Banana Boat Lip Balm Sunscreen SPF 45
Works for
3 of 3 advertised claims delivered
Sun protectionSPF 45 · 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.
MoisturizingPetrolatum, Caprylic/capric triglyceride + 5 moreStrong evidence
“Banana Boat Sunscreen Lip Balm with Aloe Vera & Vitamin E moisturizes, conditions and protects those oh-so-sensitive lips!”
This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: caprylic/capric triglyceride, cocos nucifera oil.
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: petrolatum
Anti-agingASCORBIC ACID, RETINYL PALMITATEStrong evidence
“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.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: ParfumMedium risk
Comedogenic2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale2 flagged
User reviews
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 methoxydibenzoylmethaneOctocrylene10%
- 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 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 salicylateHomosalate10%
- 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 HomosalateOzokerite~22–33%
Caprylic/capric triglyceride~8–12%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
More about Caprylic/capric triglyceridePetrolatum~5–7.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the most effective and the most studied occlusive ingredients that creates a protective layer on top of the skin preventing moisture loss
More about PetrolatumEthylhexyl palmitate~3.8–5.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An emollient that helps soften the skin and create a nice product texture
More about Ethylhexyl palmitateOryza sativa bran wax~2.7–4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Vp/eicosene copolymer~1.9–2.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to improve the product adherence to the skin, for example, to pro-long the protective effect of sunscreens. Can be irritating to very sensitive skin
More about Vp/eicosene copolymerPeg-8~1.3–1.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to create a nice product consistency
More about Peg-8Parfum~0.95–1.45%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumSodium saccharin~0.55–1.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Tocopheryl acetate~0.45–1%
- 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 acetateCocos nucifera oil~0.45–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic
More about Cocos nucifera oilParaffinum liquidum~0.35–0.8%
- 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~0.3–0.75%
- 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, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Homosalate, Ozokerite, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Petrolatum, Ethylhexyl palmitate, Oryza sativa bran wax, Vp/eicosene copolymer, Peg-8, Parfum, Sodium saccharin, Tocopheryl acetate, Cocos nucifera oil, 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 BoatLip Balm Sunscreen SPF 45YOUR PRODUCT | CoppertoneLip Balm SPF 50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 55% |
| Price | $2.99 | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 5 of 7 |
| Key difference | — | Lanolin |
| Irritancy | Medium | Medium |
| SPF | SPF 45 | SPF 50 |
| Drying alcohol | — | — |
| View product | Shop |
Product summary
Based on the ingredients included, we believe that "Banana Boat - Lip Balm Sunscreen SPF 45" can offer reliable sun protection. It can protect from both UVA and UVB rays. This is great news because not all sunscreens with SPF ratings give UVA protection. (UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage our skin and lead to early aging).
Sunscreen filters
This sunscreen uses so-called "chemical", or organic UV filters (organic simply means that their molecules contain atoms of carbon). These filters typically give good sun protection and rarely leave a white cast, but they can be irritating for sensitive skin. The UV filters in this sunscreen are: avobenzone 3.00% (declared), octisalate 5.00% (declared), homosalate 10.00% (declared) and octocrylene 10.00% (declared).
Irritation risk
This lip product contains some common irritants, including those without a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of it to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails from 2.99$ up to 8.75$ in the United States and for 14.99£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 3 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3A review on the extensive skin benefits of mineral oilncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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