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Swimming and sweating are basically inevitable during warm weather—and you need sun protection that can keep up with your plans. That’s why the best water-resistant body sunscreens deserve a spot in your tote: They do what any good SPF can do, just with more staying power.
Unlike traditional sunscreens, water-resistant sunscreens contain silicones, waxes, and other film-forming polymers that help the product cling to the skin in wet conditions, explains Michael Tassavor, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. Luckily, you don’t have to parse lengthy ingredient lists to make sure your product of choice is legit. “By law, a sunscreen can only say 'water-resistant' if it's passed standardized testing,” Dr. Tassavor says. “Just look for that wording on the front.” And, like all sunscreens, your water-resistant pick should also provide broad-spectrum UV protection with a rating of 30 SPF or higher, per the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD).
Our Top Water-Resistant Body Sunscreens
- Best Overall: EltaMD UV Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50, $32
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Blue Lizard Sport Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+, $20
- Best for Dry Skin: Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50, $28
- Best for Outdoor Activities: La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Pro Sport SPF 50, $33
However, you still need to reapply every two hours, regardless of how long the sunscreen is said to be water-resistant. That goes for reupping on SPF after swimming, too. “Reapply immediately after towel drying, even if the rated time hasn't elapsed,” says Sejal Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. And you should give the product enough time to absorb before heading out into the sunshine, according to Azadeh Shirazi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in La Jolla, California; about 20 minutes should do the trick.
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- What's the difference between waterproof and water-resistant?
- Does water-resistant sunscreen actually work?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Don’t sweat your sun protection routine this summer. These elegant, effective, and long-wearing formulas come highly recommended by editors and skin care experts.
Best Overall: EltaMD UV Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
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EltaMD
UV Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
Amazon
EltaMD
Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai applying the EltaMD UV Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
Deanna Pai
Why we love it: If you've EltaMD’s sun-care line caters to a wide range of skin concerns and types, from dry to acne-prone. It should be no surprise, then, that the brand nailed it with its water-resistant formula, too. The UV Sport Sunscreen Lotion “holds up beautifully through sweat and water, and feels great on the skin,” Dr. Tassavor says. You can apply it to wet or dry skin, too; either way, it spreads and sinks in cleanly without the chalky or greasy residue you might expect from a “sport” sunscreen. The hybrid formula is powered by mineral filter zinc oxide and two chemical sunscreen ingredients, while vitamin E provides additional protection against free radicals, which contribute to signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and skin cancer. Its fragrance-free formula plays well with sensitive skin and it’s non-comedogenic to boot, so you can use it on your face without worrying about clogged pores.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
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“I'm a diehard runner—middle of winter, dead of summer, whatever—and while I wear a hat, I haven't always been diligent with my sun protection. This sunscreen has made it easy to stay consistent: It's quick to absorb, I can use it on both my face and body, and it doesn't turn into a greasy mess when I sweat. My only gripe is that I wish it came in a larger size since I go through it so quickly.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
More to know
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- Sunscreen type: chemical and mineral
- Water resistance rating: 80 minutes
- Key ingredients: zinc oxide 9%, octinoxate 7.5%, octisalate 5%, vitamin E
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Sensitive Skin: Blue Lizard Sport Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+
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Blue Lizard
Sport Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+
Amazon
Target
Allure senior commerce director Shanna Shipin applying the Blue Lizard Sport SPF 50 Spray Sunscreen
Shanna Shipin
Why we love it: For all the positives you hear about mineral sunscreen (it’s gentler on sensitive skin than chemical formulas, and some tinted versions can protect against melasma-causing visible light), it sometimes comes with the drawback that it feels heavy on the skin and leaves a white cast. Blue Lizard’s Sport Mineral Sunscreen Spray, however, makes it so you don’t have to compromise. It’s powered by zinc oxide, but all it needs is a quick rub to absorb into the skin. It dries clear and stays put—no telltale chalky residue in sight. Moisturizing glycerin keeps skin calm and nourished, and it’s alcohol-free, since alcohol can irritate and dry out sensitive skin. (FYI: Just make sure to spray it on outside slowly and carefully; otherwise, you might miss a few spots.)
Tester feedback from senior commerce director Shanna Shipin
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“A spray mineral sunscreen that propels like a chemical? I've never—in all my years testing—come across one as effective as this. Upon first application, I knew this was special, especially if you're used to mineral sunscreens that squirt (in a womp-womp, and messy fashion) rather than shower your skin in SPF coverage. The spray is an even, broad mist that propels powerfully—you won't miss a spot with this kind of reach. It's among the fastest 'screens in my arsenal and is finally a sport mineral that is just as convenient and easy to apply as the chemical sunscreens I have.
