{"id":3617,"date":"2026-10-09T11:16:14","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T03:16:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.meditret.com\/blog\/?p=3617"},"modified":"2026-10-09T11:16:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T03:16:14","slug":"are-resin-accessories-waterproof-4895-e44cb9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.meditret.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/09\/are-resin-accessories-waterproof-4895-e44cb9\/","title":{"rendered":"Are resin accessories waterproof?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey everyone! Resin Accessories<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever shopped around for resin accessories, chances are you\u2019ve seen that glossy, kind of marbled finish and thought, \u201cWait, are these actually okay to get wet? I love this phone case, but I drop it in the sink all the time\u201d or \u201cThat keychain would be perfect for my hiking trips, but will it ruin if it rains?\u201d As someone who\u2019s been supplying resin accessories for about 5 years now, I get this question non-stop\u2014like, almost every single day from new customers. So I figured I\u2019d break this down properly, no super jargon-heavy stuff, just real talk from someone who works with resin all day, every day.<\/p>\n

First off, let\u2019s get one thing straight: not all resin is the same. I know that\u2019s boring to hear, but hear me out. When I started this business, I used to buy cheap resin from a random craft store online, and let me tell you\u2014those pieces would get cloudy after one shower. Total waste of time and money. Now, I only use two-part epoxy resin for most of my stuff, and a specific type of UV resin for the smaller, more detailed pieces like earrings or tiny keychain charms. Big difference between those two, by the way.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the good news: most properly cured resin accessories are water-resistant, and a lot of them are actually waterproof too\u2014if<\/em> you do it right. Curing is the key here. If you rush the curing process (like, take a piece out of the mold after 12 hours instead of the full 24, or don\u2019t let it sit in a well-ventilated spot), that resin isn\u2019t fully hardened. It\u2019s kind of like a really thick, sticky gum at that point, so water can seep into it, leave spots, or even make it stick to whatever it\u2019s touching. I can\u2019t tell you how many times I\u2019ve had a customer send me a message saying their new resin bracelet got wet and \u201cmelted a little\u201d and it was because they left it to cure next to a heater or something too hot, which messes with the process.<\/p>\n

Wait, but what about the stuff you add to resin? A lot of my customers ask about glitter, dried flowers, even little tiny beads I embed in the pieces. Does that change anything? Yeah, actually\u2014depending on how I prep those add-ins. If I just shove a dried daisy into uncured resin, that flower will absorb water over time, right? It\u2019s a plant, duh. So if you get that resin piece with a dried flower in it wet, that flower will expand, maybe get mushy, and the resin around it could crack or lift a little. Same with glitter\u2014cheap craft glitter has some kind of coating that can come off if it\u2019s exposed to water a lot, especially hot water (like washing your hands with that glitter ring on). But I\u2019ve started using cosmetic-grade glitter now, and I seal all my embedded add-ins with a thin top coat of clear resin, so that cuts that problem way down. I tested a bunch of different sealants before I found the one that works best, too\u2014no sticky residue, no peeling, even after a month of being submerged in water.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about real-life use cases. Like, can you wear your resin earrings in the shower? I do. I\u2019ve had customers wear their resin necklaces swimming, too\u2014though I always warn them about chlorine. Wait, chlorine is a big one! Even if your resin is waterproof, prolonged exposure to pool chlorine or hot tub chemicals can break down that glossy finish over time. I had a guy last summer who wore his resin watch in the pool every day for a month, and the edges got a little dull. Nothing that ruined the piece, but it was a good reminder to mention that chemicals are way harder on resin than plain water. Rain? Totally fine. Washing dishes? Maybe, but I take mine off when I wash dishes because of the hot water and soap, just to be safe. Submerged for a few hours? Still fine, I\u2019ve tested that. I had a friend drop her resin keychain in a bucket of water while cleaning her garage, and it was totally good the next day\u2014no spots, no weird texture.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s the thing I always make sure customers know: there\u2019s no such thing as 100% indestructible resin. I\u2019ve had a few pieces come back because someone dropped them from a second story onto concrete, which broke the resin, obviously. Water isn\u2019t the enemy\u2014harsh impacts, extreme temperature changes, chemicals that aren\u2019t meant for resin, that\u2019s what causes issues. For example, if you leave your resin phone case in your car during a 90-degree summer day, then put it in the fridge that night, that rapid temperature shift can make the resin crack. I learned that the hard way when I left a sample piece on my dashboard and it warped a little. Oops.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s address the myths I see all over TikTok and Pinterest. One big one is \u201cresin fades if you get it wet.\u201d No, not if it\u2019s cured properly and has the right pigments. I use UV-stabilized pigments, so they don\u2019t fade from water exposure\u2014they\u2019ll fade from direct sunlight over time, same as any other colored accessory. Another myth: you can\u2019t clean resin accessories with soap. I use a mild dish soap and a soft cloth on mine all the time, and it works great. Just don\u2019t use abrasive scrubbers, like a steel wool pad, because that will scratch the finish. I had a customer ask if she could put her resin jewelry in the dishwasher, and I\u2019m like\u2026 probably not. The high heat and strong dishwasher soap is too much, so save that for your dishes, not your art.<\/p>\n

Wait, what about the cheaper resin stuff you get from craft fairs or Amazon? A lot of people message me asking why their $5 resin keychain fell apart after one rain, compared to my pieces which have lasted for years. It\u2019s all about the resin grade and the curing process, like I said earlier. Cheap craft resin is often not fully formulated to be waterproof, and they cut corners on curing time to make more pieces faster. I price my accessories a little higher than that Amazon stuff, but I stand by that\u2014knowing it\u2019s not gonna ruin after one wear is worth a few extra bucks, right? I even offer a 6-month warranty on all my resin accessories, because I know when I do it right, they last.<\/p>\n

Let me also talk about the different types of resin I use, since that makes a difference for waterproofing. Epoxy resin (the stuff I use for most larger pieces, like coasters, phone cases, bags, and larger keychains) is the most water-resistant when cured. It forms a solid, non-porous barrier, so water can\u2019t get in. UV resin (smaller pieces like earrings, tiny charms, little rings) is a little more porous, but not by much\u2014if you cure it fully under a UV lamp for the full recommended time, it\u2019s still waterproof. I make sure all my UV resin pieces get a double cure, actually, just to be extra safe. That means I put them under the lamp for an extra 10 minutes on each side, so they\u2019re super hard and non-porous.<\/p>\n

So, to sum up all this rambling: yes, most resin accessories are waterproof, as long as they\u2019re made with the right resin, cured properly, and not exposed to harsh chemicals or extreme conditions. But it\u2019s still a handmade accessory, not a rubber duck or a metal key\u2014you gotta treat it a little nicely, but it\u2019s way tougher than a lot of people give it credit for.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re thinking about stocking resin accessories for your shop, or if you just have questions about a specific piece you\u2019re eyeing, feel free to reach out. I\u2019m always happy to chat about resin tips, curing hacks, or just help you pick the right piece for your needs. No pressure, just honest answers from someone who\u2019s been in this game for years.<\/p>\n

Resin Charms<\/a> References:<\/p>\n