Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz vs Beach Defense SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion: which is safer?
Goddess Garden Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz is the clear pick. Neutrogena Beach Defense SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Our pick
Goddess Garden
Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components
PossibleSkin irritation or photosensitivity from plant oils
Neutrogena
Beach Defense SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
LikelyPFAS in water-resistant formulation
PossibleHeavy metals in mineral filter particles
PossibleFragrance allergens
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components and Skin irritation or photosensitivity from plant oils on the Goddess Garden and not on the Neutrogena.
- We flag PFAS in water-resistant formulation, Heavy metals in mineral filter particles and Fragrance allergens on the Neutrogena and not on the Goddess Garden.
- The Goddess Garden is mineral-based UV filters, plant-derived waxes where the Neutrogena is water-resistant lotion with mineral UV filters, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 70 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