Airbrush Flawless Mini Setting Spray Kit 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 Mini Setting Spray Kit carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Mini Setting Spray Kit

Charlotte Tilbury

Airbrush Flawless Mini Setting Spray Kit

PFAS grade

Poor 30/100

Overall grade

Bad 14/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

aqueous setting spray with waterproofing agents

Confidence

45%

Possible1,4-dioxane (solvent contaminant)

PossibleFragrance allergens (undisclosed)

PossibleInhalation risk from spray propellant and atomized particles

Our pick

Estee Lauder The Smoother Universal Perfecting Primer

Estée Lauder

Estee Lauder The Smoother Universal Perfecting Primer

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Good 67/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Silicone, glycerin, water, pigments

Confidence

72%

PossibleFragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components

PossibleSkin sensitization from colorants or preservatives

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag 1,4-dioxane (solvent contaminant), Fragrance allergens (undisclosed), Inhalation risk from spray propellant and atomized particles and Formaldehyde releasers (preservatives) 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 aqueous setting spray with waterproofing agents 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