Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz vs Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion: which is safer?

Goddess Garden Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 6 oz is the clear pick. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch 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 Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer

Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion

PFAS grade

Poor 30/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 5

Material

Lotion base with water-resistant/waterproof polymer treatment

Confidence

45%

LikelyUndisclosed waterproofing chemistry (PFAS risk)

PossibleOrganic UV filter photosensitivity (avobenzone/octinoxate)

PossibleFragrance allergens and irritants

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 Ultra Sheer.
  • We flag Undisclosed waterproofing chemistry (PFAS risk), Organic UV filter photosensitivity (avobenzone/octinoxate), Fragrance allergens and irritants and Preservative sensitivity (parabens or alternatives) on the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer and not on the Goddess Garden.
  • The Goddess Garden is mineral-based UV filters, plant-derived waxes where the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer is Lotion base with water-resistant/waterproof polymer treatment, 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 Ultra Sheer 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