Banana Boat SunComfort Sunscreen SPF 30
Works for
3 of 3 advertised claims delivered
Sun protectionSPF 30 · 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.
Moisturizing7 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“The unique sunscreen allows sand to brush off easily while it moisturizes and protects your skin.”
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
panthenol, caprylyl glycol.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: dimethicone, isododecane.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol, paraffinum liquidum
Anti-aging1 ingredient credited for this claimStrong support
“helps prevent sunburn if used as directed with other sun protection measures (see directions), decreases the risk of skin cancer and early sun aging caused by the sun.”
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 toneNot advertised by the brand · No ingredient credited for this claimStrong support
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?
Irritancy2 strong irritants: Benzophenone-3, ParfumMedium risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone 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 methoxydibenzoylmethane2%
- 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 methoxydibenzoylmethaneHomosalate7%
- 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 HomosalateOctocrylene1.5%
- 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 OctocryleneBenzophenone-33%
- Irritation risk
- High
Same as oxybenzone. Protects in the UVB and short UVA range. In small concentrations, used to stabilize product formulation. Can be irritating. Is shown to be harmful to coral reefs - consider avoiding bathing in coral reef areas when wearing a product with this ingredient. It can penetrate the skin and get absorbed into bloodstream faster than other popular filters available in the US. The study that produced this finding did not address any potential health effects of the absorption
More about Benzophenone-3Alcohol denat.~24–35%
- Irritation risk
- High
Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products
More about Alcohol denat.Isobutane~5.5–8.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
Isododecane~4.7–7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin and can decrease moisture loss. Helps create a nice product texture
More about IsododecaneDiisopropyl adipate~3.7–5.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Diisopropyl adipateVa/butyl maleate/isobornyl acrylate copolymer~2.7–4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Caprylyl glycol~2.2–3.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolDimethicone~1.9–2.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
More about DimethiconeAscorbyl palmitate~1–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable and can penetrate the skin better than L-Ascorbic acid. It is effective in protecting the skin from free radicals, as well as evening the skin tone, but is less effective in stimulating collagen production compared to L-Ascorbic acid.
More about Ascorbyl palmitateTocopheryl acetate~0.6–1.4%
- 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~0.55–1.3%
- 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 liquidumPanthenol~0.3–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
More about PanthenolWater~0.1–0.5%
Aloe barbadensis leaf extract~0.2–0.8%
- 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 extractParfum~0.05–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumIngredient list view
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Benzophenone-3, Alcohol denat., Isobutane, Isododecane, Diisopropyl adipate, Va/butyl maleate/isobornyl acrylate copolymer, Caprylyl glycol, Dimethicone, Ascorbyl palmitate, Tocopheryl acetate, Paraffinum liquidum, Panthenol, Water, Aloe barbadensis leaf extract, Parfum
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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 BoatSunComfort Sunscreen SPF 30YOUR PRODUCT | Hawaiian TropicEveryday Active Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Spray, SPF 50 | EquateKids Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Spray Twin Pack, SPF 50 | WalgreensKids SPF50 Continuous Spray | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 70% | 57% | 55% |
| Price | $7.84 | $13.99+$6.15 | $6.64−$1.20 | $8.99+$1.15 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 6 of 7 | 5 of 7 | 5 of 7 |
| Key difference | — | — | — | — |
| Irritancy | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| SPF | SPF 30 | SPF 50 | SPF 50 | SPF 50 |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
The ingredient list suggests that "Banana Boat - SunComfort Sunscreen SPF 30" can provide reliable sun protection. We love that it can protect from both UVA and UVB rays (not all sunscreens with SPF ratings give UVA protection. UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage our skin and lead to early aging).
This product should also be hydrating enough to use without an additional moisturizer during the day. Like all broad-spectrum sunscreens, this product has an anti-aging benefit.
Sunscreen filters
This sunscreen uses so-called "chemical", or organic UV filters (organic simply means that their molecules contain atoms of carbon). These filters typically give good sun protection and rarely leave a white cast, but they can be irritating for sensitive skin. The UV filters in this sunscreen are: oxybenzone 3.00% (declared), avobenzone 2.00% (declared), homosalate 7.00% (declared) and octocrylene 1.50% (declared).
Irritation risk
There are some common irritants in this product, including ingredients that do not have benefits for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this sunscreen to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails from 7.84$ up to 12.99$ in the United States and for 33.02£ 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 9 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4On Photostability of Oxybenzonecore.ac.uk
- 5
- 6Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
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