Frequently Asked Questions

- No, benzene is not an ingredient in any of our products. While benzene is not an ingredient in any of our products, it may be present at extremely low levels. Importantly, any potential residual benzene levels in our products do not present any consumer safety concerns and meet Health Canada’s prescribed limits for benzene in drug products.

- Consumers can feel confident using our products for the highest level of sun protection when applied as directed by the product label.

- Yes. All of our sun care products undergo rigorous testing to ensure they are appropriately labeled and meet all relevant Health Canada regulations, including the required Health Canada tests.

- Our choice of ingredients, in addition to meeting all regulatory requirements, also complies with our own principles, which are based on scientific definitions for the safe use of ingredients and strict standards established by regulatory agencies around the world.

On average, Banana Boat® products with SPF remain effective for 3 years from the date of manufacture. The date of manufacture can be found either on the bottom of the product or toward the bottom of the label.

DO:

Spray until you can see the product on your skin
Rub it in after spraying
Ask a friend to help with those hard-to-reach areas so you’re fully protected

DONT:

Apply in windy locations
Apply near open flames
Spray directly on face—instead, spray into your hand and gently rub it in

UVA is long wavelength (320-400 nm) UV and accounts for up to 95 percent of the solar UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface, according to a press release from The Skin Cancer Foundation called “Shining Light on Ultraviolet Radiation”. It can penetrate the deeper layers of the skin and has for years been thought to play a major part in skin aging and wrinkling. Importantly, recent studies strongly suggest that it may also initiate and exacerbate the development of skin cancers. UVA rays are present during all daylight hours and throughout the winter months.

Although UVA rays are less intense than short wavelengths, (UVB) they are present all year round and depending upon the time of the year, can be 30 to 50 times more prevalent than UVB rays. Furthermore, UVA radiation can penetrate glass and clouds. Thus, we are exposed to large doses of UVA throughout our lifetime. UVB is the middle range of UV with wavelengths between 290-320 nm. It is very biologically active and is responsible for burning, tanning, and acceleration of skin aging, and plays a very key role in the development of skin cancer. The intensity of UVB varies by season, location and time of day. The most significant amount of UVB hits the U.S. between 10am and 4pm between April and October.

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. This is a multiplier that tells you how much longer you can remain in the sun without a burn when wearing a sunscreen. For instance, if you can usually tolerate the sun for 10 minutes without a burn, an SPF 15 will provide you with 15 times that, or 150 minutes of protection without burning. Regardless of the SPF level you use, you should reapply sunscreen every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating to help keep your skin protected.

Everyday face lotions with SPF are great for your skin and provide protection against incidental sun exposure. For a day in the sun, look for a sunscreen with UVA & UVB protection and water-resistant protection. When used as directed, these products will provide broad-spectrum protection.

You need to consider a number of factors. How long will you be out in the sun? What is the UV Index for the day? What time of the day will you be out and what activity will you be doing? And, most importantly, what is your skin type? Use the Banana Boat® SPF Guide to find out what products are right for you. Regardless of the SPF level you use, you should reapply sunscreen every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating to help keep your skin protected.

SPF numbers don’t add up the way you might think. Using an SPF 8 and SPF 15 together won’t allow you to remain in the sun 23 times longer than without protection. It’s not an additive. You need to determine how long you’ll be in the sun, along with your skin type, and choose the appropriate SPF level for you.

For fair and very fair-skinned people, an SPF 15, and in many instances an SPF 30, does not provide enough protection on a very sunny day in the summer; and remember, the longer you are in the sun, the higher SPF level you need. Don’t forget to bring the sunscreen with you on all-day outdoor activities so that you can reapply.

The reaction of our skin to sun, either burning or tanning, is based on genetics, we inherit our ability to tan or burn. In general, fair-skinned people often burn and are rarely able to tan. Darker skins, with their increased melanin, have more natural protection, but no one is immune to sun damage. To find out which SPF is right for you, use the Banana Boat® brand SPF Guide.

Yes, but most fair-skinned folks burn their way to a tan – which puts them at a much greater risk for skin cancer. If the idea of remaining a whiter shade of pale all summer makes you sad, self-tanners can safely put a smile on your face. But remember, with a sunless tan, you still need to use sun protection when you go outside!

Photosensitization, an increased sensitivity to sun exposure, is a possible side effect of certain medication, including certain kinds of antibiotics, heart and blood pressure medicines, antihistamines and antidepressants. Consult your physician or pharmacist regarding photosensitization related to any prescription medications.

The redness associated with sunburns can take up to 24 hours to show. If you are outside and your skin begins to turn red, get out of the sun—you may already have a sunburn. Products such as Banana Boat® Aloe After Sun Gel can help soothe sunburned skin and help minimize peeling.

Our testing protocol tests our product and packaging (including transparent packaging) at elevated temperatures and sun light to confirm efficacy and durability. It is best to store products at room temperature, but they can tolerate increased temperatures when exposed.

As a general rule, sunscreen always goes on first. The reason is, the sunscreen has to bind with the skin to make it apply to absorb or block the sun's rays. In regard to make-up - sunscreen first, make-up second even if your moisturizer has an SPF in it.

Yes, but we formulate our products with kids’ and babies’ or adults’ unique needs in mind, and so it’s important to carefully consider the formulation when selecting sun care products for you and your family. For instance, we know that parents look for gentle products for their children, and so we offer specially formulated, tear-free and sting-free Kids and Baby products that also can be alcohol-free and milder to the skin than our adult products.

While our bottles and cans of Banana Boat® sunscreens components are recyclable in many areas, it is always recommended that consumers research the recycling rules in their local municipalities as recycler requirements can vary. Some materials may be required to be emptied of the contents and/or separated prior to placing in recycle bins.

While expired sunscreen is safe to use, experts agree that for sunscreen to deliver the benefits stated on the package, it should be used within three years of the manufacture date and applied as directed on package.