The Best Non-Toxic Sunscreen of 2026
211 of the 218 sunscreen products PFAS Authority has graded reach its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 96.8% of the category, as of October 2026, and 7 score below it. The highest graded is Derma E Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen at 100 out of 100.
Every grade below is built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, scored on one public rubric and ranked best-graded first. Each score links to the full breakdown of what earned it, and the numbers across the whole dataset are published too.
Is sunscreen non-toxic?
211 of the 218 sunscreen products we graded clear our screen and 7 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on sunscreen products in this category are undisclosed fragrance, VOCs and off-gassing, endocrine disruptors, 1,4-dioxane, artificial dyes. The highest graded here is Derma E Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen at 100 out of 100.
Quick picks
Best overall
Derma E Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral SunscreenHighest PFAS grade in the category
100 Excellent
Third-party certified
Earth Mama Baby Face Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 40Carries a certification from an outside body
100 Excellent
A second brand to consider
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30The best grade here from a brand other than the winner
75 Excellent
Why Derma E Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen wins, and what it beats
Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 1 product it beats, so you can see exactly where the 25 points between the top and the bottom of this sunscreen ranking come from.
The winner
Made of Mineral sunscreen, zinc oxide base.
- +20Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
- -30Third-party PFAS-free verification. A third party reports verifying this product as PFAS-free.
- -40No PFAS found in lab test. No PFAS detected in independent testing.
What the grade does not fix. Nothing specific to this product adds risk, so what remains is the category baseline that every product here starts from, and our graders recorded 2 other hazards on it. See the full breakdown.
What it beats, and why
What puts it behind. No PFAS disclosure, +15 points. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Aqueous lotion with mineral sunscreen (titanium dioxide/zinc oxide) and ceramides.
- +20Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS
25risk points, a grade of 75
No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.
What to watch for in sunscreen
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 218 sunscreen products in this category. We assess from materials, brand statements and published research. We do not lab-test.
- Undisclosed fragrance
A single word on a label that can stand for dozens of undeclared ingredients, protected as trade secret.
Found on 7 of these sunscreen products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 181 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- VOCs and off-gassing
Volatile compounds that evaporate out of a material at room temperature, which is what a new product smell is.
Found on 4 of these sunscreen products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 28 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Endocrine disruptors
Any chemical that interferes with the hormone system, rather than one specific substance.
Found on 4 of these sunscreen products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 7 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NIEHS
- 1,4-dioxane
A contaminant created during manufacturing rather than added, so it never appears on an ingredient list.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 37 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 31 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
The safest sunscreen we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
- 1
Third-party verified
- Mineral sunscreen, zinc oxide base
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- 1,4-dioxane (non-intentional contaminant from surfactants/emulsifiers)
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 2
Third-party verified
- mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide base)
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Synthetic fragrance allergens
- 3
- Aqueous lotion with mineral sunscreen (titanium dioxide/zinc oxide) and ceramides
- Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 4
- mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components
- 5
Third-party verified
- mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide), tin packaging
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Preservative toxicity (if present)
- 6
Third-party verified
- mineral UV filters, water and plant extracts
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 7
- mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Heavy metals
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 8
- Water-based facial moisturizer (organic oils, plant extracts, emulsifiers)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens (undisclosed blend components)
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
What the evidence says about PFAS in sunscreen
The US FDA lists PTFE, perfluorononyl dimethicone and perfluorohexylethyl triethoxysilane among the common PFAS ingredients in cosmetics and advises reading the ingredient label. In December 2025 it reported that 51 PFAS are used in 1,744 cosmetic formulations and that toxicological data for most of the 25 it evaluated are incomplete or unavailable. For active ingredients, the FDA’s 2021 proposed order proposes that sunscreens made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are generally recognized as safe and effective, and in September 2026 the FDA finalized one part of it, removing PABA and trolamine salicylate from over-the-counter sunscreens. California and Minnesota have banned cosmetics with intentionally added PFAS since January 2025.
- Regulatory filingIn its 2021 proposed order the US FDA proposed that sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are generally recognized as safe and effective, and said 12 other active ingredients, including oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate and octocrylene, need more data. US FDA ↗
- Regulatory filingOn September 10, 2026 the FDA issued a final order removing PABA and trolamine salicylate from over-the-counter sunscreens, saying the risks of these ingredients outweigh their benefits, and said it is not aware of any US sunscreens that contain them. US FDA ↗
- Regulatory filingThe FDA lists polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluorononyl dimethicone and perfluorohexylethyl triethoxysilane among the common PFAS ingredients in cosmetics, and advises people who want to avoid PFAS to read the ingredient label. US FDA ↗
- Regulatory filingIn December 2025 the FDA reported that 51 PFAS are used in 1,744 cosmetic formulations, and said toxicological data for most of the 25 it evaluated are incomplete or unavailable. US FDA ↗
- Regulatory filingThe FDA treats moisturizers and makeup marketed with sun protection claims as both cosmetics and drugs, so they must meet the requirements for both. US FDA ↗
- Regulatory filingCalifornia has banned the manufacture and sale of cosmetics with intentionally added PFAS since January 1, 2025. California Legislature ↗
- Regulatory filingMinnesota has banned the sale of cosmetics with intentionally added PFAS since January 1, 2025. Minnesota Revisor of Statutes ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.
