We Tried Over 60 Water-Resistant Sunscreens — Here Are the Ones That Will Keep You Protected This Summer

Sensitive skin requires some extra consideration when it comes to sun protection. Heavily fragranced, chemical-forward formulas and no dermatologist oversight can make for a disaster. Whether your eyes burn the second you start sweating or your skin gets flushed red due to harsh ingredients, you know instantly if a sunscreen is too hard on your skin. Play by Supergoop! offers a gentle yet effective formula, which is why it’s our top pick for the best water-resistant sunscreen for sensitive skin.

Alexandra Klausner, an Everyday Health writer who slathered on Play sunscreen during a monthlong testing period, immediately noticed how gentle it was. “It’s sensitive and also sweat-resistant, so it’s less likely to get into my eyes. It does not make my rosacea flare,” she says. She also liked that the formula has staying power and passed the sweat test with flying colors — no teary eyes at all. Plus, this formula checks off plenty of boxes, thanks to its nonirritating vegan formula that’s reef-friendly and dermatologist-tested. In the midst of singing this product’s praises, Klausner did note that this formula can feel greasy and does leave some shine behind. But we consider that a small price to pay for its exceptional formula and delivery of nonirritating skin protection.

Sensitive kids’ skin requires a sensitive sunscreen formula. Luckily, ThinkBaby offers a gentle vegan formula that’s free of parabens, phthalates, oxybenzone, avobenzone, and petroleum, making it a safe bet for soft, sensitive skin. Soothing aloe vera and jojoba seed oil deeply moisturize, keeping kids’ skin soft even after a day spent in a chlorine pool or salty ocean. This is why it nabbed our pick for the best water-resistant kids’ sunscreen.

Specifically designed for babies, this cruelty-free formula offers up to 80 minutes of water resistance. Everyday Health editor Nicole Bonaccorso tested this sunscreen out on her toddlers for 10 days and was pleased with the experience. “This product has a medium consistency for a sunscreen,” she says. She continued by noting that it is easy to rub in, and while it is mildly greasy for a few minutes, it absorbs rather quickly. It also delivers on its promises of water resistance. “We were fine even without reapplying after splashing at the water park,” she shared. If you’ve ever had to chase after a kid to reapply sunscreen, you know the struggle — so this is fantastic news.

I’m a Black woman, and I struggle to find a sunscreen that doesn’t compete with my brown skin. Thicker formulas leave behind a greasy white cast, while thinner formulas aren’t moisturizing and don’t sit well under makeup. I’m not the only one who struggles with this conundrum, which is why a product called Black Girl Sunscreen was created. The unique formula is celebrated for its sheer finish, ensuring that melanin-rich skin can shine through, no matter how much is applied. Its impressive results make it our pick as the best water-resistant sunscreen for people of color.

After testing this product for 10 days, we liked how light the sunscreen felt on the face immediately after application. We did notice an extremely light smell when using the sunscreen, but it was extremely mild and didn’t linger on the skin, so it likely won’t be bothersome to most. We also found this product to be very moisturizing, and it lent some vibrance after application.

We often think of applying sunscreen to our faces, shoulders, and even feet. Yet we often overlook applying sunscreen to our scalp. Though many of us may have full heads of hair and might assume our tresses provide enough sunblock as it is, a scorched scalp is quick to remind you otherwise. The Rida Hair Research Institute Scalp and Hair Mineral Sunscreen Spray provides sun protection you might not otherwise get on the scalp, plus it can help prevent color fading and dryness. This makes it our top pick for the best scalp sunscreen.

Ashley Ziegler, our Everyday Health editor who tried this product out, appreciated how lightweight it is, as well as its handy spray application. “It comes in a spray bottle that makes it easy to apply without making your hair look overly greasy and dirty the way a typical sunscreen does,” she says. While the product absorbed into her scalp quickly, she did note that she has fine, thin hair, which was mildly oily after application. However, she took her hair type into consideration and noted that even with the light residue left, it was significantly less greasy than other sunscreen sprays. She also appreciated its water-resistant qualities because she didn’t have to worry about it becoming ineffective while sweating.

Everyday Health writer Brittany Vargas tried out this sunscreen for two weeks. As someone with combination skin, she was particularly attuned to the product’s texture, watching out for any excess residue or oily sheen left on her face after application. “Compared to many other mineral sunscreens, it absorbs quickly,” she notes. Once it was absorbed, her skin was left feeling soft and moisturized. “It offers great protection without leaving a white cast,” she says. But those with darker skin tones may still experience a light cast after application. “I wouldn’t use it on my face, as it would probably be a bit too greasy for that,” says Vargas, highlighting another drawback to be aware of. Despite these facts, this four-ingredient heavy hitter is hard to beat.

