The Best Non-Toxic Setting Spray of 2026
9 of the 16 setting spray products PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 56.3% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 7 that pass. The highest graded is Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Primer at 85 out of 100.
Every grade below is built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, scored on one public rubric and ranked best-graded first. Each score links to the full breakdown of what earned it, and the numbers across the whole dataset are published too.
Is setting spray non-toxic?
7 of the 16 setting spray products we graded clear our screen and 9 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on setting spray products in this category are undisclosed fragrance, VOCs and off-gassing, formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, pesticide residue. The highest graded here is Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Primer at 85 out of 100.
Quick picks
Best overall
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch PrimerHighest PFAS grade in the category
85 Excellent
A second brand to consider
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Mattify Blur Set KitThe best grade here from a brand other than the winner
75 Excellent
Why Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Primer wins, and what it beats
Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 1 product it beats, so you can see exactly where the 55 points between the top and the bottom of this setting spray ranking come from.
The winner
Made of Silicone, polymers, pigments.
- +15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
- +10Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
15risk points in total, which is a grade of 85
What the grade does not fix. It still carries one risk factor, No PFAS disclosure, and our graders recorded 2 other hazards on it. See the full breakdown.
What it beats, and why
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of spray formulation with water resistance properties.
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +20Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure
70risk points, a grade of 30
No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.
What to watch for in setting spray
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 16 setting spray products in this category. We assess from materials, brand statements and published research. We do not lab-test.
- Undisclosed fragrance
A single word on a label that can stand for dozens of undeclared ingredients, protected as trade secret.
Found on 3 of these setting spray products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 11 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- VOCs and off-gassing
Volatile compounds that evaporate out of a material at room temperature, which is what a new product smell is.
Found on 3 of these setting spray products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 7 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Formaldehyde
A preservative and resin ingredient that is also released slowly by a group of chemicals used in its place.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 3 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NCI
- 1,4-dioxane
A contaminant created during manufacturing rather than added, so it never appears on an ingredient list.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 3 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Pesticide residue
What remains on or in a crop after treatment, and in the textiles made from it.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 1 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
The safest setting spray we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
- 1
Highest grade here
- Silicone, polymers, pigments
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens and 1,4-dioxane
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 2
- cosmetic powders and pigments with silica/talc base
- silica inhalation risk during airbrush application
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 3
- water-based formula with glycerin and botanical extracts
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 4
- Silicone polymers, mineral pigments, water-based emulsion
- Formaldehyde / VOCs
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 5
- pigments, polymers, silicones in powder/cream cosmetic
- Heavy metals
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 6
Estée Lauder
Estee Lauder The Mattifier Shine Control Perfecting Primer and Finisher
75ExcellentPFAS grade- silicones, talc, pigments, waxes
- Talc inhalation risk
- 7
- Silicone, glycerin, water, pigments
- Fragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
What the evidence says about PFAS in setting spray
A 2021 University of Notre Dame study screened more than 200 cosmetics and found high fluorine, an indicator of PFAS use, in 56 percent of foundations and eye products, 48 percent of lip products and 47 percent of mascaras, and only one of the 29 products found to contain specific PFAS listed them on the label. The US FDA reported in December 2025 that eye shadows, leave-on face products, eyeliners, face powders and foundations make up about 56 percent of PFAS-containing cosmetics, and that toxicological data for most of the PFAS it evaluated are incomplete. Vermont has banned cosmetics with intentionally added PFAS since January 2026, and Oregon’s ban starts in January 2027.
