Cosmetic Color Products, ranked by PFAS safety
15 products graded from Bad to Excellent, safest first. 14 grade Good or better and are worth buying.
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The best non-toxic cosmetic color products, ranked safest first
Bad · Better · Best cosmetic color products
The quickest read, what to skip and the top-graded picks worth buying instead.
Butter London
Butter London Hardwear Shine UV Topcoat
Medium risk. No PFAS data available, limited formula transparency.
MAC
Mac Nail Lacquer Nail Polish Al Fredo
Low-medium concern. Standard nail polish unlikely to contain PFAS.
MAC
MAC Studio Matte Overlacquer
Low risk. No known PFAS triggers in this cosmetic spray.
Worth buying Good or Excellent, safest first
MAC
Studio Matte Overlacquer
liquid cosmetic spray, alcohol and resin based
Alcohol inhalation from spray
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Limited concern
Resin irritation on compromised skin
Limited concern
Low risk. No known PFAS triggers in this cosmetic spray.
⚠Risky category by default
MAC
Nail Lacquer Nail Polish Al Fredo
nail lacquer film-forming resins, pigments, solvents
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) / Solvent Inhalation
Limited concern
Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) Plasticizer
Limited concern
Fragrance Allergens and Sensitivizers
Limited concern
Low-medium concern. Standard nail polish unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Sally Hansen
Xtreme Wear Nail Color
Nitrocellulose, plasticizers, resins, pigments
Phthalate plasticizers
Limited concern
Solvent inhalation (toluene, xylene, acetone)
Moderate concern
Skin sensitization from resins or fragrance
Limited concern
Low-medium concern. No known PFAS-triggering ingredients present.
⚠Risky category by default
Sally Hansen
Xtreme Wear Nail
nail polish, film-forming resins and solvents
Volatile organic solvents (acetone, ethyl acetate, toluene)
Moderate concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Phthalates
Limited concern
Skin sensitization from resin or solvent contact
Limited concern
Low-medium concern. No known PFAS use in typical formula.
⚠Risky category by default
Sally Hansen
Miracle Gel Nail
gel nail polish, synthetic polymers and resins
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from uncured gel monomers
Limited concern
UV exposure from curing lamps
Moderate concern
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Limited concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Low-medium concern. No known PFAS use in gel polish.
⚠Risky category by default
Sally Hansen
Xtreme Wear Nail Color Polish
Nail lacquer, organic solvents and film-formers
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - toluene, xylene, acetone inhalation
Limited concern
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or phthalate plasticizers
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and irritation from additives
Limited concern
Low-medium concern. Standard formula with no known PFAS risk.
⚠Risky category by default
Sally Hansen
New Lengths Nail Color Secrets
nitrocellulose, plasticizers, resins, pigments
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and inhalation risk
Moderate concern
Phthalates
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Contact sensitization from fragrance or colorants
Limited concern
Low-medium concern. No known PFAS use in typical formulations.
⚠Risky category by default
Sally Hansen
Mega Strength Nail Sally Hansen
nail polish, organic solvents and resins
Volatile organic solvent inhalation (toluene, xylene, acetone)
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Moderate concern
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or other phthalate plasticizers
Limited concern
Sensitization or allergic contact dermatitis from resins or fragrance
Limited concern
Low-medium concern. Nail polish typically PFAS-free but check ingredients.
⚠Risky category by default
MAC
Nail Lacquer
Organic pigments, resins, solvents in liquid lacquer
Volatile organic solvents (VOCs)
High concern
Phthalates
Limited concern
Fragrance and allergen sensitizers
Limited concern
Standard nail lacquer; no known PFAS risk identified.
⚠Risky category by default
MAC
Nail Polish, Quiet Time, Beige
nail polish, organic pigments and resins
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and solvent inhalation
Moderate concern
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and plasticizers
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and irritation
Limited concern
Skin and nail bed absorption during application
Limited concern
Lower concern. Nail polish rarely contains PFAS intentionally.
⚠Risky category by default
MAC
Nail Lacquer 10 ml / 0.34 oz ( CHOOSE
Nail lacquer, organic pigments and film-formers
Volatile organic compounds (toluene, xylene) from solvents
Limited concern
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or phthalate plasticizers
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Skin sensitization from fragrance or preservatives
Limited concern
Lower concern. Nail lacquer formulations rarely contain intentional PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
MAC
Cosmetics Makeup | Mac Nail Lacquer Polish Over-Accessorized (Pink Gold Glitter ) Boxed | Color: Gold/Pink | Size: 0
nitrocellulose, plasticizers, pigments, resins
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and solvent inhalation
High concern
Phthalate plasticizers
Limited concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Nail polish poses lower PFAS concern.
⚠Risky category by default
MAC
Nail Polish
water-based nail polish, pigments, resins
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) and respiratory irritation
Moderate concern
Contact allergens and sensitization
Limited concern
Lower concern; typical nail polish without known PFAS triggers.
⚠Risky category by default
MAC
Nail Lacquer Polish Coffee Break (BROWN) Size
Nail lacquer polish, organic solvent base with pigments
Volatile organic compound (VOC) inhalation from solvents
Limited concern
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) dermal and systemic exposure
Limited concern
Contact dermatitis and sensitization from fragrance/resin compounds
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Lower concern. Nail polish is unlikely to be a PFAS source versus cosmetic treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Butter London
Hardwear Shine UV Topcoat
UV-curable gel topcoat, formula not publicly disclosed
Uncured resin monomers (sensitization/irritation)
Limited concern
Photoinitiators and UV sensitivity
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens
Limited concern
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) off-gassing
Limited concern
Medium risk. No PFAS data available, limited formula transparency.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
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