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- A true sports sunscreen should be designed with the athlete in mind.
- It needs to offer protection against the sun's harmful rays as well as water and sweat resistance.
- The EltaMD UV Sport Sunscreen SPF 50 meets that requirement with a no-drip, water-and-sweat-resistant formula that's safe for all skin types and can easily be applied on wet or dry skin.
If you're taking your workout outside, protection from the sun is a must. While workout gear like UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) clothing, sunglasses, and hats can all provide some protection from the sun, your best defense is a good quality sunscreen that's formulated to withstand even the most intense workouts.
You may think of sunscreen as a seasonally specific essential, but that shouldn't be the case. While those harmful rays can be especially intense during the summer months, they can still cause damage on cold or cloudy days. Whatever your activity of choice is, you shouldn't be stepping outdoors without that layer of protection.
To find a good sunscreen that will withstand the rigors of your workout and provide protection there are a few important things to take into consideration:
Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating
SPF stands for "sun protection factor" and helps protect your skin from the sun's harmful UVB (ultraviolet B) rays that burn your skin and lead to premature skin wrinkling and aging. Leaving your skin vulnerable to these UVB rays can also lead to the development of skin cancer. It may be easy to think the chances of that are low, but according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. Taking protective measures like applying a sunscreen with the correct SPF for your skin type is a must - and can literally save your life.
To help you decide which SPF is best, consider how sensitive your skin is, and how long it takes you to burn in the sun. If you're like me and can burn in a matter of minutes, a higher SPF will be best. A quick trick to determine your perfect number is to take the time it would take you to burn without sun protection and multiply that by the SPF. So, if you burn in 10 minutes, but apply a sunscreen of SPF 15, you'll be protected for up to 150 minutes.
For the best protection, most experts recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. It's also best to look for one that provides "broad spectrum" protection, which will protect you from both UVB rays and UVA (ultraviolet A) rays - the latter of which can penetrate the skin more deeply and are associated with premature aging.
Water resistance is key for sport sunscreen
Since you'll be using this sunscreen while working out, it's safe to say you'll be breaking a sweat. The last thing you want to do is sweat off all that sun protection, or have it run and cause your eyes to start stinging right in the middle of that intense move or final push as you wrap up your workout. The same applies if you're planning on going for a swim. You don't want that protection washing off the moment you hit the water. Water resistance is a must in a good sports sunscreen, otherwise you'll be wasting your time with applying it in the first place.
Check the ingredients
It's important to realize that your skin will absorb anything that's applied to it. Since you're applying sunscreen directly to your skin, you'll want to pay attention to what's in the formula. Sunscreens typically come in two forms: mineral, also known as physical sunscreen, and chemical sunscreen.
Physical sunscreens reflect damaging rays away from the skin, tend to last longer, and cause less irritation. Chemical sunscreens absorb radiation before it reaches the skin, but some can contain potentially harmful ingredients. Chemical sunscreens can also harm aquatic life, according to studies, so if you're near or in the water, you should check out our guide to the best eco-friendly mineral sunscreens that are reef safe.
We've taken all the above into consideration, done the research, and read the reviews to come up with the best sports sunscreens that will keep you protected from the sun even while your busting out a sweat. You're already doing something good for your body by making the choice to be active - so why not go the extra step to protect your skin while doing so?
Here are the best sports sunscreens you can buy:
- Best sports sunscreen overall: EltaMD UV Sport Sunscreen SPF 50
- Best for your face: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Sunscreen fluid SPF 60
- Best to protect your lips: Sugar Sport Treatment Sunscreen SPF 30
- Best natural spray: Coola Organic Sport Sunscreen Spray SPF 50
- Best sports sunscreen stick: Ocean Potion Suncare Dab-On Sport Stick SPF 50
- Check out our full buying guide to the best mineral sunscreen
Updated on 05/08/2019 by Les Shu: Updated links, formatting, and prices.
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