The Best Non-Toxic Cosmetic Color Products of 2026

We scored 15 cosmetic color products for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. The top pick is MAC MAC Studio Matte Overlacquer at 90/100. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.

How to read these scores. PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Each grade is a model-based assessment built from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, brand disclosures, recalls and third-party lab results where they exist. Read the full rubric to see exactly what adds and removes points.
7% of the 15 cosmetic color products we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
PFAS Authority, September 2026. Free to cite with a link. See the full dataset.

The safest PFAS-free cosmetic color products we have scored

  1. 1
    MAC Studio Matte Overlacquer

    MAC

    Studio Matte Overlacquer

    liquid cosmetic spray, alcohol and resin based

    PFAS Grade90Excellent
    Overall Grade78Excellent
    💨

    Alcohol inhalation from spray

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Fragrance allergens and sensitizers

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Resin irritation on compromised skin

    Limited concern

    70

    Low risk. No known PFAS triggers in this cosmetic spray.

    ⚠Risky category by default

    Why this gradeBuy
  2. 2
    Mac Nail Lacquer Nail Polish Al Fredo

    MAC

    Nail Lacquer Nail Polish Al Fredo

    nail lacquer film-forming resins, pigments, solvents

    PFAS Grade75Excellent
    Overall Grade63Good
    💨

    Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) / Solvent Inhalation

    Limited concern

    70
    🧴

    Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) Plasticizer

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Fragrance Allergens and Sensitivizers

    Limited concern

    70

    Low-medium concern. Standard nail polish unlikely to contain PFAS.

    ⚠Risky category by default

    Why this gradeBuy
  3. 3
    Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color

    Sally Hansen

    Xtreme Wear Nail Color

    Nitrocellulose, plasticizers, resins, pigments

    PFAS Grade75Excellent
    Overall Grade57Good
    🧴

    Phthalate plasticizers

    Limited concern

    70
    💨

    Solvent inhalation (toluene, xylene, acetone)

    Moderate concern

    45
    ⚠️

    Skin sensitization from resins or fragrance

    Limited concern

    70

    Low-medium concern. No known PFAS-triggering ingredients present.

    ⚠Risky category by default

    Why this gradeBuy
  4. 4
    Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail

    Sally Hansen

    Xtreme Wear Nail

    nail polish, film-forming resins and solvents

    PFAS Grade75Excellent
    Overall Grade53Good
    ⚠️

    Volatile organic solvents (acetone, ethyl acetate, toluene)

    Moderate concern

    45
    💨

    Formaldehyde / VOCs

    Limited concern

    70
    🧴

    Phthalates

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Skin sensitization from resin or solvent contact

    Limited concern

    70

    Low-medium concern. No known PFAS use in typical formula.

    ⚠Risky category by default

    Why this gradeBuy
  5. 5
    Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail

    Sally Hansen

    Miracle Gel Nail

    gel nail polish, synthetic polymers and resins

    PFAS Grade75Excellent
    Overall Grade53Good
    ⚠️

    Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from uncured gel monomers

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    UV exposure from curing lamps

    Moderate concern

    45
    ⚠️

    Fragrance allergens and sensitizers

    Limited concern

    70
    🎨

    Heavy metals

    Limited concern

    70

    Low-medium concern. No known PFAS use in gel polish.

    ⚠Risky category by default

    Why this gradeBuy
  6. 6
    Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color Polish

    Sally Hansen

    Xtreme Wear Nail Color Polish

    Nail lacquer, organic solvents and film-formers

    PFAS Grade75Excellent
    Overall Grade59Good
    💨

    Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - toluene, xylene, acetone inhalation

    Limited concern

    70
    🧴

    Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or phthalate plasticizers

    Limited concern

    70
    💨

    Formaldehyde / VOCs

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Fragrance allergens and irritation from additives

    Limited concern

    70

    Low-medium concern. Standard formula with no known PFAS risk.

    ⚠Risky category by default

    Why this gradeBuy
  7. 7
    Sally Hansen New Lengths Nail Color Secrets

    Sally Hansen

    New Lengths Nail Color Secrets

    nitrocellulose, plasticizers, resins, pigments

    PFAS Grade75Excellent
    Overall Grade53Good
    💨

    Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and inhalation risk

    Moderate concern

    45
    🧴

    Phthalates

    Limited concern

    70
    💨

    Formaldehyde / VOCs

    Limited concern

    70
    🎨

    Contact sensitization from fragrance or colorants

    Limited concern

    70

    Low-medium concern. No known PFAS use in typical formulations.

    ⚠Risky category by default

    Why this gradeBuy
  8. 8
    Mega Strength Nail Sally Hansen

    Sally Hansen

    Mega Strength Nail Sally Hansen

    nail polish, organic solvents and resins

    PFAS Grade75Excellent
    Overall Grade53Good
    💨

    Volatile organic solvent inhalation (toluene, xylene, acetone)

    Limited concern

    70
    💨

    Formaldehyde / VOCs

    Moderate concern

    45
    🧴

    Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or other phthalate plasticizers

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Sensitization or allergic contact dermatitis from resins or fragrance

    Limited concern

    70

    Low-medium concern. Nail polish typically PFAS-free but check ingredients.

