The Best Non-Toxic Lipstick of 2026
We scored 15 lipstick for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. The top pick is MAC Fix+ MAC Frost Lipstick at 75/100. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.
67% of the 15 lipstick we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free lipstick we have scored
- 1
MAC Fix+
MAC Frost Lipstick
wax, oils, pigments, emollients (typical lipstick base)
PFAS Grade75ExcellentOverall Grade63Good🧠70Lead
Limited concern
🎨70Azo dyes and synthetic colorants (allergic sensitization)
Limited concern
⚠️70Fragrance and flavor oils (allergen, aspiration risk)
Limited concern
Lower risk from standard lipstick formula, though MAC makes no PFAS statement.
⚠Risky category by default
- 2
MAC Fix+
MAC Sleek Satin Lip Set
liquid/cream lipstick with standard pigments and emollients
PFAS Grade75ExcellentOverall Grade67Good⚠️70Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Limited concern
🍳70Coating or formula instability causing separation or contamination
Limited concern
Lower risk for typical cosmetic formula without known PFAS drivers, though brand remains silent on PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
- 3
NARS
Powermatte Lipstick
Pigments, waxes, oils in standard lipstick base
PFAS Grade75ExcellentOverall Grade67Good🪨70Talc contamination (asbestos trace)
Limited concern
⚠️70Fragrance allergens and sensitivizers
Limited concern
Lower risk for standard cosmetic without PFAS triggers, though brand makes no transparency claims.
⚠Risky category by default
- 4
Burt's Bees
Suede Splash Lipstick
Wax, oils, pigments, beeswax base
PFAS Grade75ExcellentOverall Grade67Good⚠️70Fragrance allergens (essential oils, fragrance compounds)
Limited concern
⏳70Oil rancidity and skin irritation over time
Limited concern
Lower risk for standard lipstick formula with no known PFAS trigger materials.
⚠Risky category by default
- 5
Charlotte Tilbury
Hot Lips Lipstick
Wax, oils, pigments, and traditional cosmetic binders
PFAS Grade75ExcellentOverall Grade63Good🧠70Lead
Limited concern
⚠️70Fragrance allergens
Limited concern
⏳70Oil oxidation and rancidity over time
Limited concern
Lower concern for traditional lipstick formula with no known PFAS trigger materials.
⚠Risky category by default
Every lipstick that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. Higher is safer. Scored against 4 hazards that apply to this category.
| # | Lipstick | Score | Rating | Made of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MAC Fix+ MAC Frost Lipstick | 75 | Excellent | wax, oils, pigments, emollients (typical lipstick base) |
| 2 | MAC Fix+ MAC Sleek Satin Lip Set | 75 | Excellent | liquid/cream lipstick with standard pigments and emollients |
| 3 | NARS NARS Powermatte Lipstick | 75 | Excellent | Pigments, waxes, oils in standard lipstick base |
| 4 | Burt's Bees Burt's Bees Suede Splash Lipstick | 75 | Excellent | Wax, oils, pigments, beeswax base |
| 5 | Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips Lipstick | 75 | Excellent | Wax, oils, pigments, and traditional cosmetic binders |
The lipstick we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
NARS
Explicit Lipstick
Wax, oils, pigments; waterproof coating unspecified
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance compounds
Moderate concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Coating degradation and microplastic shedding
Limited concern
Avoid until NARS discloses waterproofing agent or obtains third-party testing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Maybelline SuperStay
Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick
Liquid film-forming acrylate polymer with waterproof binders
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Limited concern
1,4-dioxane (solvent contaminant)
Limited concern
Contact sensitization from preservatives or film-formers
Limited concern
Lower PFAS concern, though waterproof cosmetics merit caution without public testing available.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Maybelline SuperStay
24 2-Step Lipstick
film-forming polymers, liquid pigments, waxes, oils in a two-step long-wear system
PFAS
High concern
Lead
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components
Limited concern
Microplastic particles in pigment or glitter additives
Limited concern
Avoid until Maybelline discloses PFAS use in waterproofing agents.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
What we check on lipstick
- 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 lipstick 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.
Burt's Bees, Charlotte Tilbury, MAC Fix+, Maybelline SuperStay, NARS.
Common questions about PFAS-free lipstick
Is lipstick PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 15 lipstick we have scored, 67% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 5 that pass. The highest scoring is MAC Fix+ MAC Frost Lipstick at 75 out of 100. The lowest is NARS NARS Explicit Lipstick at 30.
What is the safest lipstick you have scored?
MAC Fix+ MAC Frost Lipstick, at 75 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is wax, oils, pigments, emollients (typical lipstick base). The runner up is MAC Fix+ MAC Sleek Satin Lip Set at 75.
Which lipstick should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are NARS NARS Explicit Lipstick at 30, Maybelline SuperStay Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick at 30, Maybelline SuperStay Maybelline SuperStay 24 2-Step Lipstick at 30. The problem with the first is that avoid until NARS discloses waterproofing agent or obtains third-party testing.
How can you tell if lipstick 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 lipstick brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
5 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Burt's Bees, Charlotte Tilbury, MAC Fix+, Maybelline SuperStay, NARS. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test lipstick?
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 Lip Balm & Long-Wear Lipstick: Which Brands Grade Best and Worst
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 15 lipstick.