Daily Sun Serum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen vs Clear Face Oil-Free 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
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possible1,4-dioxane (non-intentional contaminant from surfactants/emulsifiers)
PossibleFragrance allergens (if fragrance is present)
Neutrogena
Clear Face Oil-Free Sunscreen
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleUV filter allergenicity and photostability
PossiblePreservative allergens (formaldehyde-releasers, parabens)
PossibleSilicone accumulation and comedogenicity
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 Neutrogena.
- We flag UV filter allergenicity and photostability, Preservative allergens (formaldehyde-releasers, parabens) and Silicone accumulation and comedogenicity on the Neutrogena and not on the Derma E.
- The Derma E is Mineral sunscreen, zinc oxide base where the Neutrogena is Oil-free sunscreen (aqueous base with UV filters, silicones), 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.
- We are less certain about the Neutrogena grade, at 45% confidence against 88%, because it discloses less.
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