Coppertone vs Banana Boat 2024 (The Definitive Guide)

Stroll through the sunscreen aisle of your local beauty store and you’ll face a dizzying number of choices—two of the best brands that always stick out to us, though, are Coppertone and Banana Boat.

We’ll be comparing their best-sellers side-by-side so you can see which would suit you and your skin the best. Enjoy!

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Coppertone Sport vs Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen

When you see something on the shelves labelled as a 'sport' sunscreen, it doesn't mean that it can only be used when playing sports; it typically just means that it is lightweight, water-proof and sweat-proof, which are all just as big of a plus for day-to-day sun protection (and even lounging on a sunny beach).

Two of the best 'sport' sunscreens are the Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Lotion and the Banana Boat Sport Ultra Lotion (available in varying SPFs from 15-100).

As with all sunscreens by Coppertone and Banana Boat, they are also available not only in the form of a lotion (which we'll be comparing here), but also as a convenient spray (see: Coppertone Sport Spray / Banana Boat Sport Spray).

Expanding on the point regarding both offering broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection, both sunscreens actually contain the exact same active ingredients for sun protection, varying only slightly in concentration. To be specific, they contain: Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, and Octocrylene.

They both also contain Vitamin E which provides extra protection against acute UVB damage, and protects against cell mutation caused by sun exposure.

Where they begin to differ are their inactive ingredients lists. The Coppertone Sport Sunscreen formula contains several moisturizing agents such as Glycerin and Beeswax to condition the skin and keep skin "moisturized all day long" (their words, not ours).

Banana Boat don't make the same direct claims about their Sport Ultra Lotion being moisturizing, though it does contain a few additional moisturizing agents such as Glyceryl Stearate. Most interestingly, though, is the fact that it contains Aloe Vera extract, which offers anti-inflammatory, soothing, and anti-itch qualities (perfect for a sunscreen!).

With both boasting incredibly similar formulas, clocking in at around the same price per fluid ounce, and with it being a genuine struggle to find any real negative feedback about them anywhere online, it's incredibly difficult to separate the two. This is never a bad problem to have, though!

Whichever you choose—whether it be because of the nostalgic Coppertone scent, or the appealing Banana Boat packaging—be confident in the fact that you are getting the absolute best of the best sun protection.

Coppertone Sport Sunscreen is available as a lotion, spray, stick, and lip balm as well as a mineral sunscreen.

Banana Boat Ultra Sport Sunscreen is available as a lotion, spray, cooling spray, mineral lotion, and mineral spray.

Coppertone vs Banana Boat Tanning Lotion

Tanning lotions provide a means for achieving that radiant, deep summer tan without overexposing your skin to harmful UV rays from the sun. They are typically offered with a Sun Protection Factor of 15 or less, and are not strictly 'sunscreens' since they do not provide total protection from the sun.

Two of the best tanning lotions are: the Coppertone Tanning Sunscreen Lotion SPF 15 and the Banana Boat Dry Oil Tanning Spray SPF 15.

When comparing the Coppertone Tanning Sunscreen Lotion with Coppertone's sport suncreen we reviewed above, there is practically zero difference in formula minus the fact that the tanning lotion has lower concentrations of the active ingredients and the packaging looks different. Of course, we loved Coppertone's sport sunscreen, so it should come as no surprise that we also love Coppertone's tanning lotion since they're so similar.

Drawing further parallels with the previous comparison, Coppertone's tanning sunscreen is also available as a spray (though it is not available as a mineral sunscreen).

The Banana Boat Deep Tanning Oil Sunscreen, however, is only available as a spray, and is really quite different from their sport sunscreen that we reviewed. More specifically, it contains fewer active ingredients—Avobenzone, Homosalate and Octocrylene—and is packed with oils such as Coconut Oil and Argan Oil.

Oils supposedly help you achieve a deeper tan by allowing for an increase in the absorption of UV rays, we need not tell you the obvious risks that this poses, though.

Again, it's incredibly difficult to choose between the two, especially considering their stellar ratings and reviews all over the internet. For those that prefer lotions over sprays, the choice is a little easier since only the Coppertone Tanning Sunscreen is available as a lotion. If you prefer sprays, though, you might see better results with the Banana Boat Deep Tanning Oil Sunscreen due to its inclusion of oils.

Coppertone Best-Sellers

For the best sun protection:
Try the ULTRA GUARD Sunscreen

For the face:
Try the Face Sunscreen

For kids:
Try the KIDS Sunscreen

Banana Boat Best-Sellers

For the best sun protection:
Try the Ultra Defense MAX Sunscreen

For sensitive skin:
Try the Simply Protect Sensitive Sunscreen

For weightless protection:
Try the Light As Air Sunscreen

Work in progress

You have been reading a post that we are constantly updating. Be sure to bookmark this page, subscribe, and come back later to see additions to the definitive Coppertone vs Banana Boat guide!

This article was originally published on May 23rd 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on February 6th 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.