The Best Non-Toxic Waterproof Mascara of 2026
We scored 47 waterproof mascara for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. The top pick is Burt's Bees Burt's Bees 100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown at 75/100. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.
98% of the 47 waterproof mascara we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free waterproof mascara we have scored
- 1
Burt's Bees
100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown
Wax, pigments, natural oils (typical mascara base)
PFAS Grade75ExcellentOverall Grade67Good🏷️70Fragrance allergens and undisclosed sensitizers
Limited concern
⚠️70Bacterial growth and contamination in wax formula
Limited concern
Lower concern; conventional non-waterproof formula with no identified PFAS drivers.
⚠Risky category by default
The waterproof mascara we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
Clinique
Lash Power Mascara
wax, film-forming resins, pigments, waterproof polymer blend
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens (if scented)
Limited concern
Eye irritation from resin film or pigment leaching
Moderate concern
Waterproof mascara likely contains PFAS-adjacent coatings; insufficient disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Clinique
High Impact Waterproof Mascara
pigments, resins, waxes, waterproofing agents unspecified
Lead
Limited concern
1,4-dioxane (manufacturing contaminant)
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens (undisclosed ingredients)
Limited concern
Bacterial or fungal growth if unmaintained
High concern
Waterproof mascara ingredient list lacks PFAS disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Clinique
High Impact Hi-Fi Full Volume Waterproof Mascara
Waterproof mascara formula with undisclosed film-forming polymers and resins
1,4-dioxane (solvent contaminant)
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens (undisclosed components)
Moderate concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Waterproof cosmetics carry PFAS risk; Clinique discloses nothing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
What we check on waterproof mascara
- 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 waterproof mascara brands that will not say
11 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.
Bobbi Brown, Burt's Bees, Clinique, Lancôme, Laura Mercier, MAC, Maybelline, NYX, Revlon, Urban Decay, Wet n Wild.
Common questions about PFAS-free waterproof mascara
Is waterproof mascara PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 47 waterproof mascara we have scored, 98% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 1 that pass. The highest scoring is Burt's Bees Burt's Bees 100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown at 75 out of 100. The lowest is Clinique Clinique Lash Power Mascara at 30.
What is the safest waterproof mascara you have scored?
Burt's Bees Burt's Bees 100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown, at 75 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is wax, pigments, natural oils (typical mascara base).
Which waterproof mascara should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Clinique Clinique Lash Power Mascara at 30, Clinique Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara at 30, Clinique Clinique High Impact Hi-Fi Full Volume Waterproof Mascara at 30. The problem with the first is that waterproof mascara likely contains PFAS-adjacent coatings; insufficient disclosure.
How can you tell if waterproof mascara 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 waterproof mascara brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
11 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Bobbi Brown, Burt's Bees, Clinique, Lancôme, Laura Mercier, MAC. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test waterproof mascara?
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 waterproof mascara have PFAS?
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 47 waterproof mascara.