The Best Non-Toxic Makeup of 2026

We scored 54 makeup for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. The top pick is Clinique Clinique Even Better Makeup at 75/100. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.

How to read these scores. PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Each grade is a model-based assessment built from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, brand disclosures, recalls and third-party lab results where they exist. Read the full rubric to see exactly what adds and removes points.
20% of the 54 makeup we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
PFAS Authority, September 2026. Free to cite with a link. See the full dataset.

The safest PFAS-free makeup we have scored

  1. 1
    Clinique Even Better Makeup

    Clinique

    Even Better Makeup

    Pigments, oils, waxes, polymers (typical liquid foundation/makeup base)

    PFAS Grade75Excellent
    Overall Grade43Poor
    💨

    Formaldehyde / VOCs

    Limited concern

    70
    🏷️

    Fragrance allergens (undisclosed components)

    Moderate concern

    45
    ⚠️

    Applicator sponge bacterial growth

    High concern

    20

    No known PFAS risk, but Clinique offers no public PFAS disclosure.

    Risky category by default

  2. 2
    Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 25

    Clinique

    Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 25

    liquid foundation with pigments, emollients, silicones

    PFAS Grade75Excellent
    Overall Grade63Good
    🎨

    Heavy metals

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Fragrance allergen sensitization

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    1,4-dioxane contamination in emulsifiers

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower concern. Liquid cosmetics rarely contain intentional PFAS.

    Risky category by default

  3. 3
    Clinique Superbalanced Makeup

    Clinique

    Superbalanced Makeup

    Talc, mineral pigments, silicone

    PFAS Grade75Excellent
    Overall Grade61Good
    🪨

    Heavy metals

    Limited concern

    70
    💨

    Inhalation risk from powder dust

    Moderate concern

    45

    Lower concern. Typical mineral-based makeup with no known PFAS triggers.

    Risky category by default

  4. 4
    Clinique Even Better Clinical Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Foundation

    Clinique

    Even Better Clinical Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Foundation

    liquid foundation with mineral pigments and silicones

    PFAS Grade75Excellent
    Overall Grade67Good
    ⚠️

    Fragrance allergens and irritants

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    UV filter irritation or photosensitivity

    Limited concern

    70

    No known PFAS use in typical liquid foundations; limited public disclosure.

    Risky category by default

  5. 5
    Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation

    Rimmel

    Stay Matte Foundation

    talc, pigments, silicones, polymers

    PFAS Grade75Excellent
    Overall Grade67Good
    💨

    Talc contamination and inhalation

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Fragrance allergens and preservative sensitivity

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower concern. No known PFAS-prone features identified.

    Risky category by default

  6. 6
    Rimmel London Lasting Finish Foundation

    Rimmel

    London Lasting Finish Foundation

    liquid foundation with pigments, emollients, silicones

    PFAS Grade75Excellent
    Overall Grade63Good
    💨

    Formaldehyde / VOCs

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Fragrance allergens

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Bacterial or fungal growth if improperly stored or used

    Limited concern

    70

    No known PFAS risk. Routine cosmetic formula.

    Risky category by default

  7. 7
    Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Foundation

    Rimmel

    Stay Matte Liquid Foundation

    water-based liquid foundation, pigments and polymers

    PFAS Grade75Excellent
    Overall Grade63Good
    💨

    Formaldehyde / VOCs

    Limited concern

    70
    🏷️

    Fragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Microbial contamination from inadequate preservation or contamination during use

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower concern, but no public PFAS commitment from Rimmel.

    Risky category by default

  8. 8
    Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation

    Rimmel

    Lasting Finish Foundation

    Water-based liquid foundation with pigments and binders

    PFAS Grade75Excellent
    Overall Grade67Good
    ⚠️

    Fragrance allergens

    Limited concern

    70
    🏭

    1,4-dioxane as manufacturing contaminant

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower concern. Liquid cosmetics rarely contain PFAS, no red flags identified.