Questions people ask about sunscreen
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Every sunscreen that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. A higher score means lower PFAS risk. Scored against 3 hazards that apply to this category.
| # | Sunscreen | Score | Rating | Made of | Key concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derma E Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen | 100 | Excellent | Mineral sunscreen, zinc oxide base | 1,4-dioxane (non-intentional contaminant from surfactants/emulsifiers) |
| 2 | Earth Mama Baby Face Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 40 | 100 | Excellent | mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide base) | Synthetic fragrance allergens |
| 3 | CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 | 75 | Excellent | Aqueous lotion with mineral sunscreen (titanium dioxide/zinc oxide) and ceramides | Fragrance allergens and sensitizers |
| 4 | Raw Elements Eco Formula SPF 30 Sunscreen | 75 | Excellent | mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) | Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components |
| 5 | Raw Elements Face & Body Sunscreen Tin SPF 30 | 75 | Excellent | mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide), tin packaging | Preservative toxicity (if present) |
| 6 | Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen Green Tea SPF 45 | 75 | Excellent | mineral UV filters, water and plant extracts | Fragrance allergens |
| 7 | Banana Boat Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 | 75 | Excellent | mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) | Heavy metals |
| 8 | Blue Tansy Wild Carrot Herbals Blue Tansy Facial Moisturizer | 75 | Excellent | Water-based facial moisturizer (organic oils, plant extracts, emulsifiers) | Fragrance allergens (undisclosed blend components) |
The verdict on sunscreen
Derma E Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen grades 100 out of 100, the highest here. It is mineral sunscreen, zinc oxide base. A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free.
Choose Earth Mama Baby Face Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 40 instead if you want a second option at 100 out of 100, mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide base).
If an outside certification matters more to you than the grade, that is Earth Mama Baby Face Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 40.
We hold no price data, so nothing here is a budget recommendation. Grades are model-based assessments from published materials and disclosures, not laboratory tests.
The sunscreen we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 30Poor
- 65Derma E Vitamin C Weightless Moisturizer SPF 45Good
Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components
- 65Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40Good
Heavy metals
What we check on sunscreen
- Endocrine disruptors. Chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormone system. NIEHS
- Parabens. Cosmetic preservatives studied for weak hormone activity. FDA
- Phthalates. Plastic softeners studied for endocrine effects. ATSDR
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The sunscreen brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 38 of the brands here. That is our research, not proof a brand has never said anything, and it is not evidence of harm. It is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Acure, Alba Botanica, Anasol, Australian Gold, Aveeno, Avene, Banana Boat, Blue Lizard, Blue Tansy, Cetaphil, Cocokind, Colorescience.
The brands that have published something, and what each of them actually said, are in our record of what every brand has said about PFAS.
Common questions about PFAS in sunscreen
Is sunscreen PFAS free?
211 of the 218 sunscreen products PFAS Authority has graded reach its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 96.8% of the category, as of October 2026, and 7 score below it. The highest graded is Derma E Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen at 100 out of 100. The lowest graded is Pacifica Coconut Probiotic Mineral Face Stick SPF 50 at 30 out of 100.
Is sunscreen non-toxic?
211 of the 218 sunscreen products we graded clear our screen and 7 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on sunscreen products in this category are undisclosed fragrance, VOCs and off-gassing, endocrine disruptors, 1,4-dioxane, artificial dyes. The highest graded here is Derma E Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen at 100 out of 100.
What is the safest sunscreen to buy?
On our grades, Derma E Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen at 100 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. Then Earth Mama Baby Face Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 40 at 100. The one here carrying an outside certification is Earth Mama Baby Face Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 40. These are model-based assessments from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and disclosures, not laboratory tests, so treat them as the lowest risk we can evidence rather than a safety guarantee.
Which sunscreen grades best for PFAS?
Derma E Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen, at 100 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is mineral sunscreen, zinc oxide base. The runner up is Earth Mama Baby Face Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 40 at 100.
Which sunscreen should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Pacifica Coconut Probiotic Mineral Face Stick SPF 50 at 30, Derma E Vitamin C Weightless Moisturizer SPF 45 at 65, Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 at 65. The problem with the first is that mineral stick formula suggests lower PFAS concern; waterproofing not disclosed.
How can you tell if sunscreen contains PFAS?
In this category we check for endocrine disruptors, parabens, phthalates. Chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormone system. Language like stain resistant, water repellent or easy release usually means fluorinated chemistry even when PFAS is never printed on the box.
Which sunscreen brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 38 of the brands we scored in this category, including Acure, Alba Botanica, Anasol, Australian Gold, Aveeno, Avene. That is what our research turned up, not proof a brand has never said anything, and a missing statement is not evidence of harm. It is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test sunscreen?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
More beauty and personal care categories we have graded
Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to sunscreen.
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Does a particular brand of sunscreen have PFAS?
Brands we grade across the catalogue
Everything we have scored from these brands, not just sunscreen.
We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Sunscreen, Which Brands Grade Best and Worst
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 218 sunscreen.