You really have to shake it up, then rub it into your skin. This isn't going to give you the perfect, truly invisible chemical spray at first—you may get some errant splotches (but they're tiny, I promise!). After spraying, you just need to remember to briefly rub it in before you go. Otherwise, you may have some uneven spots; when you're done, it dries down with zero white cast. On top of it all, there's an impressive 80 minutes of water-resistant coverage; right now, there isn't a better active or beach-day sunscreen for me and my family.” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
More to know
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- Sunscreen type: mineral
- Water resistance rating: 80 minutes
- Key ingredients: zinc oxide 24%, glycerin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Dry Skin: Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50
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Supergoop
Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50
Amazon
Dermstore
Ulta Beauty
Allure beauty director Sarah Kinonen applying the Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50
Sarah Kinonen
Why we love it: With a blend of soothing plant extracts, glycerin, and vitamin E, Supergoop’s Play sunscreen is packed with dry skin saviors, protecting your skin from sun damage and keeping it happy and hydrated in one fell swoop. It feels more like a moisturizer than a true sunscreen, thanks to its non-greasy, lightweight consistency that melts right into the skin (no white residue here). Plus, its subtle scent is refreshing rather than overpowering. Sounds like just the sort of supporting character we like to see in a sunscreen made for long days outdoors.
Tester feedback from beauty director Sarah Kinonen
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“This is, hands down, one of my favorite body sunscreens. I’ve taken it all over the world—the sandy beaches of Florida, the Mediterranean Sea, and even the streets of Paris—and it’s consistently reliable. It blends in easily, doesn’t leave a cast, and most importantly for summer, it’s water-resistant, so I never get too worried about sun protection when I’m wearing it in the ocean or pool. (Obviously, I reapply immediately when I get out of the water!) I’m currently using it while on a trip to Florida, but I know this tube will go everywhere (and in any body of water!) with me this summer.” —Sarah Kinonen, beauty director
More to know
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- Sunscreen type: chemical
- Water resistance rating: 80 minutes
- Key ingredients: homosalate 10%, octocrylene 7.5%, octisalate 5%, avobenzone 3%, glycerin, rice bran extract, sunflower oil extract
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Outdoor Activities: La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Pro Sport SPF 50
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La Roche-Posay
Anthelios UV Pro Sport SPF 50
La Roche-Posay
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Pro Sport SPF 50
Sarah Han
Why we love it: It’s one thing for sunscreen to stick around when you’re mainly lounging poolside—it’s another for it to stay in place when you’re running or working out in the heat. We gave La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios UV Pro Sport a Best of Beauty Award last year because it did just that. Dr. Shirazi gives it her seal of approval, too, for its combination of broad-spectrum protection and water resistance up to 80 minutes. It’s formulated to hold up during outdoor activities without staining your clothes or running into your eyes. Better yet, it absorbs fully into the skin with zero cast or tackiness, so you don’t have to worry about it melting into white streaks when you sweat or swim.
Want more LRP sun care in your beach bag? Dr. Tassavor also recommends the brand’s Anthelios Melt-In Milk SPF 60 for its water resistance and phenomenal texture.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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“I am capital-T terrible at applying body sunscreen. But…I'm also somewhat of a homebody and can't stand being outside for long periods, especially in the summer. Since neither is a legit excuse to skip body SPF, I've been testing out a few formulas to see which one I can tolerate best, and La Roche-Posay is very up there—fitting, since I'll probably be bringing this French brand to the South of France when I'm there for a vacation-wedding-hybrid trip in August, which definitely includes some pool and beach time. It feels nourishing as soon as it touches my skin, softening every inch and leaving a slight glow and brightening my tattoos (bonus!). It's not the lightest, nor is it the thickest—while it takes a beat to rub in, it doesn't leave me with a heavy feeling. Good stuff!” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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- Sunscreen type: chemical
- Water resistance rating: 80 minutes
- Key ingredients: homosalate 13%, octocrylene 10%, octisalate 5%, avobenzone 3%, glycerin, hyaluronic acid
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Scent: Vacation Classic Lotion SPF 50
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Vacation
Classic Lotion SPF 50
Amazon
Nordstrom
Dermstore
Pai applying the Vacation Classic Lotion SPF 50
Deanna Pai
Why we love it: Vacation’s Classic Lotion elevates your everyday sun protection routine with its dreamy scent of summer getaways past. Its nostalgic notes include coconut, banana, pool water, and literal swimsuit Lycra. But its fragrance isn’t the only thing that lasts. It blends well and protects skin for up to 80 minutes of sweating. Its nourishing, moisturizing ingredients (hello, shea butter and coconut oil) prevent your skin from drying out, while calming niacinamide helps brighten and calm skin. You’ll come for the vibey scent, but the great-for-your-skin formula will keep you coming back for more.
