Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz vs Beach Defense SPF Sunscreen Lotion: which is safer?
Goddess Garden Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz is the clear pick. Neutrogena Beach Defense SPF 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 Sunscreen Lotion
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFragrance allergens and skin irritation
ReportedChemical UV filter photostability and skin penetration
PossibleEmulsion stability and rancidity over time
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 Fragrance allergens and skin irritation, Chemical UV filter photostability and skin penetration, Emulsion stability and rancidity over time and Silicone or synthetic polymer residue buildup on skin on the Neutrogena and not on the Goddess Garden.
- The Goddess Garden is mineral-based UV filters, plant-derived waxes where the Neutrogena is Oil and water-resistant lotion emulsion, 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 45% 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