bareMinerals Mineral Makeup vs The Multiple Soft Blur Blush Stick for Cheeks, Eyes and Lips: which is safer?
bareMinerals Mineral Makeup is the clear pick. NARS The Multiple Soft Blur Blush Stick for Cheeks, Eyes and Lips 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
NARS
The Multiple Soft Blur Blush Stick for Cheeks, Eyes and Lips
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleHeavy metals in iron oxide and organic pigments
PossibleFormaldehyde-releasing preservatives
PossibleFragrance allergens and sensitization
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 NARS.
- We flag Heavy metals in iron oxide and organic pigments, Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, Fragrance allergens and sensitization and Microbial growth from applicator contact on the NARS 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 NARS grade, at 45% 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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