I only came to use it during our trip to Surigao last March(that I am yet to blog about) and here's what I think about this product.
There are a lot of technicalities involved in picking the right sunblock. I tell ya, it took me a lot of research before I decided to get this tube. So I'm starting this review with my impressions about the product first.
Texture:Definitely lightweight, as claimed. Normally the higher the SPF, the more sticky it is. But Banana Boat Ultra Defense SPF50 isn't. It spreads easily and absorbs fast too. It also doesn't run into my eyes, which I like!
Banana Boat Ultra Defense SPF50Packaging:It comes in a tube bottle that is easy to carry around during the summer. The cap closes well so there's no spill.
Expiration date is indicated.Smell:Not a fan of the smell. I thought I'll get used to it but after many uses, I only grew to dislike it all the more.
Coverage:It doesn't have that heavy white cast that most products with high SPF does.
Price:200+ for 90ml - reasonable!
Allergy-Alert!If you're a regular reader of the reviews in this blog, you'll notice that I rarely complained about allergies. The truth is, I'm allergic to a lot of things - mainly to a variety of foods(which I try to ignore so I can develop tolerance) and dust. I don't experience a lot of allergic reaction to cosmetics or skincare products though but I did however, experience a stinging sensation from this sunblock when I applied it to my face, mainly around my cheeks. I first thought I was sunburned because it's almost the same sensation (first time I used this, I had been soaking in the water for a good hour already - long story). But I had the same experience again when I applied this prior to sun-exposure.
Likes:LightweightDoesn't give you a white castDoesn't run to your eyes.Waterproof.Reasonably priced.Sufficient SPF - broad spectrum
Dislikes:SmellI'm allergic! :(
No ratings. Can't reasonably rate something I'm allergic at.
Recommend?Yes. It's a good sunblock actually, for people who aren't allergic to it. And I don't anyone else who is.
Repurchase?No.
Why SPF 50?Banana Boat has an SPF 80 and SPF 110 version. If you're THAT particular about getting sunburned, you'll be easily drawn to those bottles instead. But after reading this article, I came to know more about how SPFs work.
What I learned from it is that SPF 15 blocks about 93% of UVB rays while SPF 30 blocks 97%. As SPF goes higher the smaller the difference is between the UVB protection that they can offer. If you think about it, SPF 30 is really enough.
ReapplicationRather than going for SPFs higher than 30, it's more important to make sure that you reapply sunscreen every two hours or so. As I noticed, the higher the SPF of a sunscreen is, the more expensive it is. To be practical, I decided to go for the cheaper sunscreen with just enough SPF so I can have more products for reapplication.
UVASPF only protects against UVB. UVB causes sunburn but it's really UVA that is the evil behind skin cancer and skin aging because it penetrates deeper to the skin. That is why it's important to look for a sunscreen that has a "broad spectrum". Look for avobenzone in the ingredients. Banana Boat Ultra Defense SPF50 happened to have that ingredient and is able to provide good UVA protection.
What about you? what sunblock do you use for the summer?
