bareMinerals Mineral Makeup vs Volum Express The Falsies Waterproof Mascara: which is safer?
bareMinerals Mineral Makeup is the clear pick. Maybelline Volum Express The Falsies Waterproof 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
Volum Express The Falsies Waterproof Mascara
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFormaldehyde releasers (preservative system)
PossibleFragrance allergens and sensitization
ReportedEye irritation from polymer film or adhesion agents
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 Formaldehyde releasers (preservative system), Fragrance allergens and sensitization, Eye irritation from polymer film or adhesion agents and Unspecified waterproofing agent (silicone vs. PFAS) 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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