5 Things to Know About Waterproof Sunscreen

No sunscreen is truly waterproof The FDA bans the term “waterproof.” Sunscreens can only be labeled “water-resistant” after passing a 40- or 80-minute water exposure test.

Protection drops fast after 80 minutes Even if you don’t swim, the 80-minute mark is the limit. After that, the SPF protection degrades quickly and won’t recharge itself.

Sweat counts as water exposure Sweating heavily or toweling off removes sunscreen. Both activities reset the clock, so reapply after any sweat or towel use.

Reapply every 60 minutes if swimming or sweating For active water or heavy sweat exposure, don’t wait the full 80 minutes. Reapply every 60 minutes to stay protected.

The label doesn’t matter to UV rays Your skin gets burned regardless of what the bottle says. Follow time limits and reapply consistently to avoid sun damage.