    Risky category by default

Every makeup that passes, side by side

Sorted by score. Higher is safer. Scored against 4 hazards that apply to this category.

#MakeupScoreRatingMade of
1Clinique Clinique Even Better Makeup75ExcellentPigments, oils, waxes, polymers (typical liquid foundation/makeup base)
2Clinique Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 2575Excellentliquid foundation with pigments, emollients, silicones
3Clinique Clinique Superbalanced Makeup75ExcellentTalc, mineral pigments, silicone
4Clinique Clinique Even Better Clinical Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Foundation75Excellentliquid foundation with mineral pigments and silicones
5Rimmel Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation75Excellenttalc, pigments, silicones, polymers
6Rimmel Rimmel London Lasting Finish Foundation75Excellentliquid foundation with pigments, emollients, silicones
7Rimmel Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Foundation75Excellentwater-based liquid foundation, pigments and polymers
8Rimmel Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation75ExcellentWater-based liquid foundation with pigments and binders

The makeup we would skip

Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation

Lancôme

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation

liquid foundation with undisclosed water-resistant coating

PFAS Grade30Poor
Overall Grade4Bad
🏷️

PFAS

High concern

20
⚠️

Fragrance allergens and sensitzers

Limited concern

70
⚠️

Silicone bioaccumulation and skin barrier effects

Limited concern

70

Waterproof cosmetics may contain PFAS; brand discloses nothing publicly.

Waterproof or stain-proof treatment

Estée Lauder Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Longwear Matte Foundation

Estée Lauder

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Longwear Matte Foundation

Liquid foundation with silicone base, waterproof polymers

PFAS Grade30Poor
Overall Grade18Bad
♾️

PFAS

Limited concern

70
⚠️

Fragrance allergens

Limited concern

70
⚠️

Skin barrier irritation from silicone accumulation

Limited concern

70

Waterproof cosmetic foundation; PFAS risk unclear without disclosure.

Waterproof or stain-proof treatment

Double Wear Maximum Cover Camouflage Estee Lauder

Estée Lauder

Double Wear Maximum Cover Camouflage Estee Lauder

liquid foundation with waterproof polymers and silicones

PFAS Grade30Poor
Overall Grade0Bad
♾️

PFAS

High concern

20
🏷️

Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components

Limited concern

70
⚠️

1,4-dioxane as synthesis by-product

Limited concern

70
⚠️

Skin barrier disruption and pore clogging from occlusive silicone buildup

Moderate concern

45

Waterproof makeup, PFAS risk unclear.

Waterproof or stain-proof treatment

What we check on makeup

  • 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 makeup brands that will not say

12 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.

Chanel, Charlotte Tilbury, Clinique, CoverGirl, Dior Beauty, Elizabeth Arden, Estée Lauder, Fenty Beauty, Lancôme, MAC, Rimmel, YSL Beauty.

Common questions about PFAS-free makeup

Is makeup PFAS free?

Mostly not. Of the 54 makeup we have scored, 20% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 43 that pass. The highest scoring is Clinique Clinique Even Better Makeup at 75 out of 100. The lowest is Lancôme Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation at 30.

What is the safest makeup you have scored?

Clinique Clinique Even Better Makeup, at 75 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is pigments, oils, waxes, polymers (typical liquid foundation/makeup base). The runner up is Clinique Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 25 at 75.

Which makeup should I avoid?

The three lowest scoring we hold are Lancôme Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation at 30, Estée Lauder Estée Lauder Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Longwear Matte Foundation at 30, Estée Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover Camouflage Estee Lauder at 30. The problem with the first is that waterproof cosmetics may contain PFAS; brand discloses nothing publicly.

How can you tell if makeup 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 makeup brands will not say whether they use PFAS?

12 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Chanel, Charlotte Tilbury, Clinique, CoverGirl, Dior Beauty, Elizabeth Arden. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.

Do you lab test makeup?

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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Does a particular brand of makeup have PFAS?

We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Makeup, Which Brands Grade Best and Worst

Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 54 makeup.