The Best Non-Toxic Cosmetics of 2026
We scored 8 cosmetics for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. The top pick is bareMinerals bareMinerals Mineral Makeup at 100/100. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.
50% of the 8 cosmetics we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free cosmetics we have scored
- 1
bareMinerals
Mineral Makeup
PFAS Grade100ExcellentOverall Grade92Excellent💨70Inhalation risk from powder format
Limited concern
⚠️70Microbial growth in powder due to low or absent preservatives
Limited concern
Low risk. Mineral-based makeup avoids PFAS entirely.
⚠Risky category by default
- 2
Ilia Beauty
Clean Makeup
PFAS Grade100ExcellentOverall Grade96Excellent🧠70Lead
Limited concern
Low risk. Clean formulations avoid PFAS-based chemistries.
⚠Risky category by default
- 3
RMS Beauty
Organic Makeup
PFAS Grade100ExcellentOverall Grade84Excellent🧠70Lead
Limited concern
🏷️70Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components
Limited concern
🐛70Pesticide residue
Limited concern
⚠️70Oxidation and rancidity of plant oils
Limited concern
Low risk. Organic formula avoids PFAS-based ingredients.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
- 4
Glossier
Makeup
PFAS Grade70GoodOverall Grade48Poor🪨70Talc contamination and respirable mineral risk
Limited concern
🏷️45Fragrance allergen disclosure gaps
Moderate concern
🎨70Heavy metals
Limited concern
⚠️701,4-dioxane in emulsifiers or surfactants
Limited concern
Low-medium risk. Minimal water-resistance features reduce PFAS need.
⚠Risky category by default
Every cosmetics that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. Higher is safer. Scored against 4 hazards that apply to this category.
| # | Cosmetics | Score | Rating | Made of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | bareMinerals bareMinerals Mineral Makeup | 100 | Excellent | Not disclosed |
| 2 | Ilia Beauty Ilia Beauty Clean Makeup | 100 | Excellent | Not disclosed |
| 3 | RMS Beauty RMS Beauty Organic Makeup | 100 | Excellent | Not disclosed |
| 4 | Glossier Glossier Makeup | 70 | Good | Not disclosed |
The cosmetics we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
Maybelline
Mascara
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components
Limited concern
Bacterial contamination risk from improper storage or use
Moderate concern
Medium-high risk. Waterproof mascara typically contains PFAS compounds.
⚠Lab test found PFAS
Generic
Waterproof Mascara (generic)
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Lead
Limited concern
1,4-dioxane contamination
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Limited concern
Medium-high risk. Waterproofing ingredients typically require PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Generic
Waterproof Eyeliner (generic)
Lead
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
1,4-dioxane contamination
Limited concern
Contact dermatitis and sensitization from fragrance or colorants
Limited concern
Medium-high risk. Waterproofing chemistry typically involves PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
What we check on cosmetics
- 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.
Common questions about PFAS-free cosmetics
Is cosmetics PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 8 cosmetics we have scored, 50% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 4 that pass. The highest scoring is bareMinerals bareMinerals Mineral Makeup at 100 out of 100. The lowest is Maybelline Maybelline Mascara at 25.
What is the safest cosmetics you have scored?
bareMinerals bareMinerals Mineral Makeup, at 100 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. The runner up is Ilia Beauty Ilia Beauty Clean Makeup at 100.
Which cosmetics should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Maybelline Maybelline Mascara at 25, Generic Waterproof Mascara (generic) at 30, Generic Waterproof Eyeliner (generic) at 30. The problem with the first is that medium-high risk. Waterproof mascara typically contains PFAS compounds.
How can you tell if cosmetics 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.
Do you lab test cosmetics?
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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We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Cosmetics, Which Brands Grade Best and Worst
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 8 cosmetics.