Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM SPF 30 vs Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen: which is safer?

Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM SPF 30

CeraVe

Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM SPF 30

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Good 67/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

water-based lotion emulsion with mineral UV filters (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide)

Confidence

78%

PossiblePreservative sensitization (methylisothiazolinone)

PossibleZinc oxide occlusion and miliaria (heat rash)

Our pick

Derma E

Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen

PFAS grade

Excellent 100/100

Overall grade

Excellent 92/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Mineral sunscreen, zinc oxide base

Confidence

88%

Possible1,4-dioxane (non-intentional contaminant from surfactants/emulsifiers)

PossibleFragrance allergens (if fragrance is present)

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Preservative sensitization (methylisothiazolinone) and Zinc oxide occlusion and miliaria (heat rash) on the CeraVe and not on the Derma E.
  • We flag 1,4-dioxane (non-intentional contaminant from surfactants/emulsifiers) and Fragrance allergens (if fragrance is present) on the Derma E and not on the CeraVe.
  • The CeraVe is water-based lotion emulsion with mineral UV filters (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide) where the Derma E is Mineral sunscreen, zinc oxide base, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 25 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Derma E is the one to buy.

Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers 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 →

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