Sun Cream: what 'water resistant' really means - Which? investigates

Does water-resistant sunscreen really protect you when you swim? It's common for sunscreens to claim to be 'water resistant', but this doesn't mean they're waterproof.

Watch our video to find out what happened when we tested two popular sun creams in chlorinated water (to mimic a swimming pool) and salty water (to mimic the sea).

You may be surprised to learn that the industry guideline for water resistant sun creams allows the SPF of a product to drop by 50% after a total of 40 minutes in water. Water-resistance testing also takes place in what is essentially a bath - using tap water.

When using sunscreen at the beach or pool, be careful to apply it copiously before swimming, and again when you leave the water.

For our full advice on how to stay protected in the sun, visit

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