MAC Frost Lipstick vs Afterglow Sensual Shine Lipstick: which is safer?
MAC Frost Lipstick is the clear pick. NARS Afterglow Sensual Shine Lipstick carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Our pick
MAC Fix+
MAC Frost Lipstick
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleHeavy metal pigments (lead, cadmium, iron oxide impurities)
PossibleAzo dyes and synthetic colorants (allergic sensitization)
PossibleFragrance and flavor oils (allergen, aspiration risk)
NARS
Afterglow Sensual Shine Lipstick
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleHeavy metals in synthetic pigments
PossibleFragrance allergens and 1,4-dioxane
PossibleMicroplastics from synthetic waxes or packaging
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 NARS.
- We flag Heavy metals in synthetic pigments, Fragrance allergens and 1,4-dioxane, Microplastics from synthetic waxes or packaging and BPA/BPS in plastic packaging on the NARS and not on the MAC Fix+.
- The MAC Fix+ is wax, oils, pigments, emollients (typical lipstick base) where the NARS is Wax, oils, pigments, emollients (typical lipstick base), which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- We are less certain about the NARS 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 lipstick: see the full ranking