UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Facial Sunscreen vs Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz: which is safer?

Goddess Garden Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Facial Sunscreen

EltaMD

UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Facial Sunscreen

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Good 53/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

Water-soluble film-forming actives, mineral UV filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide), glycerin base

Confidence

72%

PossibleFragrance and fragrance allergens

PossiblePreservative-related irritation (formaldehyde releasers, parabens)

PossibleNanoparticle inhalation risk (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide powders during application)

Our pick

Goddess Garden Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz

Goddess Garden

Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz

PFAS grade

Excellent 100/100

Overall grade

Excellent 92/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

mineral-based UV filters, plant-derived waxes

Confidence

78%

PossibleFragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components

PossibleSkin irritation or photosensitivity from plant oils

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Fragrance and fragrance allergens, Preservative-related irritation (formaldehyde releasers, parabens), Nanoparticle inhalation risk (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide powders during application) and Skin irritation or contact sensitivity to mineral filters or glycerin base on the EltaMD and not on the Goddess Garden.
  • We flag Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components and Skin irritation or photosensitivity from plant oils on the Goddess Garden and not on the EltaMD.
  • The EltaMD is Water-soluble film-forming actives, mineral UV filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide), glycerin base where the Goddess Garden is mineral-based UV filters, plant-derived waxes, 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 Goddess Garden is the one to buy.

Both products run through the same public rubric: 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