A tinted moisturizer is perfect for busy moms, tired students, and those who just can’t be bothered with an elaborate beauty routine. However, there are a few specific things to keep in mind when finding the right tinted moisturizer for you. Consistency is key — something thin and watery will spread across your face more easily, reducing the risk of any pilling of the product. Tinted moisturizers tend to be a bit more flexible in shade range, meaning one shade can accommodate many different skin tones, but make sure you like how your selected shade matches your skin. Finally, make sure your tinted moisturizer has sun protection and is water-resistant, keeping you covered even during time spent sweating or in the water. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Mineral Sunscreen is a great drugstore find. Its price tag, formula, and sun protection make it an easy pick for the best water-resistant tinted sunscreen.

Our tester, Everyday Health writer Amy Marschall, tried out this product for two weeks. She has combination skin and lives with rosacea. This product not only delivered great sun protection and sheer coverage that left her skin glowing — it also didn’t aggravate her rosacea. “The tint evened my skin tone out a bit, but it wasn’t too heavy. It didn’t feel like I was wearing makeup,” she says. Heads up: The tinted moisturizer can leave a light cast if not properly matched to your skin color. Don’t be afraid to exchange it for another shade if you think the product isn’t blending correctly with your skin tone.

A spray sunscreen is the ultimate product of convenience. Rather than contorting yourself to reach the middle of your back or risking missing a spot, only to leave the beach toasted, you can simply spray yourself down and enjoy the sunshine, knowing you’re protected. But some sprays rely on harsh chemicals, both for sun protection and to propel the product from the bottle. This Bask product is a clean mineral sunscreen spray that is great for sensitive skin, making it our pick for the best water-resistant spray sunscreen.

We like that there is finally a solid spray sunscreen for those who prefer mineral sunscreens, since mineral-based products tend to come in thick lotions or even powders. This lightly hydrating spray is thin and fast-absorbing. Ziegler even tested it out on her 5-year-old, who has sensitive, dry, eczema-prone skin, and she was pleased to note that it didn’t cause any irritation. The only issues we want to flag are regarding using it on the face. “The spray packaging isn’t ideal for the face. I had to spray it into my hands and then apply it to my face,” Zeigler says. This leads to a bit of a mess either way. However, this product is extremely handy for the body, so just toss a small facial sunscreen in your bag before you head out of the house.

Sun protection doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, it could be as simple as tossing a sunscreen stick in your bag, swiping the product directly onto your face, and enjoying the sun. Easy application is a great way to ensure that you’ll actually reapply your sunscreen throughout the day. Sun Bum’s FaceStick makes this easier than ever. That’s why we’ve named it the best water-resistant sunscreen for easy application.

A big draw of a sunscreen stick is that its application doesn’t involve getting the product on your hands. For some, having to handle the sunscreens directly can become a sensory issue. “I’m a little weird about how things feel on my hands, palms, and fingers, so I loved that I didn’t have to rub this one in,” says Everyday Health writer Mary Sauer. She noted that the product does have the brand’s signature scent, which is a bright coconut fragrance. This could be an issue for those with sensitive skin. If that’s you, consider trying the brand’s gentler formulas, like its mineral or baby mineral sunscreen sticks.

This gentle formula has a thick consistency. “I was worried because it does go on rather white on the skin, and because of that, I thought it would leave my skin looking chalky,” says Everyday Health writer Jessica Migala. She noted that after just a minute or two, the product absorbed into her skin with no white cast. Just keep in mind that it will feel heavy on the initial application. While that may be a sensory issue for some, Migala actually liked this detail. “The thicker cream made me feel as if I got better coverage,” she shares. All in all, this is a solid, affordable, effective pick that you can grab at your local drugstore anytime.

Our tester, Everyday Health writer Katie Tuttle, is no novice to skin-care treatments. “My skin is dry from tretinoin use, and I burn easily,” she explains while detailing her skin type, noting that hyperpigmentation is also a concern. Due to this, a moisturizing yet effective product is key, and anything that evens out her skin tone is a major plus. This product was fast-absorbing and sat well under her makeup, and she emphasizes that it didn’t even feel like she was wearing sunscreen. However, the added moisture could be problematic for those with oily skin. She also notes that the container has the potential to waste product. “You’ll probably want to cut open the bottle when you think it is empty so you don’t waste a drop,” she says. All that said, she enthusiastically shares that she’d use this sunscreen every day.

This mineral sunscreen blends in clear while deeply moisturizing the skin. It doesn’t just provide protection from the sun — it also protects from pollution and blue light. This makes it fantastic for city dwellers who shift from a sun-drenched walk to hours spent in front of a desk to catching the train home, all within the course of a day. It’s also sensitive skin–friendly, so it can even be used on your skin after cosmetic treatments. Plus, its oil-free formula ensures that there’s no sheen or shine left on your skin. We do wish that it had a higher SPF and that it provided water resistance longer than 40 minutes, but its benefits outweigh those minor drawbacks.

Our tester, Everyday Health writer Ashley Rowe, tried this product out on herself and her 9-year-old son, who has eczema and extremely sensitive skin overall. She personally used it during a pool party, noting that her skin was well-protected. As for her son? “He had zero problems with this product,” Rowe says. She did note that it can slather on thick and leave behind a cast, but that dissipates after it is rubbed in.