Chemical sunscreen vs mineral sunscreen: Chemical needs 15 minutes to absorb, mineral works immediately

Chemical sunscreens require a 15-minute wait before swimming to absorb into skin and work properly — jumping in right away rinses them off. Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide work immediately by reflecting UV, but still need a few minutes to dry down so they don’t wash off faster. Either way, give it a few minutes, and reapply after swimming or toweling off regardless of water-resistant claims.