Is There Such a Thing as Waterproof Sunscreen? What the FDA Banned and What to Buy Instead

Last updated: August 22, 2026

Search results, product listings, and old packaging still throw the word waterproof around, which makes it reasonable to assume it means something. It does not. The term was removed from the American sunscreen category more than a decade ago, and any product still using it is either sold outside the United States or leaning on retired language. Understanding what replaced it is the difference between buying a sunscreen that survives your afternoon and buying one that is gone by the time you towel off.

Is Waterproof Sunscreen Real?

No. No sunscreen is waterproof, and none sold legally in the United States has claimed to be since 2012. The FDA reviewed the evidence and found that products marketed as waterproof were frequently losing meaningful protection in under an hour, and that many came off entirely when a swimmer dried with a towel. The word set an expectation the chemistry could not meet, and people got burned relying on it. The agency removed it from the category rather than trying to define it. The same rule retired sweatproof and sunblock for the same reason. Every one of those words promised an absolute, and sun protection does not work in absolutes.

Why Did the FDA Ban the Word Waterproof on Sunscreen?

The FDA banned it as part of its 2011 Final Rule on over the counter sunscreen labeling, which took effect in 2012 and rewrote how every sunscreen in the country describes itself. The rule established standardized broad spectrum testing, capped the claims a label can make, and replaced absolute language with measured language. Waterproof implied indefinite protection in water. Sunblock implied a complete barrier against UV, which no filter provides. Sweatproof implied immunity to perspiration, which behaves on skin much the way immersion does. In place of those, the FDA required brands to run a standardized water immersion test and print the result. That is why every sunscreen bottle in the United States now reads either "Water Resistant (40 minutes)" or "Water Resistant (80 minutes)" and nothing else.

What Does Water Resistant Actually Mean on a Sunscreen Label?

Water resistant is a test result, not a description. To print a 40 minute claim, a sunscreen must hold its rated SPF through two 20 minute water immersion cycles. To print 80 minutes, it must hold through four. Eighty minutes is the maximum any brand in the country is permitted to claim, regardless of how the formula performs beyond that point. That ceiling is the single most misunderstood fact in sunscreen shopping, because it means the label cannot distinguish a formula that barely passed at 80 minutes from one that was tested for hours longer.

What Should You Buy Instead of Waterproof Sunscreen?

Buy a broad spectrum water resistant lotion rated SPF 30 or higher, and prefer a lotion over a spray for anything involving sustained water exposure. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher for all outdoor activity, and it recommends water resistant formulations specifically for swimming and sweating. Lotions give you visible, controllable coverage and are the format brands build their most durable films around. Sprays are excellent for reapplication over a lotion base and for hard to reach areas, but they are not the foundation layer for a day on the water. Beyond that, the useful differentiator is whether the brand has immersion data it will actually show you, because the label alone cannot say more than 80 minutes.

How Long Does Water Resistant Sunscreen Really Last in Water?

Longer than 80 minutes in some cases, and the only way to know is published testing. SolRX commissioned an independent laboratory to run a protocol built to be more rigorous than any FDA or international government standard, covering 8 full hours of water exposure with SPF measurement throughout. The protocol is known as the 6 Hour Immersion Test, named for a realistic full day of water exposure rather than the longer continuous window the laboratory actually ran. The SPF 30 Waterblock formula measured SPF 35.83 at the conclusion, holding above its rated value across the entire window. Waterblock reaches that result by bonding to skin cells instead of resting on the surface of the skin, which is why soap and water is what removes it inside the application window. The Drug Facts panel on that same bottle still reads 80 minutes, because federal law caps what any brand may print. The full protocol and results are published on the Waterblock Independent Testing page, and the complete breakdown of how sunscreen duration is measured is in What Is the Longest Lasting Sunscreen.

Do You Still Need to Reapply Water Resistant Sunscreen?

Yes, and this is exactly what the FDA rule was designed to communicate. Every sunscreen sold in the United States must carry reapplication directions, and the standard guidance is to reapply at least every two hours during outdoor activity and immediately after towel drying. Towel drying is the step most people skip: rubbing removes sunscreen from skin even when the formula is water resistant and even when it has not been in the water long. The practical routine is to apply generously 15 minutes before sun exposure, reapply after swimming and drying, and reapply every two hours regardless. Tested water resistance is what protects you between those moments, not a replacement for them.

Which SolRX Sunscreens Are Best for Swimming?

The Waterblock lotions are the swimming formulas. SPF 50 Waterblock Lotion and SPF 35 Waterblock Lotion use the bonding system that was run through the 8 hour protocol, and both are free of oxybenzone and octinoxate. For a mineral option with the same tested duration, Mineral SPF 50 Zinc uses non-nano zinc oxide, as does every SolRX zinc formula. For children, the Kids SPF 50 Waterblock Tear Free Lotion carries the same standard in a tear free format. SolRX continuous sprays are water resistant for 80 minutes and are best used for reapplication rather than as the base layer. Compare the full range in the Waterblock collection or read Best Water Resistant Sunscreen.