Sun safety is de rigueur for anyone who plans to spend time in the water in the summer. But how do you choose a sunscreen that doesn’t wash off as soon as you take the plunge, and what is it that makes sunscreens water-resistant?
Active ingredients that protect your skin from the sun such as zinc oxide, oxybenzone, octinoxate, or avobenzone wash off in water. The addition of certain ingredients make sunscreen water resistant by helping the active ingredients adhere longer to the skin, but only for maximum 80 minutes.
While chemical sunscreens are preferred by those who sweat a lot, physical (mineral) sunscreens are recommended for those with sensitive skin. However, if you have acne, you may find physical sunscreens too oily and they may cause your skin to break out.
Regardless, it’s important to follow manufacturer’s instructions and reapply water-resistant sunscreen every 80 minutes.
Garnier Ombrelle Sport Endurance
Recommended for sports-oriented individuals and recognized by the Canadian Dermatology Association, this high-performance mineral sunscreen suits the most active lifestyles. It is a non-sticky, non-greasy hypoallergenic lotion that is easy to apply, even on wet skin. It’s water and sweat resistant for up to 80 minutes, offers quick absorption and is oil and fragrance free.
Active ingredients include homosalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone, octisalate, avobenzone, drometrizole trisiloxane (mexoryl Xl).
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Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Spray SPF 50
Coppertone Sport SPF 30 4-in-1 Performance Sunscreen Spray provides strong and durable chemical broad spectrum sun protection while you stay active. The lightweight, moisturizing formula is sweat and water resistant for up to 80 minutes. The continuous spray application makes it easy to use at any angle all over the body so you can get those hard to access places even if you’re solo on the beach.
Active ingredients include avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone.
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Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50
Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost is a chemical-based sunscreen that delivers effective broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection with a water-light feel. It’s a moisturizing face sunscreen with hyaluronic, water-resistant acid offering vital hydration along with sun protection. Invisible under makeup with no white cast, it’s oil-free, non-comedogenic and oxybenzone free.
Active ingredients include octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate, and avobenzone.
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Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50+
Recognized by the Canadian Dermatology Association, Hawaiian Tropic’s Ultra Radiance mineral sunscreen claims to protect, soften, and leave skin glowing. The oil-free and non-greasy formula not only protects from the sun and is water-resistant, it also contains vitamins C & E, with mango fruit extract and a shea butter complex to moisture and protect, even while swimming or sweating. Does not contain oxybenzone or octinoxate. PETA-certified cruelty-free.
Mineral actives include homosalate , octisalate, octocrylene, avobenzone, titanium dioxide.
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Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
This moisturizing formula not only protects your skin from the sun, it also moisturizes with Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps to neutralize free radicals. It is vegan, reef compliant, cruelty free, gluten free, paraben free, oxybenzone & octinoxate free, oil free, PABA free and water resistant up to 80 Minutes.
Active ingredients include: avobenzone 3%, homosalate 10%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 10%.
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No matter your choice, any sunscreen is the best way to go. The most important thing is that you wear it!
The information provided on TheHealthInsider.ca is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. TheHealthInsider.ca advises consulting a medical professional or healthcare provider when seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.