Banana Boat Suncreen: Two Products, Not Much Difference

As summer nears, our market is flooded with various brands of sunscreen. More and more are showing up on grocery shelves and at pharmacies. How does one know the difference between sunscreens, particularly sunscreens from the same brand? In the following article I will compare two banana boats sunscreens to allow you to see the differences and similarities in the sunscreens. With hope, the next time you shop for sunscreen, you remember that the most expensive ones do not always offer the best protection. Or sometimes, you may need to spend money to get the best outcome.

Banana Boat Sunblock Sun Wear Lotion, SPF 50 comes in a 6-fluid-ounce bottle that costs $9.59, although you can get it cheaper online. Its counterpart is the Banana Boat Ultra Defense Sunblock Lotion, Maximum SPF 50. This one comes in an 8 fluid ounce bottle and retails for $10.39, although you could also find it cheaper online.

These two products are similar in many ways other than the fact that they come from the same brand. The Banana Boat Sunblock Sun Wear Lotion, SPF 50, has a sun protection factor of 50 just like the Ultra Defense Sunblock Lotion. The Sun Wear is 100% oil free, has ultra sheer clean feel when you put it on, and it has an age fighting complex that protects your skin from premature aging due to exposure to the sun. In addition, the Sun Wear also has three times the protection of UVA/UVB sun protection ingredient that will not breakdown easily while you are in the sun. It is called "AvoTriplex technology for Photostable," and it is said to help your skin look younger and bright in and out of the sun. It is dermatologist tested for allergy and other skin irritations, and does not wash off when you are in water because it is water resistant.

Some of the key ingredients are Aloe Vera and vitamin E, which are great for your skin. It moisturizes like a regular daily body lotion, and its high SPF means great protection that a regular lotion would not give you. They have a facial version just for the face, and the all over body version is great and not sticky.

On the other hand is the Ultra Defense lotion. This one is fragrance free, water proof like the Sun Wear, absorbs quickly into your skin. Like the Sun Wear, it contains the Avotiplex technology that is Photostable, which means that what you put on your skin is there and protects you from the harmful rays and premature aging caused by exposure to the sun. This is also a lightweight, non-greasy formula that is packed with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E to allow your skin to stay hydrated while being protected from the sun.

Does it sound like there are not many differences in these products? You are right. Although they sell for different prices, and have different names, these two sunscreens do essentially the same thing and most of their ingredients are the same.

My advice would be buy whichever you prefer wither by the smell (the Ultra Defense is neutral in smell but has little staining power), or buy the one you don't have to spend extra on if they essentially are the same in performance. The warning regarding both products is for consumers to apply on skin 15 minutes before exposing self to the sun, and to reapply often while doing activities like playing outside, swimming in outdoor pool,

So really what it boils down to is which one you prefer and how much are you willing to pay. People who have used these two products like them and recommend them to others.