Quick one: Apparently drinkable sunscreen is a thing?

Just when we thought we'd seen it all, 2025 brings us... 'drinkable sunscreen'.

Indeed! We're now ingesting sunscreen!

Because apparently, you can now slug down SPF instead of slathering it on your skin like a normal person. And honestly, we have so many questions.

Does it taste like actual sunscreen? Do we really hate putting on sunscreen THAT much that we're willing to slosh it down our throats?

Watch: While we're on the subject of skin, here's me trying the viral dry feet hack. (No judgement, pls). Post continues below.

In any case, some companies are touting it as the next big thing in skincare. And while we love a good shortcut just as much as the next lazy gewl, is 'drinkable sunscreen' really safe?

Relatedly, how did we get here.

What is drinkable sunscreen?

As with almost everything, the trend has exploded on TikTok, with influencers claiming these "UV-protective" drinks and supplements are the future of sun protection. The products come in two main forms — a special "frequency-infused" water (sure, Jan) and on-the-go supplements packed with antioxidants.

The most talked-about product is something called Harmonized H2O, which claims to work via "cancellation waves" that somehow block UV rays.

This kind of thing:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Setu Nutrition (@setuindia)

Cool ad, right?

Posted by an Instagram account called @setuindia, the caption reads: "The future of skincare is here! At Setu, we didn't just think outside the box, we dissolved it in your favourite drink! Say hello to India's FIRST-EVER Drinkable Sunscreen — because science just got seriously cool! Sip your way to sun protection and join the revolution."

SO MANY QUESTIONS.

Mamamia spoke with cosmetic chemist Dr Michelle Wong (aka @labmuffinbeautyscience), who said, "'Drinkable sunscreen' refers to supplements that claim to protect your skin from sunburn, premature aging and other impacts of the sun. They generally work by acting as antioxidants, which can essentially mop up some of the damage caused by UV."

In the comment section, one person wrote: "This is so dangerous people will think they can drink this and not apply sunscreen."

Someone else asked, "How safe is this?"

Another person asked, "Any peer-reviewed white papers or publications on how this works? And how it's been tested?"

Does drinkable sunscreen work?

If this all sounds like some kind of whacky to you, experts agree.

As Dr Wong told us, there are a number of issues with these kind of products.

"They act inside the skin, which means they tend to try to clean up damage after it's been done. This usually can't be completely achieved, whereas sunscreen and other sun safety measures — hat, clothing, shade and sunglasses — prevent UV from entering the skin in the first place," she said.

"The way sunscreen supplements are tested is by looking at erythema (redness) of skin after taking the supplement then being exposed to UV, but products that reverse redness don't necessarily reverse all of the other impacts of UV."

Further to this, Dr Wong told us that supplements are very loosely regulated, so they often have inconsistent composition and unknown impurities.

She added, "Safety isn't checked as thoroughly as for medications. These products often use antioxidants as their main ingredients. There's been quite a few instances of liver damage from antioxidant supplements recently."

And look, the promises are tempting: no more weird angles trying to spray your own back. No white cast or greasy feeling. Protection for those spots we always miss (hello, scalp sunburn). But here's the thing: there's absolutely zero scientific evidence that these products work.

Like… literally none.

"Often the supplements contain natural ingredients that achieved reduced redness in a study, but the actual composition of the supplement can be different," explained Dr Wong. "For example, many polypodium supplements base their claims on studies on Heliocare Fernblock, but their effects won't be the same because the growing conditions of the plant and extraction method may be different."

Questionable ingredients aside, what's scarier is that people might skip proper sun protection thinking they're covered because they drank some special water. And in Australia, where we have one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, that's particularly dangerous.

Dr Adam Friedmann, a dermatologist who's clearly had it up to his eyeballs with people trying to do anything but wear sunscreen, puts it more bluntly in this article by US Dermatology Partners: "Drinking this might be as effective as apple juice for UV protection."

So what should you actually do to protect yourself from the sun? The boring (but proven) basics still apply:

• Slather on that SPF 50+ sunscreen.

• Reapply every two hours.

• Rock a wide-brimmed hat.

• Seek shade during peak UV hours.

• Wear sunnies and protective clothing.

• Don't roll your eyes at us.

Is it available in Australia?

As of early 2025, Harmonized H2O appears limited to US markets, though Australians might access it via international online retailers. Oral sunscreens like Heliocare are sold in pharmacies, but experts stress these should only complement — not replace — traditional sunscreens.

As Dr Wong added, "They will protect from the sun to some extent, but they won't replace measures that prevent UV from reaching the skin in the first place. At best they should be thought of as an additional layer of protection."

The bottom line? Stick with what's proven.

While they might look cool on social media, untested products can not only be a giant waste of money — but they can actually cause serious harm. particularly when we're talking about your skin and UV rays. That's not something you want to mess with. Because, y'know… skin cancer.

The bottom line? While we'd all love a magic drink that prevents sunburn, this isn't it. Save your money for proper sunscreen instead. Your skin (and your doctor) will thank you.

What do you think of the 'drinkable sunscreen' trend? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Instagram/@satuindia.