Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen vs Tinted UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40: which is safer?
Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Derma E
Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possible1,4-dioxane (non-intentional contaminant from surfactants/emulsifiers)
PossibleFragrance allergens (if fragrance is present)
EltaMD
Tinted UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleHeavy metals in iron oxide pigments (lead, cadmium, arsenic)
PossibleFormaldehyde releasers or preservative irritation
PossibleCoating or particle shedding (nanoparticle zinc oxide concern)
Where these two actually differ
- 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 EltaMD.
- We flag Heavy metals in iron oxide pigments (lead, cadmium, arsenic), Formaldehyde releasers or preservative irritation and Coating or particle shedding (nanoparticle zinc oxide concern) on the EltaMD and not on the Derma E.
- The Derma E is Mineral sunscreen, zinc oxide base where the EltaMD is Mineral sunscreen actives (zinc oxide) in liquid suspension with tinting pigments, 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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