Tester feedback from Pai
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“I keep a large bottle of this sunscreen next to our side door, so my whole family can sunscreen up before we head to the park or out for a walk. I love that it blends in quickly onto my olive skin, doesn’t feel greasy, and actually smells amazing—beachy, but not in a way that feels cloying or overly sweet. It’s made me a lot more consistent with applying sunscreen to my arms and legs, and has spared my very pale husband’s neck this summer.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
More to know
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- Sunscreen type: chemical
- Water resistance rating: 80 minutes
- Key ingredients: homosalate 9.8%, octocrylene 9.5%, octisalate 4.9%, avobenzone 2.8%, aloe vera, shea butter, coconut oil
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Kids: Blue Lizard Baby Mineral SPF 50
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Blue Lizard
Baby Mineral SPF 50
Amazon
Why we love it: The gentle formula of Blue Lizard’s Baby Mineral sunscreen is why Dr. Tassavor loves it for littles; babies, toddlers, and kids have thinner, more sensitive skin than adults, so it’s important to find a sunscreen made without common allergens like fragrances, dyes, or parabens. It has plenty of kid-friendly ingredients like aloe vera and calendula (a.k.a marigold) extract, which have a calming effect, but none of the stuff that’s most likely to irritate their delicate skin. But don’t feel left out: Dr. Tassavor adds that anyone with sensitive skin can use it, too. There’s no age limit on sunscreen, except for infants younger than six months old. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends holding off on sunscreen until they pass this benchmark for safety reasons.
More to know
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- Sunscreen type: mineral
- Water resistance rating: 80 minutes
- Key ingredients: zinc oxide 10%, titanium dioxide 8%, aloe vera, calendula extract, glycerin,
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Spray: Neutrogena Clear Body SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray
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Neutrogena
Clear Body SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray
Amazon
Why we love it: If reapplying lotion mid-beach day feels like a chore, Neutrogena’s Clear Body Sunscreen Spray has got you covered. It blends easily and leaves behind a dry, matte finish that lasts—kind of like you aren’t wearing sunscreen at all. Its quick-drying feel is thanks to the alcohol in its formula, the drying effects of which are offset by added hydrators and skin-soothers niacinamide and vitamin E. One thing to note: As quick, clean, and convenient as the application process of spray sunscreen is, it’s important to spray it on slowly, staying close to the skin, and rub it in completely. Otherwise, you won’t get full coverage and protection.
More to know
LargeChevron
- Sunscreen type: chemical
- Water resistance rating: 80 minutes
- Key ingredients: homosalate 10%, octocrylene 10%, octisalate 5%, avobenzone 3%, niacinamide, vitamin E
- Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between waterproof and water-resistant?
Well, waterproof sunscreens simply don’t exist. “‘Waterproof’ implies that a sunscreen remains fully effective indefinitely in water, which isn't realistic,” Dr. Shah says, adding that many countries (including the U.S.) don’t allow brands to label sunscreens as “waterproof” because it’s so misleading.
Water-resistant sunscreens, on the other hand, go through a clear-cut process to verify their effecacy—although they do have to be reapplied. Dr. Shah explains that the FDA only permits two time periods of water resistance on products: 40 and 80 minutes. A 40-minute rating means the sunscreen will retain its SPF for up to 40 minutes of water exposure or immersion, while an 80-minute rating indicates that the SPF will last for up to 80 minutes.
Does water-resistant sunscreen actually work?
If you apply it as directed (and as often as is recommended), a water-resistant sunscreen will protect your skin just as effectively as one that isn’t, Dr. Shirazi says. And if things get wet, it’ll do an even better job. “A standard sunscreen starts breaking down the moment you get in the water or sweat, while a water-resistant one is built to hold its SPF,” Dr. Tassavor says. But, again, it won’t hold onto it forever. So, for thorough protection from sun damage and photoaging, always reapply after your damp activity of choice.
Meet the experts
- Sejal Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Azadeh Shirazi, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist based in La Jolla, California
- Michael Tassavor, MD, MS, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but, for example, hair-care products and tools are another story. While some hair products can be used across different textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, and colors (natural and unnatural), they are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are formulated to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls, right?
And for our reviews of the best water-resistant sunscreens, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, cosmetic chemists, and makeup artists with a range of experience studying and using these products. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture, experience, and formula. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from are folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
