The Best Non-Toxic Foundation of 2026
All 18 foundation products PFAS Authority has graded reach its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, as of October 2026. The highest graded is Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation 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 foundation non-toxic?
18 of the 18 foundation products we graded clear our screen and 0 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 foundation products in this category are undisclosed fragrance, formaldehyde, artificial dyes, 1,4-dioxane, talc. The highest graded here is Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation at 85 out of 100.
Quick picks
Best overall
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder FoundationHighest PFAS grade in the category
85 Excellent
A second brand to consider
Well People Supernatural Complexion StickThe best grade here from a brand other than the winner
85 Excellent
What to watch for in foundation
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 18 foundation 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 foundation products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 14 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
- Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 4 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- 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 foundation we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
- 1
Highest grade here
- mineral powder blend
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Talc contamination (if talc-based variant)
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 2
- mineral pigments, waxes, oils
- 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.
- 3
- liquid foundation with silicones, pigments, water base
- Fragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 4
- liquid foundation with pigments, silicone, and emollients
- Lead
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 5
- liquid cream foundation (water/glycerin base, pigments, emollients)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 6
- Emulsion base with mineral UV filters (likely zinc oxide or titanium dioxide)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 7
- Water, mineral pigments (mica, iron oxides), emollients
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 8
- Water-based liquid foundation (pigments, glycerin, humectants, emulsifiers)
- Formaldehyde / VOCs
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
What the evidence says about PFAS in foundation
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 foundation that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. A higher score means lower PFAS risk. Scored against 4 hazards that apply to this category.
| # | Foundation | Score | Rating | Made of | Key concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation | 85 | Excellent | mineral powder blend | Talc contamination (if talc-based variant) |
| 2 | Well People Supernatural Complexion Stick | 85 | Excellent | mineral pigments, waxes, oils | Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components |
| 3 | Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation | 75 | Excellent | liquid foundation with silicones, pigments, water base | Fragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components |
| 4 | Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, #335 | 75 | Excellent | liquid foundation with pigments, silicone, and emollients | Lead |
| 5 | Honest Company Honest Beauty Everything Cream Foundation | 75 | Excellent | liquid cream foundation (water/glycerin base, pigments, emollients) | Fragrance allergens and sensitizers |
| 6 | Honest Company Honest Beauty Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 | 75 | Excellent | Emulsion base with mineral UV filters (likely zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) | Fragrance allergens |
| 7 | Honest Company Liquid Mineral Foundation | 75 | Excellent | Water, mineral pigments (mica, iron oxides), emollients | Fragrance allergens |
| 8 | Mac Face Body Foundation | 75 | Excellent | Water-based liquid foundation (pigments, glycerin, humectants, emulsifiers) | Formaldehyde / VOCs |
The verdict on foundation
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation grades 85 out of 100, the highest here. It is mineral powder blend. We found no PFAS statement from the brand, so the grade rests on materials alone.
Choose Well People Supernatural Complexion Stick instead if you want a second option at 85 out of 100, mineral pigments, waxes, oils.
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 foundation we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 75Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear FoundationExcellent
Fragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components
- 75Excellent
- 75Honest Company Honest Beauty Everything Cream FoundationExcellent
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
What we check on foundation
- 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 foundation brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 5 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.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r, Honest Company, MAC Face and Body, Maybelline Fit Me, Well People.
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 foundation
Is foundation PFAS free?
All 18 foundation products PFAS Authority has graded reach its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, as of October 2026. The highest graded is Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation at 85 out of 100. The lowest graded is Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation at 75 out of 100.
Is foundation non-toxic?
18 of the 18 foundation products we graded clear our screen and 0 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 foundation products in this category are undisclosed fragrance, formaldehyde, artificial dyes, 1,4-dioxane, talc. The highest graded here is Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation at 85 out of 100.
What is the safest foundation to buy?
On our grades, Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation at 85 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. Then Well People Supernatural Complexion Stick at 85. 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 foundation grades best for PFAS?
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation, at 85 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is mineral powder blend. The runner up is Well People Supernatural Complexion Stick at 85.
Which foundation should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation at 75, Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, #335 at 75, Honest Company Honest Beauty Everything Cream Foundation at 75. The problem with the first is that the main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
How can you tell if foundation contains 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 foundation brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 5 of the brands we scored in this category, including Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r, Honest Company, MAC Face and Body, Maybelline Fit Me, Well People. 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 foundation?
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 beauty and personal care categories we have graded
Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to foundation.
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Does a particular brand of foundation have PFAS?
We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Foundation & Primer, One Setting Mist Breaks the Pattern
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 18 foundation.