Banana Boat Protective Tanning Oil SPF 15
62/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Banana Boat Protective Tanning Oil SPF 15 is a low-SPF chemical tanning oil using Homosalate, Octisalate, Avobenzone, and Octocrylene. It has a dewy, lightweight finish with low white cast, with a medium chance of stinging. SPF 15 offers only baseline protection, so it is meant for tanning rather than serious sun defense. With a good in-category protection rating but a score of 61.5/100, it suits intentional tanning sessions, not all-day coverage.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
57
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #6, UV filter
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
π€§
Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter at #13, butter/occlusive fat
- β3 Coconut Oil at #12, heavy oil
- β10 Paraffinum Liquidum at #1, heavy oil
π΄
Comedogenic
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- β7 Isopropyl Myristate at #9, heavy comedogenic ester
- β7 Coconut Oil at #12, comedogenic oil/butter
- β2 Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter at #13, comedogenic oil/butter
π
Fungal acne
High
36
- +100 Starting score
- β50 5 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Coconut Oil)
- β14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Myristate)
- +0 Paraffinum Liquidum at #1, a safe base that does not feed Malassezia
π
Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #5, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #6, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
π§
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 6 5 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, β¦)
β¨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- β 16 6 emollient lipids (Coconut Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, β¦)
- β 2 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Myristate)
- β 8 Occlusives seal moisture in (Paraffinum Liquidum)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 14 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (20)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 10 heavy oil
- 8 β dewy occlusive
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 β dewy emollient lipid
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- β 7.6 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- β 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- β 15.2 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 7 heavy comedogenic ester
- 2 β dewy slippy emollient ester
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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11 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
12 Coconut Oil
Plant oil, an emollient
- β 3 heavy oil
- β 7 comedogenic oil/butter
- 2 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
- β 2 butter/occlusive fat
- β 2 comedogenic oil/butter
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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17 Zea Mays Oil
Plant oil, an emollient
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
What SPF is Banana Boat Protective Tanning Oil?
It is SPF 15, which offers only baseline sun protection. It is designed for intentional tanning rather than extended sun defense.
Is the Banana Boat Protective Tanning Oil SPF 15 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen oil, using Homosalate, Octisalate, Avobenzone, and Octocrylene. It has a dewy, lightweight feel with low white cast.
Is this tanning oil any good?
It scores 61.5/100 and suits its purpose as a tanning oil, with a medium chance of stinging. For serious all-day protection, a higher SPF is generally a better choice.