MAC Frost Lipstick vs Explicit Lipstick: which is safer?
MAC Frost Lipstick is the clear pick. NARS Explicit 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
Explicit Lipstick
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleHeavy metals in pigments (iron oxides, mica, synthetic colorants)
ReportedFragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance compounds
PossibleFormaldehyde releasers in preservative systems
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 pigments (iron oxides, mica, synthetic colorants), Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance compounds, Formaldehyde releasers in preservative systems and Coating degradation and microplastic shedding 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; waterproof coating unspecified, 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 NARS 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