These 6 Sport Sunscreens Are Perfect for Exercising

Now that the summer season is in full swing, you'll likely take advantage of the great weather and move your exercise routine outdoors. But according to doctors, you should never skimp on rocking a sport sunscreen. Similar to your regular face sunscreen, sport sunscreens come in various forms, including powder, spray, and lotions. Some are tinted, offering light coverage, while others are untinted.

Unlike most traditional sunscreens, sport sunscreens take protection a step further — they're water- or sweat-resistant for at least 40 minutes. Sometimes they're even both, which is fantastic because as you push your body through your grueling workout, you won't have to worry about your sunscreen rinsing away after taking a quick dip or sweat.

Best Sport Sunscreens

How to Shop

Sunscreen is a non-negotiable beauty item no matter the weather. To help you discover the best sport sunscreen we interviewed two of our favorite doctors. Here, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jeremy Fenton, M.D., of Schweiger Dermatology Group, and double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jaimie DeRosa, M.D., share their pro tips on what to consider when shopping for a sport sunscreen.

Broadspectrum Protection

As with any sunscreen, your sport sunscreen should be broad-spectrum with a SPF 30 or above. According to DeRosa, broad-spectrum means that it protects from ultraviolet A (UVA) rays that cause signs of aging like dark spots and wrinkles and ultraviolet B (UVB) sun rays associated with burns and cancer.

Water- and Sweat-Resistant Formulas

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates cosmetics, including sunscreens. Both doctors say sunscreens in the United States are no longer allowed to be labeled as “sweatproof” and “waterproof,” as it is confusing and could be misleading to consumers.

So, what's an active person to do? Use water- and sweat-resistant sport sunscreens instead! "Calling something water-resistant makes more sense since if you're in the water for long enough, your skin care products, including sunscreens, should wash off," adds DeRosa.

Our experts say that there are only two categories of water-resistant sunscreen:

• 80 minutes: Sunscreens can't get a better rating than 80 minutes even if they work longer. They're excellent for anyone who sweats a lot or participates in water sports like swimming and surfing.
• 40 minutes: If you don't sweat a lot, the water-resistance factor may not be as important, so you could get away with using a sport sunscreen with a 40-minute label.

If you see any sunscreen claiming to be waterproof or sweatproof, you should take a page from Fenton's beauty playbook and skip it. Luckily for you, all of our sunscreens are either water- or sweat-resistant — and some are even both. We asked Fenton and DeRosa to share a few of their go-to sport sunscreens. Saunders also researched and found a couple of other noteworthy sport sunscreens that are aligned with their expert guidance.

All of these sport sunscreens were vetted for their ingredient list, sweat- and water resistance, texture, smell, and price point to help determine the overall value of each sport sunscreen.