MAC Frost Lipstick vs 24 2-Step Lipstick: which is safer?

MAC Frost Lipstick is the clear pick. Maybelline SuperStay 24 2-Step Lipstick carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

Our pick

MAC Frost Lipstick

MAC Fix+

MAC Frost Lipstick

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Good 63/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

wax, oils, pigments, emollients (typical lipstick base)

Confidence

72%

PossibleHeavy metal pigments (lead, cadmium, iron oxide impurities)

PossibleAzo dyes and synthetic colorants (allergic sensitization)

PossibleFragrance and flavor oils (allergen, aspiration risk)

Maybelline SuperStay 24 2-Step Lipstick

Maybelline SuperStay

24 2-Step Lipstick

PFAS grade

Poor 30/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

film-forming polymers, liquid pigments, waxes, oils in a two-step long-wear system

Confidence

35%

LikelyPFAS in film-forming waterproofing agents

PossibleHeavy metals in synthetic pigments (lead, cadmium, arsenic)

PossibleFragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Heavy metal pigments (lead, cadmium, iron oxide impurities), Azo dyes and synthetic colorants (allergic sensitization) and Fragrance and flavor oils (allergen, aspiration risk) on the MAC Fix+ and not on the Maybelline SuperStay.
  • We flag PFAS in film-forming waterproofing agents, Heavy metals in synthetic pigments (lead, cadmium, arsenic), Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components and Microplastic particles in pigment or glitter additives on the Maybelline SuperStay and not on the MAC Fix+.
  • The MAC Fix+ is wax, oils, pigments, emollients (typical lipstick base) where the Maybelline SuperStay is film-forming polymers, liquid pigments, waxes, oils in a two-step long-wear system, 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 Fix+ is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the Maybelline SuperStay grade, at 35% 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 lipstick: see the full ranking