- StudyA University of Notre Dame study screened more than 200 cosmetics and found high fluorine, an indicator of PFAS use, in 56 percent of foundations and eye products, 48 percent of lip products and 47 percent of mascaras. University of Notre Dame ↗
- StudyIn the same study, 29 high-fluorine products tested further contained between four and 13 specific PFAS, and only one of them listed PFAS as an ingredient on its label. University of Notre Dame ↗
- Government sourceThe FDA’s December 2025 report says PFAS-containing products were 0.41 percent of cosmetics registered as of August 2024, and that eye shadows, leave-on face and neck products, eyeliners, face powders and foundations make up about 56 percent of them. US FDA report ↗
- Government sourceThe FDA evaluated the 25 most frequently used PFAS in cosmetics, about 96 percent of those intentionally added, and found toxicological data for most of them incomplete or unavailable. US FDA ↗
- Regulatory filingVermont’s attorney general says state law has barred selling cosmetic products with intentionally added PFAS in any amount since January 1, 2026. Vermont Office of the Attorney General ↗
- Regulatory filingOregon’s SB 546 bars manufacturers from knowingly selling cosmetics with intentionally added PFAS above the practical quantification limit, from January 1, 2027. Oregon Legislature ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.
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Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Every setting spray that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. A higher score means lower PFAS risk.
| # | Setting Spray | Score | Rating | Made of | Key concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Primer | 85 | Excellent | Silicone, polymers, pigments | Fragrance allergens and 1,4-dioxane |
| 2 | Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Mattify Blur Set Kit | 75 | Excellent | cosmetic powders and pigments with silica/talc base | silica inhalation risk during airbrush application |
| 3 | Charlotte Tilbury Magic Hydrator Mist | 75 | Excellent | water-based formula with glycerin and botanical extracts | Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components |
| 4 | Estée Lauder The Illuminator Radiant Perfecting Primer + Finisher | 75 | Excellent | Silicone polymers, mineral pigments, water-based emulsion | Formaldehyde / VOCs |
| 5 | Estée Lauder Estee Lauder Matte Perfecting | 75 | Excellent | pigments, polymers, silicones in powder/cream cosmetic | Heavy metals |
| 6 | Estée Lauder Estee Lauder The Mattifier Shine Control Perfecting Primer and Finisher | 75 | Excellent | silicones, talc, pigments, waxes | Talc inhalation risk |
| 7 | Estée Lauder Estee Lauder The Smoother Universal Perfecting Primer | 75 | Excellent | Silicone, glycerin, water, pigments | Fragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components |
The verdict on setting spray
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Primer grades 85 out of 100, the highest here. It is silicone, polymers, pigments. We found no PFAS statement from the brand, so the grade rests on materials alone.
Choose Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Mattify Blur Set Kit instead if you want a second option at 75 out of 100, cosmetic powders and pigments with silica/talc base.
We hold no price data, so nothing here is a budget recommendation. Grades are model-based assessments from published materials and disclosures, not laboratory tests.
The setting spray we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 30Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Matte Setting SprayPoor
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
- 30Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Mini Setting Spray KitPoor
1,4-dioxane (solvent contaminant)
- 30Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray DuoPoor
1,4-dioxane (solvent and processing contaminant)
What we check on setting spray
- Confirmed PFAS, PTFE or fluoropolymer content, which is the heaviest penalty we apply.
- Stain, water or grease resistant treatments, which usually mean fluorinated chemistry.
- Whether the brand discloses what is in the product, or stays silent behind a “clean” claim.
- Independent lab results and certifications where they exist.
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
Common questions about PFAS in setting spray
Is setting spray PFAS free?
9 of the 16 setting spray products PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 56.3% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 7 that pass. The highest graded is Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Primer at 85 out of 100. The lowest graded is Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Matte Setting Spray at 30 out of 100.
Is setting spray non-toxic?
7 of the 16 setting spray products we graded clear our screen and 9 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on setting spray products in this category are undisclosed fragrance, VOCs and off-gassing, formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, pesticide residue. The highest graded here is Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Primer at 85 out of 100.
What is the safest setting spray to buy?
On our grades, Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Primer at 85 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. Then Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Mattify Blur Set Kit at 75. These are model-based assessments from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and disclosures, not laboratory tests, so treat them as the lowest risk we can evidence rather than a safety guarantee.
Which setting spray grades best for PFAS?
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Primer, at 85 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is silicone, polymers, pigments. The runner up is Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Mattify Blur Set Kit at 75.
Which setting spray should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Matte Setting Spray at 30, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Mini Setting Spray Kit at 30, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray Duo at 30. The problem with the first is that water-resistant spray setting product without PFAS disclosure.
Do you lab test setting spray?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
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