SPF lip gloss

I know a few of you hardcore athletes might scoff at the idea of lip gloss being gear, but this gloss offers sun protection along with color, and that is why I am ranking it as gear. Lips should be treated like skin and protected from the sun's rays. Most shiny lip gloss actually attracts the sun, making it easier for harmful rays to penetrate the delicate flesh and causing skin cancer on your kisser.

That is where Clinique's Long Last Glosswear ($14) with SPF 15 comes in handy. It coats and protects your lips, and it really does last. It is flavorless too, which I think is great, and the texture is so thin you forget you have it on. On my way out the door for a midday run, I couldn't find my chapstick with SPF, so I wore this lip gloss. It was great. It kept my lips moist and protected. It comes in many shades and is available online at the Clinique website.

Yay! One of my favorite brands of lip glosses has come out with five new amazing colors for fall 2007! The new collection of BalmShelter SPF 17 Lip Glosses ($18 each) features hues that are darker and a little bit more daring than ever before. Inspired by 1940’s glamour, they contain popular shades just like the trends we saw during Fall 2007 Fashion Week.

Once again, get a load of the two power purples in this bunch! Looks like purple lips are the really sticking around for fall. My favorite so far is "It Girl" - a purplish-mauve color that is substantial enough to wear along or over my favorite lilac or morbid aubergine colored lipstick. The glosses are paraben-free, and contain beeswax and jojoba to moisturize and protect your lips from the damaging UV rays of the sun.

For a list and description of each of the colors and to hear what owner Marissa Shipman has to say about the delicious strawberry-banana smell, read more

The sun is shining bright, but that doesn't mean you have to go without your lip gloss. More and more lip-gloss brands, like the new Glossary line from Tallulah, are making products with SPF 15 and higher, so you can be both cute and covered up. So as we head into summer months, I thought I'd devote this week's Beauty Mark It challenge to SPF lip glosses.

I'm still pleasantly surprised when I find lip glosses with sunscreen, but I'm sure there are tons of options out there that I don't know about. So, dear readers, please help me by Beauty Marking your favorite lip glosses with sun protection and telling me why you like them. Remember to tag your choices with the phrase "SPF lip gloss." I'll feature my favorites on BellaSugar next Tuesday, May 22.

To learn what a Beauty Mark is and how to make one, click here. To see some of my favorite online beauty stores, read more