Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz vs Beach Defense SPF 70 Sunscreen Lotion: which is safer?

Goddess Garden Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz is the clear pick. Neutrogena Beach Defense SPF 70 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

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

Neutrogena Beach Defense SPF 70 Sunscreen Lotion

Neutrogena

Beach Defense SPF 70 Sunscreen Lotion

PFAS grade

Poor 30/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 5

Material

Water-resistant lotion emulsion with mineral and organic UV filters

Confidence

42%

ReportedOxybenzone and avobenzone absorption

PossibleAllergic contact dermatitis from fragrance or avobenzone photodegradation

PossibleMineral filter particle inhalation (if spray applied)

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 Oxybenzone and avobenzone absorption, Allergic contact dermatitis from fragrance or avobenzone photodegradation, Mineral filter particle inhalation (if spray applied) and Ocular irritation or keratitis from residual film 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 emulsion with mineral and organic 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.
  • We are less certain about the Neutrogena grade, at 42% confidence against 78%, because it discloses less.

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