MAC Frost Lipstick vs Powermatte Lipstick: which is safer?
NARS Powermatte Lipstick is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
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)
Our pick
NARS
Powermatte Lipstick
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleTalc contamination (asbestos trace)
PossibleFragrance allergens and sensitivizers
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 Talc contamination (asbestos trace) and Fragrance allergens and sensitivizers on the NARS and not on the MAC Fix+.
- The MAC Fix+ is wax, oils, pigments, emollients (typical lipstick base) where the NARS is Pigments, waxes, oils in standard lipstick base, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
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