Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen vs UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46: 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
UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFragrance allergens and sensitizers
PossiblePhenoxyethanol preservative safety
PossibleSilicone or dimethicone residue buildup on skin
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 Fragrance allergens and sensitizers, Phenoxyethanol preservative safety and Silicone or dimethicone residue buildup on skin on the EltaMD and not on the Derma E.
- The Derma E is Mineral sunscreen, zinc oxide base where the EltaMD is Water-based sunscreen lotion; primary actives likely zinc oxide/avobenzone, 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 →
More sunscreen, see the full ranking