bareMinerals Mineral Makeup vs Studio Fix Tech Cream-To-Powder Foundation: which is safer?

bareMinerals Mineral Makeup is the clear pick. MAC Studio Fix Tech Cream-To-Powder Foundation carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

Our pick

bareMinerals Mineral Makeup

Bare Minerals

bareMinerals Mineral Makeup

PFAS grade

Excellent 100/100

Overall grade

Excellent 88/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

not stated

Confidence

100%

PossibleHeavy metals in mineral pigments (lead, cadmium, chromium)

PossibleFragrance allergens and skin irritation

PossibleBismuth oxychloride sensitivity

MAC Studio Fix Tech Cream-To-Powder Foundation

MAC

Studio Fix Tech Cream-To-Powder Foundation

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 53/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

cream-to-powder blend, talc or silica base with pigments and binders

Confidence

50%

PossibleTalc or silica base - mineral identity undisclosed

PossibleFormaldehyde-releaser preservatives

PossibleFragrance allergens - undisclosed composition

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Heavy metals in mineral pigments (lead, cadmium, chromium), Fragrance allergens and skin irritation and Bismuth oxychloride sensitivity on the Bare Minerals and not on the MAC.
  • We flag Talc or silica base - mineral identity undisclosed, Formaldehyde-releaser preservatives and Fragrance allergens - undisclosed composition on the MAC and not on the Bare Minerals.
  • The gap is 35 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Bare Minerals is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the MAC grade, at 50% confidence against 100%, because it discloses less.

Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More cosmetics, see the full ranking