Banana Boat Baby Zinc Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+: What CHOICE Measured
Last updated September 13, 2026
CHOICE measured SPF 28 against a label of SPF 50+ in June 2025; Edgewell said its own independent testing showed the product exceeded the claim.
The second Banana Boat product in the CHOICE round, and the lower of the two results: 28 against a claim of 50+ on a sunscreen sold for babies.
What was tested
CHOICE measured SPF 28, 12 June 2025
CHOICE measured SPF 28 against a label of SPF 50+. In the body's own words:
Banana Boat Baby Zinc Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – tested at 28
Method, as CHOICE states it: AS/NZS 2604:2021, incorporating ISO 24444 (in vivo SPF) and ISO 24443 (in vitro UVA); a 10-person panel under a solar simulator, run at Eurofins Dermatest in Sydney.
What the brand said
Edgewell, which owns Banana Boat, rejected the finding in a statement to CHOICE.
Independent test results show that these products not only meet but exceed their SPF 50+ (4 hour water resistant) claim.
What happened next
Market status: no change has been published by any source cited here. Statuses in this story moved repeatedly between 2025 and 2026, so check the regulator before assuming a product is still on sale.
Alternatives that passed
CHOICE reported that four of the 20 sunscreens it tested returned a measured SPF at or above the claim on the label. Two of the four cleared the claim with margin: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Wet Skin SPF 50+, measured at 72, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Lotion SPF 50, measured at 56.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Banana Boat dispute the result?
Yes. Edgewell told CHOICE that independent test results show the products not only meet but exceed their SPF 50+ four-hour water resistant claim.
Does a measured SPF 28 still count as protection?
The TGA states that SPFs in the range of 30 to 59 provide high protection and that products with an SPF of 30 are effective to use. A measured 28 sits just below that band and far below the claim on the bottle.
SPF List did not test this product. The results on this page were published by the named test body or regulator; quotes and links go to the original publication. Brand responses and later developments are listed where they were published. Formulations change; a result applies to the batch and date tested.