Airbrush Flawless Matte Setting Spray vs Estee Lauder The Smoother Universal Perfecting Primer: which is safer?
Estee Lauder The Smoother Universal Perfecting Primer is the clear pick. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Matte Setting Spray carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Charlotte Tilbury
Airbrush Flawless Matte Setting Spray
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFragrance allergens and sensitizers
PossibleFormaldehyde-releasing preservatives
LikelyInhalation risk from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and aerosol propellants
Our pick
Estée Lauder
Estee Lauder The Smoother Universal Perfecting Primer
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components
PossibleSkin sensitization from colorants or preservatives
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Fragrance allergens and sensitizers, Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives and Inhalation risk from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and aerosol propellants on the Charlotte Tilbury and not on the Estée Lauder.
- We flag Fragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components and Skin sensitization from colorants or preservatives on the Estée Lauder and not on the Charlotte Tilbury.
- The Charlotte Tilbury is spray formulation with water resistance properties where the Estée Lauder is Silicone, glycerin, water, pigments, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Estée Lauder is the one to buy.
- We are less certain about the Charlotte Tilbury grade, at 45% confidence against 72%, because it discloses less.
Both products run through the same public rubric: 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 beauty primers & setting sprays: see the full ranking