    ⚠Risky category by default

    Why this gradeBuy

Every cosmetic color products that passes, side by side

Sorted by score. Higher is safer. Scored against 4 hazards that apply to this category.

#Cosmetic Color ProductsScoreRatingMade of
1MAC MAC Studio Matte Overlacquer90Excellentliquid cosmetic spray, alcohol and resin based
2MAC Mac Nail Lacquer Nail Polish Al Fredo75Excellentnail lacquer film-forming resins, pigments, solvents
3Sally Hansen Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color75ExcellentNitrocellulose, plasticizers, resins, pigments
4Sally Hansen Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail75Excellentnail polish, film-forming resins and solvents
5Sally Hansen Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail75Excellentgel nail polish, synthetic polymers and resins
6Sally Hansen Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color Polish75ExcellentNail lacquer, organic solvents and film-formers
7Sally Hansen Sally Hansen New Lengths Nail Color Secrets75Excellentnitrocellulose, plasticizers, resins, pigments
8Sally Hansen Mega Strength Nail Sally Hansen75Excellentnail polish, organic solvents and resins

The cosmetic color products we would skip

Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.

Butter London Hardwear Shine UV Topcoat

Butter London

Hardwear Shine UV Topcoat

UV-curable gel topcoat, formula not publicly disclosed

PFAS Grade40Poor
Overall Grade24Bad
⚠️

Uncured resin monomers (sensitization/irritation)

Limited concern

70
⚠️

Photoinitiators and UV sensitivity

Limited concern

70
⚠️

Fragrance allergens

Limited concern

70
💨

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) off-gassing

Limited concern

70

Medium risk. No PFAS data available, limited formula transparency.

⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating

Why this gradeSafer picks →
Mac Nail Lacquer Nail Polish Al Fredo

MAC

Nail Lacquer Nail Polish Al Fredo

nail lacquer film-forming resins, pigments, solvents

PFAS Grade75Excellent
Overall Grade63Good
💨

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) / Solvent Inhalation

Limited concern

70
🧴

Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) Plasticizer

Limited concern

70
⚠️

Fragrance Allergens and Sensitivizers

Limited concern

70

Low-medium concern. Standard nail polish unlikely to contain PFAS.

⚠Risky category by default

Why this gradeBuy
Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color

Sally Hansen

Xtreme Wear Nail Color

Nitrocellulose, plasticizers, resins, pigments

PFAS Grade75Excellent
Overall Grade57Good
🧴

Phthalate plasticizers

Limited concern

70
💨

Solvent inhalation (toluene, xylene, acetone)

Moderate concern

45
⚠️

Skin sensitization from resins or fragrance

Limited concern

70

Low-medium concern. No known PFAS-triggering ingredients present.

⚠Risky category by default

Why this gradeBuy

What we check on cosmetic color products

  • Heavy metals. Lead, cadmium, arsenic and others that accumulate in the body. FDA
  • Lead. A heavy metal with no safe exposure level, especially for children. ATSDR
  • Endocrine disruptors. Chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormone system. NIEHS
  • Parabens. Cosmetic preservatives studied for weak hormone activity. FDA

Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.

The cosmetic color products brands that will not say

3 of the brands here publish nothing about PFAS at all. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is why none of them score well on disclosure.

Butter London, MAC, Sally Hansen.

Common questions about PFAS-free cosmetic color products

Is cosmetic color products PFAS free?

Mostly not. Of the 15 cosmetic color products we have scored, 7% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 14 that pass. The highest scoring is MAC MAC Studio Matte Overlacquer at 90 out of 100. The lowest is Butter London Butter London Hardwear Shine UV Topcoat at 40.

What is the safest cosmetic color products you have scored?

MAC MAC Studio Matte Overlacquer, at 90 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is liquid cosmetic spray, alcohol and resin based. The runner up is MAC Mac Nail Lacquer Nail Polish Al Fredo at 75.

Which cosmetic color products should I avoid?

The three lowest scoring we hold are Butter London Butter London Hardwear Shine UV Topcoat at 40, MAC Mac Nail Lacquer Nail Polish Al Fredo at 75, Sally Hansen Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color at 75. The problem with the first is that medium risk. No PFAS data available, limited formula transparency.

How can you tell if cosmetic color products contain PFAS?

In this category we check for heavy metals, lead, endocrine disruptors, parabens. Lead, cadmium, arsenic and others that accumulate in the body. Language like stain resistant, water repellent or easy release usually means fluorinated chemistry even when PFAS is never printed on the box.

Which cosmetic color products brands will not say whether they use PFAS?

3 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Butter London, MAC, Sally Hansen. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.

Do you lab test cosmetic color products?

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.

Get the safe list, free

The products we score each week, and the safest alternative in every category.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Does a particular brand of cosmetic color products have PFAS?

Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 15 cosmetic color products.