The Best Non-Toxic Foundation of 2026
We scored 20 foundation for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. The top pick is NYX Professional Makeup NYX Professional Makeup Pore Filler Primer at 75/100. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.
15% of the 20 foundation we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free foundation we have scored
- 1
NYX Professional Makeup
Pore Filler Primer
silicone, talc, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), pigments
PFAS Grade75ExcellentOverall Grade67Good💨70Talc contamination and inhalation risk
Limited concern
⚠️701,4-dioxane and other solvent contaminants
Limited concern
Lower concern. Silicone-based primer unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
- 2
NYX Professional Makeup
Can't Stop Won't Stop Full Coverage Foundation
liquid foundation with water, silicones, pigments, preservatives
PFAS Grade75ExcellentOverall Grade59Good🧠70Lead
Limited concern
💨70Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
🏷️70Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components
Limited concern
⚠️701,4-dioxane as preservative byproduct
Limited concern
Liquid cosmetics pose minimal inherent PFAS risk; no specific concern signals.
⚠Risky category by default
- 3
CoverGirl
TruBlend Skin Enhancer Primer
silicones, glycerin, water, pigments
PFAS Grade75ExcellentOverall Grade67Good⚠️70Fragrance and fragrance allergens
Limited concern
⚠️70Silicone occlusion and skin comedogenicity
Limited concern
Lower concern. Primer lacks PFAS-risk features typical of cosmetics.
⚠Risky category by default
- 4
CoverGirl
Olay Simply Ageless Serum Primer
Water, glycerin, silicones, emollients
PFAS Grade75ExcellentOverall Grade71Good🏷️70Fragrance allergens (undisclosed component)
Limited concern
Lower concern. Cosmetic primer without known PFAS risk factors.
⚠Risky category by default
- 5
CoverGirl
TruBlend Base Business Face Primer
silicones, glycerin, water-based emulsion
PFAS Grade75ExcellentOverall Grade67Good💨70Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
⚠️701,4-dioxane contamination in water-based formulations
Limited concern
Lower concern; no PFAS-typical triggers identified in formula.
⚠Risky category by default
- 6
NYX Professional Makeup
Blurscreen Primer SPF 30
liquid primer, typical cosmetic emulsion base
PFAS Grade75ExcellentOverall Grade67Good⚠️70Fragrance allergens
Limited concern
⚠️701,4-dioxane (solvent contaminant)
Limited concern
Lower concern; no known PFAS-prone materials, no public disclosure.
⚠Risky category by default
- 7
NYX Professional Makeup
Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer
hydrating gel primer, water-based cosmetic
PFAS Grade75ExcellentOverall Grade71Good⚠️70Fragrance allergens
Limited concern
Lower PFAS concern, but no brand transparency on formulation.
⚠Risky category by default
- 8
Estée Lauder
Double Wear Smooth & Blur Primer
silicone and mineral-based cosmetic primer
PFAS Grade75ExcellentOverall Grade63Good🏷️70Fragrance allergens (undisclosed composition)
Limited concern
⚠️70Skin sensitization from silicone or polymeric film-formers
Limited concern
⚠️701,4-dioxane (contaminant in ethoxylated surfactants or emulsifiers)
Limited concern
Lower concern liquid cosmetic; no confirmed PFAS risk factors identified.
⚠Risky category by default
Every foundation that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. Higher is safer. Scored against 4 hazards that apply to this category.
The foundation we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
CoverGirl
Outlast All Day Primer
silicone, glycerin, polymers, waterproofing agents (unspecified)
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Limited concern
1,4-dioxane contamination
Limited concern
Polymer accumulation on skin
Limited concern
Skip. Waterproof cosmetics often contain PFAS; no disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Estée Lauder
Estee Lauder Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist
liquid aerosol spray with silicone/polymer water-resistant finish
PFAS
Limited concern
Aerosol propellant safety and inhalation
Limited concern
Silicone polymer accumulation on skin and tools
Moderate concern
Fragrance allergens and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Limited concern
Waterproof cosmetic mist; PFAS risk unclear without ingredient disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Urban Decay
All Nighter Face Primer
silicone-based primer with water-resistant polymers
PFAS
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components
Limited concern
Silicone film occlusion and skin barrier effects
Moderate concern
Silent on PFAS; waterproof cosmetics may use fluorinated compounds.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
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 that will not say
5 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.
Bare Minerals, CoverGirl, Estée Lauder, NYX Professional Makeup, Urban Decay.
Common questions about PFAS-free foundation
Is foundation PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 20 foundation we have scored, 15% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 17 that pass. The highest scoring is NYX Professional Makeup NYX Professional Makeup Pore Filler Primer at 75 out of 100. The lowest is CoverGirl CoverGirl Outlast All Day Primer at 30.
What is the safest foundation you have scored?
NYX Professional Makeup NYX Professional Makeup Pore Filler Primer, at 75 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is silicone, talc, polymethyl methacrylate (pmma), pigments. The runner up is NYX Professional Makeup NYX Professional Makeup Can't Stop Won't Stop Full Coverage Foundation at 75.
Which foundation should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are CoverGirl CoverGirl Outlast All Day Primer at 30, Estée Lauder Estee Lauder Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist at 30, Urban Decay Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer at 30. The problem with the first is that skip. Waterproof cosmetics often contain PFAS; no disclosure.
How can you tell if foundation 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 foundation brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
5 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Bare Minerals, CoverGirl, Estée Lauder, NYX Professional Makeup, Urban Decay. Silence is not evidence of harm, but 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.
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We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Foundation & Primer: Which Brands Grade Best and Worst
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 20 foundation.