Eyeliner, ranked by PFAS safety
15 products graded from Bad to Excellent, safest first. 3 grade Good or better and are worth buying.
Start here
The best non-toxic eyeliner, ranked safest first
Bad · Better · Best eyeliner
The quickest read, what to skip and the top-graded picks worth buying instead.
Maybelline
Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner
Skip until Maybelline reveals waterproof chemistry.
MAC
Chromaline Gel - Hi-Def Cyan
Lower concern, but brand doesn't disclose full formulation details.
Worth buying Good or Excellent, safest first
MAC
Chromaline Gel - Hi-Def Cyan
gel pigment formulation (primary ingredients not publicly disclosed for proprietary reasons)
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
1,4-dioxane (contaminant in polyethylene glycol or emulsifiers)
Limited concern
Eye irritation from film formers or fragrance compounds
Moderate concern
Lower concern, but brand doesn't disclose full formulation details.
⚠Risky category by default
Ere Perez
Jojoba Eye Pencil Gem (lilac haze)
Jojoba oil, waxes, pigments (typical pencil formulation)
Fragrance allergens
Limited concern
Microorganism growth in oil matrix
Limited concern
Eye irritation or sensitization from wax/oil breakdown
Limited concern
Lower concern. Natural formula shows no PFAS risk signals.
⚠Risky category by default
Ere Perez
JOJOBA EYE PENCIL Natural Black
Jojoba oil, waxes, pigments (natural eye pencil formulation)
Fragrance allergens or essential oil irritants
Limited concern
Microbial or oxidative degradation of oil base
Limited concern
Lower concern. Natural formulation unlikely to contain deliberate PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
MAC
Colour Excess Gel Pencil Eye Liner
gel pencil with waterproof formula
Fragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components
Limited concern
Bacterial or mold growth in pencil packaging
Limited concern
PFAS
High concern
Waterproof cosmetics carry PFAS risk.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
MAC
Eye Kohl MAC
Pigments, waxes, oils in pencil/kohl format with waterproofing agents
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and contact sensitization
Limited concern
Irritation from waterproofing agents and occlusion
High concern
Waterproof cosmetics often contain PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Urban Decay
24/7 Glide On Waterproof Eye Pencil
wax/pigment pencil with waterproof film-forming polymer
Lead
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance constituents
Limited concern
Polymer coating degradation and microplastic shedding with use
Limited concern
Waterproof cosmetics carry inherent PFAS risk.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Urban Decay
24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil
Wax/oil pencil with waterproof polymeric coating
PFAS
High concern
Fragrance allergens
Limited concern
Bacterial growth from pencil tip contamination
Limited concern
Skip until Urban Decay discloses waterproof ingredient source.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Urban Decay
| 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil | Shade: Zero – Black Matte | 0.04 ONZ
wax/pigment pencil with waterproof treatment (formulation undisclosed)
PFAS
High concern
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Limited concern
Mechanical injury from pencil shape and sharpening
Moderate concern
Waterproof cosmetics often use PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Ere Perez
Eye Pencil
Wax, pigments, and binders; waterproofing mechanism unspecified
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components
Limited concern
Wax degradation and rancidity
Limited concern
PFAS
Moderate concern
Waterproof claims warrant caution until brand clarifies ingredient sources.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Maybelline
Master Precise All Day Liquid Eyeliner
liquid eyeliner with waterproof film-forming resin system
PFAS
High concern
Iron oxide or synthetic azo pigments
Limited concern
Preservative-related sensitivity
Limited concern
Microplastic particles from polymer carriers
Limited concern
Skip until Maybelline discloses waterproofing agents.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Maybelline
Hyper Easy Liquid Eyeliner
liquid formula with polymeric film-forming resins; waterproof liner
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and solvent exposure
High concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Eye irritation and allergic contact dermatitis
Moderate concern
Bacterial contamination in brush applicator
Limited concern
Skip. Waterproof cosmetics carry concern, and brand discloses nothing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Maybelline
Line Express Sharpenable Wood Pencil Eyeliner
wood pencil with presumed waterproof pigment/wax formulation
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Limited concern
Bacterial contamination from wood casing and sharpening
Limited concern
PFAS
Moderate concern
Skip until Maybelline reveals waterproofing method.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Maybelline
Eye Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner
gel eyeliner base with waterproof polymers
1,4-dioxane (manufacturing byproduct)
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Fragrance allergen sensitization
Moderate concern
Polymer film buildup and ocular irritation
High concern
Skip until Maybelline discloses waterproof ingredient composition.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Maybelline
Tattoo Eyeliner
polymer film coating + pigments (waterproof eyeliner formula)
Fragrance allergens and undisclosed ingredients
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
1,4-dioxane (contaminant in surfactants/emulsifiers)
Limited concern
Polymer film coating degradation and particle shedding
Moderate concern
Skip. Waterproof cosmetics may use PFAS, and brand discloses nothing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Maybelline
Unstoppable Eyeliner
liquid polymer film/waterproof coating (composition undisclosed)
Bacterial growth and contamination (brush applicator)
Limited concern
Eye irritation from polymer film residue
Moderate concern
Skip until Maybelline reveals waterproof chemistry.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Get the safe list, free
The products we score each week, and the safest alternative in every category.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.