Banana Boat Ultra Protect Faces Spf 50 Pa++++
61/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Banana Boat Ultra Protect Faces is an SPF 50 PA++++ chemical sunscreen built on older-generation filters: Octocrylene, Benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone), and avobenzone. It sets to a matte finish, stays lightweight with low white cast, and is low on the pore-clogging scale, though it may sting somewhat near the eyes. It works well as a makeup base. With a score of 61.1/100 and good protection, it is a serviceable face option, though its dated filter set holds the rating back.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Good
58
- +16 Octocrylene at #2, UV filter
- +22 Benzophenone-3 at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- β6.3 UVA2 coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
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Health safety
Low
6
- +100 Starting score
- β70 Oxybenzone at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10 Propylparaben at #23, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
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Allergens
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
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Eye sting
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β22 Octocrylene at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Oxybenzone at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Heavy feel
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Paraffin at #25, wax film
- β5 Cetearyl Alcohol at #7, rich gel-network thickener
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Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Ceteth-10 Phosphate)
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Fabric stains
High
10
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β20 Oxybenzone at #3, yellow stains on white cotton
- β15 Octocrylene at #2, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- β 1 Glycerin at #16, the anchor humectant
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- β 1 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
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Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- β 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Adipate)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 6 2 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (36)
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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 16 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 22 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- β 5 rich gel-network thickener
- 1 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 film former
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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15 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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16 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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pH adjuster
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- β 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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25 Paraffin
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
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26 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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29 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
Is Banana Boat Ultra Protect Faces good?
It is decent. It scores 61.1/100 with good SPF 50 PA++++ protection, but its older-generation filters, including oxybenzone, hold the rating back.
Is the Banana Boat Ultra Protect Faces Spf 50 Pa++++ good for oily skin and under makeup?
It may suit oily skin, with a matte finish and a low pore-clogging rating, and it is rated good as a makeup base. It can sting somewhat near the eyes, so apply carefully there.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen using older-generation filters: Octocrylene, Benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone), and avobenzone, with no mineral filters.