Liquid Mineral Foundation vs Mac Face Body Foundation: which is safer?

Liquid Mineral Foundation is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Our pick

Liquid Mineral Foundation

Honest Company

Liquid Mineral Foundation

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Good 63/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Water, mineral pigments (mica, iron oxides), emollients

Confidence

72%

PossibleFragrance allergens

PossibleBacterial or fungal growth in pump dispenser

PossibleSkin irritation from emollients or preservatives

Mac Face Body Foundation

MAC Face and Body

Mac Face Body Foundation

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Good 61/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Water-based liquid foundation (pigments, glycerin, humectants, emulsifiers)

Confidence

72%

PossibleFormaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives

ReportedFragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Fragrance allergens, Bacterial or fungal growth in pump dispenser and Skin irritation from emollients or preservatives on the Honest Company and not on the MAC Face and Body.
  • We flag Formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives and Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components on the MAC Face and Body and not on the Honest Company.
  • The Honest Company is Water, mineral pigments (mica, iron oxides), emollients where the MAC Face and Body is Water-based liquid foundation (pigments, glycerin, humectants, emulsifiers), which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.

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 foundation: see the full ranking