By PFAS Authority · Updated September 7, 2026
Top grades to buy
NYX Professional Makeup
Pore Filler Primer
NYX Professional Makeup
Can't Stop Won't Stop Full Coverage Foundation
CoverGirl
TruBlend Skin Enhancer Primer
Model-based grades, not lab tests. We flunk more than we pass. How grading works
PFAS in Foundation & Primer, Which Brands Grade Best and Worst
Based on available materials and public disclosure data, the strongest performers in our foundation and primer database come from Bare Minerals, NYX Professional Makeup, CoverGirl, and Estée Lauder's core primer lines, all landing at an "Excellent" grade (75/100) in our model-based scoring. The clearest pattern to avoid involves mist-format setting sprays and long-wear, "all nighter" style primers, where several entries from Estée Lauder, Urban Decay, and CoverGirl scored "Poor" (30/100). This isn't a coincidence, long-wear and mist formulas more often lean on fluorinated film-formers or slip agents that push scores down, based on the ingredient disclosures and formulation patterns our model reviewed.
No single brand sweeps the category cleanly. CoverGirl, for instance, has three "Excellent" primers alongside one "Poor" grade in the same product family, which underscores why shoppers need to check the specific SKU rather than trusting a brand name alone. Below, we break down the full comparison, what to avoid, and how to use our Foundation & Primer finder to check products not covered here.
Summary Comparison
| Product | PFAS Grade (Est. Safety Score) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Bare Minerals Prime Time Hydrate & Glow Primer | Excellent (75/100) | Lower concern based on reviewed materials |
| Bare Minerals Original Prime Time Foundation Primer | Excellent (75/100) | Lower concern based on reviewed materials |
| Bare Minerals Prime Time Daily Protecting Primer SPF 30 | Excellent (75/100) | Lower concern based on reviewed materials |
| NYX Can't Stop Won't Stop Full Coverage Foundation | Excellent (75/100) | Lower concern based on reviewed materials |
| NYX Pore Filler Primer | Excellent (75/100) | Lower concern based on reviewed materials |
| NYX Blurscreen Primer SPF 30 | Excellent (75/100) | Lower concern based on reviewed materials |
| NYX Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer | Excellent (75/100) | Lower concern based on reviewed materials |
| CoverGirl TruBlend Skin Enhancer Primer | Excellent (75/100) | Lower concern based on reviewed materials |
| CoverGirl Olay Simply Ageless Serum Primer | Excellent (75/100) | Lower concern based on reviewed materials |
| CoverGirl TruBlend Base Business Face Primer | Excellent (75/100) | Lower concern based on reviewed materials |
| Estée Lauder Double Wear Smooth & Blur Primer | Excellent (75/100) | Lower concern based on reviewed materials |
| Estée Lauder Double Wear Second Skin Cream Primer SPF 20 | Excellent (75/100) | Lower concern based on reviewed materials |
| Estée Lauder Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist | Poor (30/100) | Avoid based on reviewed materials |
| Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer | Poor (30/100) | Avoid based on reviewed materials |
| CoverGirl Outlast All Day Primer | Poor (30/100) | Avoid based on reviewed materials |
The Excellent-Grade Products, Closer Look
Bare Minerals Primer Line
Bare Minerals places three primers in the "Excellent" tier, Prime Time Hydrate & Glow Original Prime Time, and Prime Time Daily Protecting SPF 30. Brand materials emphasize mineral-forward, "clean" formulation positioning. Based on available materials and data, these products show no evidence of PFAS found in reviewed sources, which supports the higher score, though this is a model-based estimate from formulation disclosures, not an independent lab test.
Pros, Consistent scoring across the entire sub-line; SPF variant adds daily-use versatility.
Cons, Brand's own "clean" language is a marketing claim, not third-party verified; mineral formulas can feel heavier for some skin types.
NYX Professional Makeup
NYX earns four "Excellent" grades, Can't Stop Won't Stop Foundation Pore Filler Primer Blurscreen Primer SPF 30, and Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer. NYX markets these as budget-friendly, full-coverage staples rather than as PFAS-specific claims. Pros, Widely available at mass retail, low price point, broad shade range. Cons, As with any mass-market line, formulations can change between production batches, so a strong grade today doesn't guarantee the same reformulated product next year.
CoverGirl (Mixed Results Within One Brand)
CoverGirl shows why brand-level trust isn't enough. TruBlend Skin Enhancer Primer Olay Simply Ageless Serum Primer, and TruBlend Base Business Face Primer all score "Excellent," yet Outlast All Day Primer scores "Poor." Pros, Multiple accessible, lower-concern options in the TruBlend and Olay collaborations. Cons, The long-wear "Outlast" formula appears to use different film-forming ingredients that our model flags as higher concern; shoppers should check each SKU individually.
Estée Lauder Primers vs. Its Setting Mist
Estée Lauder's Double Wear Smooth & Blur Primer and Double Wear Second Skin Cream Primer SPF 20 both grade "Excellent." However, the brand's Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist grades "Poor." Pros of the primers, Long-standing Double Wear reputation, SPF option adds sun-care value. Cons, The gap between the primer and mist formulas illustrates that format matters as much as brand; a mist delivery system may rely on different suspension chemistry than a cream primer.
What to Avoid
Based on available materials and data, three products in our database currently carry a "Poor" (30/100) grade, the Estée Lauder Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist, the Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer, and the CoverGirl Outlast All Day Primer. All three share a common thread, they're positioned as extreme-longevity or setting products, categories that historically have leaned more heavily on synthetic, water-resistant film formers. This pattern echoes what we've seen in other long-wear categories, including waterproof mascara, where "all day" and "waterproof" claims often correlate with higher PFAS-related concern scores. If long wear is a priority, consider layering a lower-concern primer with a setting powder instead of relying on a single long-wear formula.
Our Pick
No product on this list has independent, third-party lab confirmation of a total absence of PFAS; all grades here are model-based estimates drawn from ingredient disclosures and formulation data, not certified lab testing. That said, based on available materials and data, the Bare Minerals, NYX, CoverGirl (excluding Outlast), and Estée Lauder primer formulas reviewed here consistently earn "Excellent" grades and show no evidence of PFAS found in reviewed sources. Among these,
Now check your own stuff
See every product we’ve graded in this category, safest first.
Get the safe list, free
The products we score each week, and the safest alternative in every category.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.