Coppertone Spectra3 SPF 50 compared to Banana Boat Sport SPF 50

slitman

Earning My Ears
Joined
Jul 23, 2004
Messages
18
For getting in and out of the water, I am interested in feedback in the Coppertone Spectra3 SPF 50 compared to the Banana Boat Sport SPF 50 or the Banana Boat Ultra Plus SPF 50 ? Is one more sensitive than the other? More effective? Less likely to irritate the eyes?

Also, for sensitive skin (and fair skin here), is the "baby" line of both of these products better to go with? Either of these contain more zinc oxide than the other?
 
I haven't tried either of these products, but drugstore.com might have some better info, if you haven't looked yet. They ofter have customer reviews.

epinions.com is another good site.
 
Thanks; actually looked at both of those sites already and couldn't find any reviews. Hoping to get some direct feedback from members here and their experiences with the items mentioned.
 
Banana Boat products smell so good. Call me weird, but if I'm gonna be wearing it all day in the heat, it cannot smell like suntan lotion.

I don't know if this is true, but I heard that anything over SPF 15 is overkill. That being said, I still buy 30 or 50 for my kids. And they still manage to get tanned. How is this??
 

Originally posted by hrh_disney_queen
Banana Boat products smell so good. Call me weird, but if I'm gonna be wearing it all day in the heat, it cannot smell like suntan lotion.

I don't know if this is true, but I heard that anything over SPF 15 is overkill. That being said, I still buy 30 or 50 for my kids. And they still manage to get tanned. How is this??

Sunscreen doesn't prevent you from tanning, just burning.

So putting the fragrance aside, any experience with the specific items mentioned in the posting?
 
Sorry that I can't do a "compare and contrast" but I can tell you that I LOVE the Coppertone Spectra! I started using it last year and I have been very happy with it. My only complaint about it and it is a very minor one, is that it doesn't spread terribly smoothly but it's not a big deal. We went to a water park yesterday and there was not a cloud in the sky. We all slathered up in the morning, and at lunch time I reapplied only to faces and shoulders and we were all fine. Not a red spot to be found. I may be biased too because we've always been a Coppertone family...tried other brands but always go back to it.
 
I used the Spectra on my trip to WDW last month, after seeing CaityCaity mention it here on the DIS regarding helping prevent a rash on lower legs. I have had that in the past, only in the hot months there. I used the Spectra, no rash. Not sure if that is what did it, but sure sold me on the stuff. Also, in 3 days at the parks, all in the June FL sun, I barely added a shade darker than the areas covered by clothing. Works great.

And welcome to the DIS, slitman. :wave:

Dan
 
I''ve always heard that anything over 15 is no more effective than 15 too hrh_disney_queen. We always use 15 around here and we're all tan too, if you are out there long enough you will get tan but no burns. We have always used Coppertone products -- tried and true and I love the smell.
 
Originally posted by snoopy
I''ve always heard that anything over 15 is no more effective than 15 too hrh_disney_queen. We always use 15 around here and we're all tan too, if you are out there long enough you will get tan but no burns. We have always used Coppertone products -- I like the smell of suntan lotion though.

Thanks Snoopy! So any experience with the specific products mentioned? Not with concerned with the smells or all the SPF levels that Coppertone provides, trying to get direct feedback.
 
Originally posted by slitman
....So any experience with the specific products mentioned? Not with concerned with the smells or all the SPF levels that Coppertone provides, trying to get direct feedback.
Well, getting more specific, and down to business, the Spectra I did use was the Coppertone Spectra3 SPF 50 . Hope that is considered feedback. :eek:

And how did you come by the name, slitman??
 
The Spectra 3 & any "sunblock" prevents tanning and burning. Anything with an SPF of over 15 is a sunblock under 15 is a sunscreen. You burn and tan by the same sun rays. Any Ultra block (a 3 spectrum sunblock) blocks all light spectrums, so no tanning!...although no suncreen is 100%. Trust me....High risk skin cancer person here at the dermotolgist every 3 mos for skin checks...too many years living unprotected in flordia, offical sun screen expert! The Spectra 3 is one of the best sunblocks I've ever used....I put it on and there is no indication I was ever in the sun...no tans lines nothing. The Banana Boat doesn't seem to provide the same protection. The only problem w/ the Spectra is it can be difficult to rub in, it is very thick. Also be sure to apply it 30 mins prior if possible to maximum results...from the johnhopkins website...

Use of a sunscreen with SPF of 20 to 30 offers substantial protection from sunburn and prevents tanning. High SPF sunscreens protect from burning for longer periods of time than do sunscreens with lower a SPF..

Oh and I've used the 50 & 30...either one is very effective.
 
I did not have the rub-in difficulty, seemed like most others I have used in the past. But as you said, and I earlier, no darkening at all over 3 days in the sun from early morning till late at night. I'm sold.
 
Thanks! The Coppertone Spectra3 then seems to have an edge over the Banana Boat; so what really is the difference then between the WaterBabies Spectra3 SPF 50 and the Coppertone Spectra3 SPF 50? Also, did you use the Spectra3 on your face? Any irritation or running in the eyes?
 
My kids break out in a rash with Banana Boat Baby Block spf 50

and they don't with

Coppertone Waterbabies Spectra 3 spf 50.
 
I just got back from our 2 week trip to WDW last Sunday, I used the Coppertone Spectra 3 50 sunblock and it worked great. No tan at all. I did not notice any difficulty in apply nor did I have the problem with irritation and running into my eyes like i did with the copertone sport30.
 
You know I have both...I just ran and got the bottles. Other than the pink bottle of the waterbabies and the #1 pediatrician recommendend...I don't know if there is really a difference...I kind of thought that anything over 45spf was a waterbabies brand but that maybe old info...at one time it was like that. It may just all be about name recognition...waterbabies was one of the 1st waterproof brands. I do not use them on my face. I actually usually use a "faces only" sunscreen, I have senitive skin. I've used the banana boat and coopertone "faces only" verisions with no problems. When at the parks, beach etc...I also carry one of those stick sunscreens. They are good to reapply to nose and cheecks and are very easy to carry.
 
Originally posted by slitman
.....so what really is the difference then between the WaterBabies Spectra3 SPF 50 and the Coppertone Spectra3 SPF 50? Also, did you use the Spectra3 on your face? Any irritation or running in the eyes?
Neat nickname.

I think the only difference I can see, (and I do have both) is, as mep319 said above, Babies is 'ped recommended' and container is pink in color. I did use on face, neck, ears, arms, legs all exposed skin, no irritation at all, no running in eyes.
 
Thanks for all the great information; think I have decide to go with the Coppertone Spectra3 SPF 50 as it sounds like the same amount of zinc oxide and ingredients as the Waterbabies.

So for the face, will this work just fine or go with something like Just Faces?
 







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