MAC Frost Lipstick vs Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick: which is safer?

MAC Frost Lipstick is the clear pick. Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid 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 Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick

Maybelline SuperStay

Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick

PFAS grade

Poor 30/100

Overall grade

Bad 18/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Liquid film-forming acrylate polymer with waterproof binders

Confidence

58%

PossibleFragrance allergens and sensitizers

Possible1,4-dioxane (solvent contaminant)

PossibleContact sensitization from preservatives or film-formers

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 Fragrance allergens and sensitizers, 1,4-dioxane (solvent contaminant) and Contact sensitization from preservatives or film-formers 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 Liquid film-forming acrylate polymer with waterproof binders, 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.

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