I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Banana Boat. I received product samples and promotional item as a thank you for participating.
I love summer – doesn’t everyone? It’s so nice to have so many options for spending time outside. Swimming, BBQ’s, camping, fishing, visiting the zoo – the list goes on and on. With outdoor fun comes the need for sun protection. Banana Boat has an extensive line of sunscreen options that include products for the entire family. This summer I have been trying out a few varieties and have been pleased with all of them.
Kelsie and Drew at the Detroit Zoo.
When it comes to sun protection, most of us are the most concerned about the youngest ones. Babies have such light, delicate skin. Banana Boat’s Natural Reflect Baby sunscreen lotion is designed with wee ones in mind. It has 50+ SPF, is free of PABA and Paraben and claims to be tear and sting free and very water resistant. The only baby that I am around is Kelsie who is 4.5 months old. She hasn’t spent much time in the water this summer so I haven’t tested it in the water and she is still calm enouh and holds still enough that we haven’t gotten it too close to her eyes to test the sting or tear free claim either. We did take a long (7+ hour) zoo trip this summer and we used this sunscreen on Kelsie and she didn’t get burnt or tan. She spent about half of the trip in a stroller with the canopy over her head but we only applied the sunscreen once and it did it’s job so I am very pleased with it. I am sensitive to oily lotions and sunscreens, but this is almost not oily enough in consistency as it does take a good rubbing to get it to disappear. It works great though so I am happy to spend the extra time rubbing it in well. The container doesn’t say that it is odor free but I have to intentionally sniff the lotion to pick up any trace of a scent and even then its insanely mild – which I really appreciate.
Drew & Jorden getting ready to apply sunscreen on the way to the zoo.
After worrying about our baby’s skincare – we move on to kids, right? They still have sensitive skin adn they tend to spend lots of time in the water making them more prone to sunburn. Banana Boat has an option for kids, too. It’s called Banana Boat Kids broad spectrum sunscreen. It has 50+ SPF protection (so no SPF is lost when you move your baby up to kid sunscreen instead of baby!). It is water resistant and is designed not to sting if it accidentally gets into your eyes. Drew (almost 3) and Jorden (10) both used this during our zoo trip and both walked away burn free at the end of the day. It’s not oily but it is easy to spread and rub in. It claims to be fragrance free but it has the typical “sunscreen” smell in my opinion.
Next up is the Banana Boat Protect & Hydrate 2 in 1 sunscreen and moisturizer. This is my favorite product for using on myself because it moisturizes my skin while also protecting me from the sun. It has a 15 SPF and is water resistant for 80 minutes. I don’t really ever swim for more than 80 minutes at a time so this is perfect for me. It’s consistency is similar to that of some of my favorite lotions – spreading easily (and a little going a long way!) without feeling greasy. It has a mild “sunscreen” scent and overall, this one has everything that I look for in a sunscreen for use on myself.
Last but certainly not least is Banana Boat Sport Cool Zone sunscreen. It has a 30SPF and instead of being a lotion it sprays onto the skin and dries really quickly. It is so convenient to apply it just takes a few seconds. It stays water resistant for up to 80 minutes. It has a unique scent that the bottle describes as a refreshing clean scent and I have to agree with that. It does feel a bit cold when first applied but it’s usually warm enough outside that it just feels refreshing anyway. If you’re partial to spray sunscreens, Banana Boat makes a variety of other spray sunscreens including spray options for baby & kids.
Overall we have really enjoyed all four products and plan to keep them all in my cabinet for different uses. I love how having Banana Boat on hand means we can hit the zoo for 7+ hours, spend the day swimming, fishing or just spending a few hours at the park without having to worry about the sun. Summer doesn’t last long so I love being able to live it up while it’s here!
Planning to purchase Banana Boat this summer? Be sure to get your $1 off coupon from the Banana Boat Facebook page.
Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.
This post currently has 7 responses.
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that is the only brand we use for sunblock! We use the naturals – I like the ingredients!
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It’s so important to get the kids protected from the sun! We use it ALL THE TIME because my kids have such fair skin. We can never go without it!
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Deb E
I’m gonna take another look at Banana Boat. They sell all kinds of Banana Boat products at our 99 cent store and I need to get some new product. I think it’s good for about a year and we wear it all year-round here in California. Thanks for the review!
I love Banana boat b/c it is not greasy! summer is 75% of the year in S.E Louisiana so its a staple at my house.