The Best Non-Toxic Eyeliner of 2026
11 of the 16 eyeliner products PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 68.8% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 5 that pass. The highest graded is Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil 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 eyeliner non-toxic?
5 of the 16 eyeliner products we graded clear our screen and 11 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 eyeliner products in this category are undisclosed fragrance, microplastics, artificial dyes, formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane. The highest graded here is Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil at 85 out of 100.
Quick picks
No coating to fail
Maybelline Line Express Sharpenable Wood Pencil EyelinerNothing applied that can break down
75 Excellent
A second brand to consider
MAC Chromaline Gel - Hi-Def CyanThe best grade here from a brand other than the winner
75 Excellent
Why Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil 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 eyeliner ranking come from.
The winner
Made of Jojoba oil, wax, 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 gel pencil with waterproof formula.
- +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 eyeliner
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 16 eyeliner 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 eyeliner products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 11 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- Microplastics
Plastic fragments small enough to shed from a product into food, water or air without anyone seeing it.
Found on 1 of these eyeliner products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 2 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 5 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- Formaldehyde
A preservative and resin ingredient that is also released slowly by a group of chemicals used in its place.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 5 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 4 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
The safest eyeliner we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
- 1
Highest grade here
- Jojoba oil, wax, pigments
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 2
- Jojoba oil, waxes, pigments (typical pencil formulation)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 3
- Jojoba oil, waxes, pigments (natural eye pencil formulation)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens or essential oil irritants
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 4
- gel pigment formulation (primary ingredients not publicly disclosed for proprietary reasons)
- Heavy metals
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 5
No coating to fail
- Wood pencil, wax and pigment formula, no coating disclosed
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
What the evidence says about PFAS in eyeliner
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.
You may also be interested in
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 eyeliner that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. A higher score means lower PFAS risk.
| # | Eyeliner | Score | Rating | Made of | Key concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil | 85 | Excellent | Jojoba oil, wax, pigments | Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components |
| 2 | Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil Gem (lilac haze) | 75 | Excellent | Jojoba oil, waxes, pigments (typical pencil formulation) | Fragrance allergens |
| 3 | ERE PEREZ JOJOBA EYE PENCIL Natural Black | 75 | Excellent | Jojoba oil, waxes, pigments (natural eye pencil formulation) | Fragrance allergens or essential oil irritants |
| 4 | MAC Chromaline Gel - Hi-Def Cyan | 75 | Excellent | gel pigment formulation (primary ingredients not publicly disclosed for proprietary reasons) | Heavy metals |
| 5 | Maybelline Line Express Sharpenable Wood Pencil Eyeliner | 75 | Excellent | Wood pencil, wax and pigment formula, no coating disclosed | Heavy metals |
The verdict on eyeliner
Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil grades 85 out of 100, the highest here. It is jojoba oil, wax, pigments. We found no PFAS statement from the brand, so the grade rests on materials alone.
Choose Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil Gem (lilac haze) instead if you want a second option at 75 out of 100, jojoba oil, waxes, pigments (typical pencil formulation).
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 eyeliner we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 30MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil Eye LinerPoor
Fragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components
- 30Maybelline Eye Lasting Drama Gel EyelinerPoor
1,4-dioxane (manufacturing byproduct)
- 30Maybelline Tattoo EyelinerPoor
Fragrance allergens and undisclosed ingredients
What we check on eyeliner
- 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.
The eyeliner brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 3 of the brands here. That is our research, not proof a brand has never said anything, and it is not evidence of harm. It is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Ere Perez, Too Faced, Urban Decay.
The brands that have published something, and what each of them actually said, are in our record of what every brand has said about PFAS.
Common questions about PFAS in eyeliner
Is eyeliner PFAS free?
11 of the 16 eyeliner products PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 68.8% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 5 that pass. The highest graded is Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil at 85 out of 100. The lowest graded is MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil Eye Liner at 30 out of 100.
Is eyeliner non-toxic?
5 of the 16 eyeliner products we graded clear our screen and 11 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 eyeliner products in this category are undisclosed fragrance, microplastics, artificial dyes, formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane. The highest graded here is Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil at 85 out of 100.
What is the safest eyeliner to buy?
On our grades, Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil at 85 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. Then Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil Gem (lilac haze) 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 eyeliner grades best for PFAS?
Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil, at 85 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is jojoba oil, wax, pigments. The runner up is Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil Gem (lilac haze) at 75.
Which eyeliner should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil Eye Liner at 30, Maybelline Eye Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner at 30, Maybelline Tattoo Eyeliner at 30. The problem with the first is that waterproof cosmetics carry PFAS risk. Skip until MAC reveals formula details.
Which eyeliner brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 3 of the brands we scored in this category, including Ere Perez, Too Faced, Urban Decay. That is what our research turned up, not proof a brand has never said anything, and a missing statement is not evidence of harm. It is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test eyeliner?
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.
More everyday goods categories we have graded
Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to eyeliner.
- Best non-toxic fabric protector spray468 graded
- Best non-toxic golf balls352 graded
- Best non-toxic butcher paper202 graded
- Best non-toxic insulated drink tumblers147 graded
- Best non-toxic pizza stones145 graded
- Best non-toxic insoles122 graded
- Best non-toxic tablecloths106 graded
- Best non-toxic sports performance undergarments85 graded
Get the graded list, free.
The products we score each week, and the best-graded alternative in every category.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Does a particular brand of eyeliner have PFAS?
Brands we grade across the catalogue
Everything we have scored from these brands, not just eyeliner.
We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Eyeliner, Which Brands Grade Best and Worst
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 16 eyeliner.