Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen vs UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 Tinted Moisturizing Facial Sunscreen: 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
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)
EltaMD
UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 Tinted Moisturizing Facial Sunscreen
PFAS grade
Excellent 75/100
Overall grade
Good 71/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 1
Material
Water-based moisturizing lotion with mineral UV filters (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide)
Confidence
72%
PossibleEmulsifier skin irritation or sensitization
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 Emulsifier skin irritation or sensitization on the EltaMD and not on the Derma E.
- The Derma E is Mineral sunscreen, zinc oxide base where the EltaMD is Water-based moisturizing lotion with mineral UV filters (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide), 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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