Does Clinique lip balm & long-wear lipstick have PFAS?
Clinique lip balm & long-wear lipstick averages 68 out of 100 on PFAS Authority's PFAS and toxin screen across the 12 Clinique lip balm & long-wear lipstick products graded as of October 2026, below the 75 out of 100 median for the 31 other lip balm & long-wear lipstick brands graded alongside it.
Clinique lip balm & long-wear lipstick averages Good on our four-band scale. 10 of the 12 we graded are worth buying. That is above 35% of the lip balm & long-wear lipstick brands we grade.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
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- 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.
What Clinique says and does about PFAS
We found no PFAS policy published by Clinique itself. In 2022, however, the Center for Environmental Health announced a legally binding, court-enforceable settlement with Estée Lauder and its subsidiaries, including Clinique, under which cosmetics such as foundations and concealers will not contain intentionally added PFOA or fluorinated ingredients known to break down into PFOA. That commitment covers PFOA and its precursors, not every PFAS.
- Legal caseThe Center for Environmental Health announced in March 2022 a legally binding, court-enforceable agreement with Estée Lauder and its subsidiaries, including MAC and Clinique. Center for Environmental Health (archived page) ↗
- Legal caseUnder the settlement, cosmetics like foundations and concealers made under these brands will not contain intentionally added PFOA or other fluorinated ingredients known to degrade to PFOA. Center for Environmental Health (archived page) ↗
- Regulatory filingA Proposition 65 notice of violation filed with the California Attorney General named Clinique Superbalanced Makeup in Cream Chamois CN 40, by UPC, as an example of a product alleged to expose consumers to perfluorooctanoic acid. A 60-day notice is an allegation by the filing group, not a finding. Center for Environmental Health, notice filed with the California Attorney General ↗
- Regulatory filingAn earlier notice over makeup foundation and concealer listed Clinique Laboratories, LLC among the responsible parties, alongside The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Center for Environmental Health, notice filed with the California Attorney General ↗
- Regulatory filingIn January 2026 Estee Lauder Cosmetics Ltd. was fined $750,000 at the Ontario Court of Justice over eyeliner products that listed perfluorononyl dimethicone as an ingredient, which Environment and Climate Change Canada describes as a PFAS. The release names the Canadian company, not Clinique specifically. Environment and Climate Change Canada ↗
- Regulatory filingCalifornia bans cosmetics containing intentionally added PFAS from sale in the state from 1 January 2025. The law names no brands. California AB 2771 ↗
Sources checked October 1, 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.
Clinique lip balm & long-wear lipstick worth buying Good or better, best-graded first
- wax, oils, pigments in stick form
- Heavy metals. Iron oxide colorants are regulated but can carry trace lead or cadmium depending on sourcing…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- wax, oils, pigments, traditional cosmetic base
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components. Clinique Dramatically Different is unscented or…
- Pigments, waxes, oils, silicones in lip color base
- 1,4-dioxane contamination. Silicones and emulsifiers used in matte lip formulas can carry trace 1,4-dioxane…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- liquid lip gloss, likely acrylates/polymers, water-based or silicone base
- Fragrance allergens and sensitizers. Lip glosses, especially the 'Splash' lines, often include fragrance…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- cosmetic emulsion (likely silicone, humectants, pigment)
- Synthetic fragrance allergens. Clinique Pop Splash contains fragrance but does not itemize allergens like…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Lip balm/treatment base (wax, oils, emollients)
- Heavy metals. Lip balms often contain iron oxides, titanium dioxide, or mica for color and opacity; these…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Wax, oils, emollients in lip gloss base
- Fragrance allergens. Clinique Superbalm contains fragrance, which can trigger contact dermatitis or…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- fragrance oils, waxes, glycerin in liquid and solid cosmetic forms
- Fragrance allergens and sensitizers. Fragrance oils in this set are undisclosed by detailed composition.…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- wax, oils, pigments in stick form
- Fragrance allergens and sensitizers. Pop Longwear contains fragrance compounds but is not marketed as…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Emollient blend, polymers, pigments (typical lip gloss)
- Fragrance allergens and sensitizers. Pop Plush contains fragrance compounds (listed generically as…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Which Clinique lip balm & long-wear lipstick contains PFAS? Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
- Liquid gloss formula with waterproofing agent (type unspecified)
- PFAS. Waterproofing mechanism is not disclosed. Fluorochemicals (PFAS) are widely used in waterproof…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- Hydrating polymer blend with water-resistant emollients
- PFAS. Water-resistant lip treatments commonly use fluorinated polymers to create durability; Clinique has not…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on AmazonBetter lip balm & long-wear lipstick from other brands
Graded higher than the Clinique average of 68.
- Glycerin, silicones, pigments, film-formers (typical liquid cosmetic gloss)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components
- Liquid lipstick, likely pigments, oils, and waxes
- Fragrance allergens or sensitizers
- Natural waxes and oils (beeswax, plant oils, pigments)
- Lead
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
The same question, asked of the other lip balm & long-wear lipstick brands
Best average grade first. Clinique averages 68.
See every Clinique product we grade on the Clinique brand page, or the full lip balm & long-wear lipstick ranking.