Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz vs Hydro Boost Sunscreen Water Gel Lotion SPF: which is safer?
Goddess Garden Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz is the clear pick. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Sunscreen Water Gel Lotion SPF 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
Hydro Boost Sunscreen Water Gel Lotion SPF
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
LikelyUndisclosed waterproofing agents (likely fluorinated)
Possible1,4-dioxane (common gel emulsifier contaminant)
PossibleFragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Skin irritation or photosensitivity from plant oils on the Goddess Garden and not on the Neutrogena.
- We flag Undisclosed waterproofing agents (likely fluorinated), 1,4-dioxane (common gel emulsifier contaminant) and Preservative system stability under UV and heat on the Neutrogena and not on the Goddess Garden.
- Both carry a flag for Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components, so neither choice avoids it.
- The Goddess Garden is mineral-based UV filters, plant-derived waxes where the Neutrogena is water-based gel lotion with waterproofing agent, 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