Employee goes swimming with coworker, gets offended when he uses her sunscreen: 'My bottle's contents had been reduced by half'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jul 13, 2026 7:45 PM EDT

There are times when sharing doesn't feel like caring.

Although nobody likes a miser, it has to be said that sometimes being generous comes at a greater price than we expect. There are plenty of scenarios where it is impolite to refuse a request that another person asks of us, but it is easy to get stuck in a situation where we expect to give a little and actually end up giving a lot. It can be difficult not to feel used when we find ourselves in this scenario.

Nonetheless, one of the most underrated skills we can develop is learning when an issue is something we should escalate, and when to let bygones be bygones. If there is a concern that this is going to turn into a repeated pattern of behavior, and it really is an unacceptable transgression, it is important to take action to avoid that. If it is a one-off event or not that serious, we need to take a look at our own attitude. While this process sounds simple enough, it isn't always something that we are capable of in the moment. It is easy to let our more instinctual emotions cloud our judgment somehow.

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  • A representation of a man and a woman swimming underwater, wearing goggles
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A representation of a man and a woman swimming underwater, wearing goggles

  • A woman and her coworker decided to go swimming outdoors during their break. When he saw her take out her sunscreen, he asked if he could use some because he didn't have any. She agreed, as she didn't want to see him get a sunburn during their swim.

    However, she soon came to regret her decision. When he took the bottle from her, he used a significant amount to cover his whole body for the duration of the short swim. She was taken aback, as the brand of sunscreen was quite expensive, and she resented somebody else using so much of it. She wasn't sure if she was taking things too seriously.

  • Am I overreacting because my colleague used my sunscreen?

    A couple of days ago I went swimming with a colleague who'd forgotten his sunscreen. I never leave the house without mine, so when he saw me pull mine out he asked if he could use some.
    via JulesDestrooperBisc
  • I said sure, cause I wasn't about to let the man go home sunburnt. Only, he rubbed it into about every nook of his body, all the way from the top of his head down to between his toes and my bottle's content had been reduced by half. My impression was that he was
    via JulesDestrooperBisc
  • only going to slather it on the bits that would get exposed to the sun. We spent about 40 minutes total in the water, then immediately got out, got dressed and went back to work. All in all, the lower part of his body was exposed a negligible amount as he wrapped himself in a towel as soon as he got out and headed towards the changing rooms.
    via JulesDestrooperBisc
  • I use La Roche Posay Anthelios 50+ SPF, because it's about the only one that doesn't irritate my skin nor does it leave me sticky, but it comes at a steeper price.
    via JulesDestrooperBisc
  • The part that bothers me is him using it on areas that weren't in harm's way. If it's your own sunscreen, by all means, slap it on whatever part you deem necessary, but when you use someone else's just maybe be considerate about how much you use?
    via JulesDestrooperBisc
  • It makes me want to say 'no' next time someone asks me for sunscreen, or maybe bring a 'decoy' sunscreen with me. But idk am I just being a summer Grinch? I feel like I'm being stingy.
    via JulesDestrooperBisc
  • A representation of a close-up of a woman squeezing sunscreen into her hand in front of a towel
    via BATCH by Wisconsin Hemp Scientific

    A representation of a close-up of a woman squeezing sunscreen into her hand in front of a towel

  • Haunting_Ranger5460 I just wanna know what job yall work where you just go swimming on lunch breaks
    via Haunting_Ranger5460
  • kukqueen3 It's reasonable to be a little annoyed. How do you WANT to feel? Personally I want to feel like a generous person, so I'd remind myself this is what that looks like, and yes maybe start carrying a spare bottle too. I'd probably also make light of it, because this is so a situation Larry David would find himself in
    via kukqueen3
  • Nicolabear9653 YOR if you make a big deal about it. He asked if he could use your sunscreen. You said yes. He put on sunscreen - maybe more than you expected, but I believe it's actually recommended to put it on all areas because the sun's uv rays
    via Nicolabear9653
  • can and do reach your skin through the water. I get that it was an expensive/nice sunscreen, but you didn't make it clear to him that there was a limit to how much he could use, or that he'd have to pay you back for it. So, just accept that this happened and if you don't want it to happen
    via Nicolabear9653
  • again, just tell him no next time, or communicate more clearly that it's actually expensive special sunscreen and if he uses it you'd need him to pay you back for it.
    via Nicolabear9653
  • The-disgracist YOR. It's sunscreen. If it's so precious say "this is expensive please use sparingly"
    via The-disgracist
  • Minute_Sound_1148 YOR. You're not using La Mer, LRP is still drugstore sunscreen. But girl. You know the "bits that are exposed to the sun" include the ones in the water too, right......? Just because his lower half was in the water doesn't mean it's not getting sun, the sun penetrates the water lol.
    via Minute_Sound_1148
  • merangel07 YOR. He asked and you said yes. You didn't give him conditions. Plus, you may think that there are areas that don't need it, but we don't know his medical needs. He could be really prone to skin cancer and truly cannot take the risk.
    via merangel07
  • Downtown Youth8995 You're overreacting. Don't offer if you don't actually want to share your things. I don't think applying it everywhere is excessive. That's normal and what you are supposed to do with sunscreen.
    via DowntownYouth8995
  • CaptainSnappertain How dare he use the sunscreen you said he could use? The nerve! YOR
    via CaptainSnappertain

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coworkers swimming sunscreen entitled people
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