Chromaline Gel - Hi-Def Cyan vs Hyper Easy Liquid Eyeliner: which is safer?
Chromaline Gel - Hi-Def Cyan is the clear pick. Maybelline Hyper Easy Liquid Eyeliner carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Our pick
MAC
Chromaline Gel - Hi-Def Cyan
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleHeavy metals in colorants (iron oxides, titanium dioxide, mica)
PossibleFormaldehyde releasers (preservative system)
Possible1,4-dioxane (contaminant in polyethylene glycol or emulsifiers)
Maybelline
Hyper Easy Liquid Eyeliner
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
LikelyVolatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and solvent exposure
PossibleHeavy metals in synthetic pigments
ReportedEye irritation and allergic contact dermatitis
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Heavy metals in colorants (iron oxides, titanium dioxide, mica), Formaldehyde releasers (preservative system), 1,4-dioxane (contaminant in polyethylene glycol or emulsifiers) and Eye irritation from film formers or fragrance compounds on the MAC and not on the Maybelline.
- We flag Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and solvent exposure, Heavy metals in synthetic pigments, Eye irritation and allergic contact dermatitis and Bacterial contamination in brush applicator on the Maybelline and not on the MAC.
- The MAC is gel pigment formulation (primary ingredients not publicly disclosed for proprietary reasons) where the Maybelline is liquid formula with polymeric film-forming resins; waterproof liner, 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 MAC is the one to buy.
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 eyeliner: see the full ranking