventional chemical-filter SPF 30 stick that states 80 minutes of water resistance.
- The maker page states Broad Spectrum SPF 30 and Water Resistant for up to 80 minutes.
- Actives are fully listed with percentages: avobenzone 3.0%, homosalate 15.0%, octisalate 5.0% and dimethicone 2.0% as the lip protectant.
- It is a standard 0.15 oz stick that is easy to reapply with gloves on.
- It uses chemical filters, not a mineral one, so it is not the pick for filter-sensitive lips.
- The inactive list includes flavor and sucralose, so it tastes sweet.
- The ingredient list is long, with preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and sorbic acid.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm Our pick | Blistex Five Star Lip Protection SPF 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who prefers a mineral filter, including people who react to chemical lip sunscreens. | A cheap, no-fuss stick to keep in every jacket pocket for sunny days outdoors. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
| SPF stated by maker | 30 | 30 |
| Broad spectrum claim | Yes | Yes |
| Active ingredients | Zinc oxide 8% | Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 15%, octisalate 5%, dimethicone 2% |
| Filter type | Mineral | Chemical |
| Water resistance claim | Pack: 80 minutes; page: reapply after 80 minutes | 80 minutes on maker page |
| Inactive list on maker page | Yes, full | Yes, full |
| Format | 0.15 oz stick | 0.15 oz stick |
| Best for | Mineral preference | Cheap pocket stick |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm if
anyone who prefers a mineral filter, including people who react to chemical lip sunscreens.
Know before buying: zinc sticks can leave a faint pale cast on lips.
Pick the Blistex Five Star Lip Protection SPF 30 if
a cheap, no-fuss stick to keep in every jacket pocket for sunny days outdoors.
Know before buying: it uses chemical filters, not a mineral one, so it is not the pick for filter-sensitive lips.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm - A zinc oxide stick with a short, plant-oil ingredient list and a broad spectrum SPF 30 claim. Choose the Blistex Five Star Lip Protection SPF 30 instead if a cheap, no-fuss stick to keep in every jacket pocket for sunny days outdoors.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Lip Balms with SPF: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).