bareMinerals Mineral Makeup vs Colossal Mascara: which is safer?
bareMinerals Mineral Makeup is the clear pick. Maybelline Colossal Mascara carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Our pick
Bare Minerals
bareMinerals Mineral Makeup
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleHeavy metals in mineral pigments (lead, cadmium, chromium)
PossibleFragrance allergens and skin irritation
PossibleBismuth oxychloride sensitivity
Maybelline
Colossal Mascara
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleWaterproofing agent (unidentified fluorochemicals or PFAS risk)
PossibleBacterial or fungal growth in tube over time
PossibleContact dermatitis or eye irritation from fragrance or resins
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 Maybelline.
- We flag Waterproofing agent (unidentified fluorochemicals or PFAS risk), Bacterial or fungal growth in tube over time and Contact dermatitis or eye irritation from fragrance or resins on the Maybelline and not on the Bare Minerals.
- The gap is 70 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 Maybelline grade, at 35% 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 →
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