Protection + Vitamins Sunscreen Lotion vs Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz: which is safer?

Goddess Garden Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz is the clear pick. Banana Boat Protection + Vitamins Sunscreen Lotion carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

Banana Boat Protection + Vitamins Sunscreen Lotion

Banana Boat

Protection + Vitamins Sunscreen Lotion

PFAS grade

Poor 30/100

Overall grade

Bad 8/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

Oil-in-water emulsion lotion with waterproof polymer

Confidence

45%

ReportedPFAS in waterproof polymers

PossibleOrganic UV filter sensitivization (oxybenzone, avobenzone)

PossibleEmulsifier and fragrance allergens

Our pick

Goddess Garden Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz

Goddess Garden

Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz

PFAS grade

Excellent 100/100

Overall grade

Excellent 92/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

mineral-based UV filters, plant-derived waxes

Confidence

78%

PossibleFragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components

PossibleSkin irritation or photosensitivity from plant oils

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag PFAS in waterproof polymers, Organic UV filter sensitivization (oxybenzone, avobenzone), Emulsifier and fragrance allergens and Microplastics from emulsion polymers on the Banana Boat and not on the Goddess Garden.
  • We flag Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components and Skin irritation or photosensitivity from plant oils on the Goddess Garden and not on the Banana Boat.
  • The Banana Boat is Oil-in-water emulsion lotion with waterproof polymer where the Goddess Garden is mineral-based UV filters, plant-derived waxes, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 70 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Goddess Garden is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the Banana Boat grade, at 45% confidence against 78%, because it discloses less.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More sunscreen: see the full ranking