Banana Boat Kids Free Clear Sunscreen Spray SPF 50
Works for
Sun protectionSPF 50 · 4 UV filtersBroad spectrum
This product offers a good level of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.
This sunscreen uses organic (so-called "chemical") sunscreen filters. Organic, or "chemical" filters usually provide reliable sun protection and rarely leave a white cast. Sunscreens with organic filters can sting eyes.
This product can be considered "reef safe" because it does not contain the UV filters (oxybenzone and octinoxate) that can be harmful to coral reefs when present in the water in high concentrations.
MoisturizingSide benefit · Paraffinum liquidum, Ethylhexyl palmitate + 4 moreWorks well
This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: paraffinum liquidum, ethylhexyl palmitate.
Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: paraffinum liquidum
Anti-agingSide benefit the brand mentions · No ingredient credited for this claimWorks well
“Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging.”
This product can help prevent early signs of skin aging because it offers a good level of broad spectrum sun protection. Sun damage is the main cause of premature skin aging, and protecting your skin from the sun is the best anti-aging strategy.
Evens skin toneSide benefit · No ingredient credited for this claimWorks well
This product offers broad spectrum sun protection. It means that it can prevent hyperpigmentation and help keep the skin tone even (sun damage is the main factor causing age spots, darkening of post-acne marks and other discolorations).
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy7 flagged ingredientsLow risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
Be the first — your take helps the next person decide.
Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Avobenzone. An organic, or so-called "chemical" UV filter. Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Needs to be combined with other filters in a formulation to be stable.
More about Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethaneHomosalate10%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not offer meaningful protection against protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen. When used in low concentrations, helps to stabilize the product formulation
More about HomosalateEthylhexyl salicylate5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Octisalate. A UV filter. It offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about Ethylhexyl salicylateOctocrylene6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that protects against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB) and is somewhat effective against the UVA rays. It is quite stable and can help stabilize other, more vulnerable, sunscreen ingredients like Avobenzone. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about OctocryleneEthylhexyl palmitate~23–34%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An emollient that helps soften the skin and create a nice product texture
More about Ethylhexyl palmitateDimethyl ether~9.6–14.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Isohexadecane~3.6–5.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Improves the texture of the product and helps soften the skin. Helps oil and water mix together and can be used as a cleansing agent
More about IsohexadecaneCaprylyl glycol~3.5–5.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolLauryl peg-8 dimethicone~2.6–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A type of silicone that helps water and oil mix together
More about Lauryl peg-8 dimethiconePhenylisopropyl dimethicone~1.9–2.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Polyglyceryl-3 stearate/isostearate/dimer dilinoleate copolymer~1.3–1.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Methyl dihydroabietate~0.85–1.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Methyl dihydroabietateTocopheryl acetate~0.5–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateParaffinum liquidum~0.45–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Mineral oil. One of the most effective and well studied occlusive and emollient moisturizing ingredients. Helps reduce moisture loss in skin and repair skin barrier function
More about Paraffinum liquidumAloe barbadensis leaf extract~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
More about Aloe barbadensis leaf extractIngredient list view
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl palmitate, Dimethyl ether, Isohexadecane, Caprylyl glycol, Lauryl peg-8 dimethicone, Phenylisopropyl dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 stearate/isostearate/dimer dilinoleate copolymer, Methyl dihydroabietate, Tocopheryl acetate, Paraffinum liquidum, Aloe barbadensis leaf extract
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| Banana BoatKids Free Clear Sunscreen Spray SPF 50YOUR PRODUCT | e.l.f. CosmeticsSuntouchable Invisi-Stick SPF 50 Glitz | Hampton SunSPF 70 Kids UV-Advanced Mist | Hawaiian TropicIsland Sport Spray Sunscreen, SPF 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 61% | 61% | 58% |
| Price | $10.97 | $15.00+$4.03 | $34.00+$23.03 | $8.92−$2.05 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 4 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 4 of 4 |
| Key difference | — | Sunflower Seed Oil | Butyloctyl Salicylate | Panthenol |
| Irritancy | Low | Low | Low | High |
| SPF | SPF 50 | SPF 50 | SPF 70 | SPF 30 |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Equate Kids Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Spray, , SPF 50Walgreens Sport Sunscreen Continuous Spray SPF 50
Product summary
The ingredient list suggests that "Banana Boat - Kids Free Clear Sunscreen Spray SPF 50" can provide reliable sun protection. We love that it can protect from both UVA and UVB rays (not all sunscreens with SPF ratings give UVA protection. UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage our skin and lead to early aging).
This product prevents early signs of aging by protecting against sun damage (all broad spectrum sunscreens do that).
Sunscreen filters
This is a so-called "chemical" sunscreen. It means that it uses organic UV filters. They typically offer good sun protection and rarely leave a white cast, but they can be irritating for some people with sensitive skin. These are the sun protection ingredients in this sunscreen: avobenzone 3.00% (declared), octisalate 5.00% (declared), homosalate 10.00% (declared) and octocrylene 6.00% (declared).
Irritation risk
This product does not contain known common irritants and is suitable for sensitive skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this product to be low. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails at around 8.11$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 2 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2A review on the extensive skin benefits of mineral oilncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.