PFAS in Lip Balm & Long-Wear Lipstick, Which Brands Grade Best and Worst

Based on available materials and data in our database, drugstore staples from Burt's Bees, e.l.f., and Lip Smacker consistently earn our highest lip-product grade, "Excellent" at 75/100, while several long-wear liquid lipsticks from Sigma Beauty, MAC, Lip Smacker's Recode line, and NYX land in "Poor" territory at 30/100. These scores are model-based estimates built from ingredient disclosure and formulation category, not lab test results, so they should be read as directional risk signals rather than certainty. The pattern across our dataset is clear, standard cream and balm-style lipsticks tend to grade far better than "transfer-proof," 16-hour, or liquid matte formulas, which more often rely on film-forming or silicone-fluorine chemistries associated with PFAS-adjacent ingredients.

If you want one clear takeaway before the details, the Burt's Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lipstick in Fuchsia Flood and its sibling shades represent the lower-concern end of our lip-product dataset, while long-wear liquid lipsticks marketed on "locked" or "16hr" wear claims cluster at the higher-concern end. No product below is being called "PFAS-free" or "safe"; we're reporting what our review of available materials shows, and we note where brand claims haven't been independently lab-verified.

Summary Comparison

Product	PFAS Grade (Model Estimate)	Verdict
Burt's Bees Moisturizing Lipstick, Fuchsia Flood	Excellent (75/100)	Lower concern
Burt's Bees Lipstick, Iced Iris	Excellent (75/100)	Lower concern
Burt's Bees Liquid Lipstick, Niagra Nude (3-pack)	Excellent (75/100)	Lower concern
Lip Smacker Party Pack	Excellent (75/100)	Lower concern
Burt's Bees Lipstick	Excellent (75/100)	Lower concern
Lip Smacker Liquid Lip Party Pack	Excellent (75/100)	Lower concern
Lip Smacker Marvel Lip Balm	Excellent (75/100)	Lower concern
Sigma Beauty Infinity Point Lipstick	Excellent (75/100)	Lower concern
Sigma Beauty Lip Cream	Excellent (75/100)	Lower concern
e.l.f. O Face Satin Lipstick	Excellent (75/100)	Lower concern
e.l.f. Sheer Slick Lipstick	Excellent (75/100)	Lower concern
e.l.f. Glossy Lip Stain	Excellent (75/100)	Lower concern
Sigma Beauty Liquid Lipstick	Poor (30/100)	Higher concern
MAC Locked Kiss Ink	Poor (30/100)	Higher concern
Lip Smacker Recode Liquid Lipstick, Say My Name	Poor (30/100)	Higher concern
NYX Lip Lingerie XXL Matte Liquid Lipstick (2-pack)	Poor (30/100)	Higher concern

The Lower-Concern Cluster, Burt's Bees, e.l.f., Lip Smacker, Sigma Beauty

Several products across four brands landed at "Excellent" (75/100) in our model, which weighs disclosed ingredients and formulation type against known PFAS-adjacent chemistries.

Burt's Bees (multiple products)

Materials, Wax-and-oil based cream lipstick and balm formulas, including the 100% Natural Moisturizing Lipstick in Fuchsia Flood, the Iced Iris shade, the standard Burt's Bees Lipstick, and the Niagra Nude liquid lipstick 3-pack.

Brand claims, Burt's Bees markets these as naturally derived formulas; this is a brand statement, not an independent lab certification we've verified.

Pros, Consistently graded "Excellent" across multiple shades and formats, suggesting a stable formulation approach rather than a one-off. Wide shade range with the same underlying grade.

Cons, "Excellent" reflects our model's read of disclosed materials, not a guarantee of zero PFAS trace contamination; naturally derived does not automatically mean no fluorinated compounds are present in trace amounts from processing.

Lip Smacker (Party Pack, Liquid Lip Party Pack, Marvel Lip Balm)

Materials, Flavored balm and gloss-style formulas aimed at a younger, casual-wear market rather than transfer-resistant long-wear.

Brand claims, No third-party-verified PFAS-free claim was found in reviewed sources for these specific SKUs.

Pros, Simple balm chemistry tends to avoid the fluoropolymer film-formers seen in long-wear liquids, which likely helps the grade.

Cons, Notably, Lip Smacker's own Recode Liquid Lipstick line (below) grades "Poor," showing that brand name alone doesn't predict outcome, formulation type matters more.

Sigma Beauty (Infinity Point Lipstick, Lip Cream)

Materials, Pigmented cream and lip-cream bases, distinct from Sigma's own liquid lipstick line.

Pros, Two Sigma products grade "Excellent," a useful data point for shoppers loyal to the brand.

Cons, Sigma's Liquid Lipstick (different product, same brand) grades "Poor," reinforcing that format, not brand loyalty, drives PFAS risk in this category.

e.l.f. (O Face Satin Lipstick, Sheer Slick Lipstick, Glossy Lip Stain)

Materials, Satin and sheer cream lipstick formulas plus a gloss-stain hybrid.

Brand claims, e.l.f. has made public statements about reformulating away from certain chemical classes across its portfolio; we treat this as a brand claim pending independent verification for these specific SKUs.

Pros, Budget-friendly and three separate SKUs land in the "Excellent" band.

Cons, Grade reflects available disclosure at time of review; formulations can change between batches without public notice.

The Higher-Concern Cluster, Long-Wear and Liquid Formulas

Sigma Beauty Liquid Lipstick

Materials, Liquid matte formulation, structurally different from Sigma's cream lipstick and lip cream.

Cons, Grades "Poor" (30/100) in our model; liquid matte formulas commonly use film-forming polymers that can fall into PFAS-adjacent chemistry categories based on available materials.

Pros, Long-wear performance is the presumed trade-off consumers are choosing; that performance claim is the brand's, not independently lab-verified in our review.

MAC Locked Kiss Ink

Materials, A 24-hour-wear liquid lip color built around transfer resistance.

Brand claims, MAC markets extended wear and transfer resistance; no independent PFAS-free verification was found in reviewed sources.

Cons, "Poor" grade (30/100) is consistent with the broader pattern that transfer-resistant, long-wear liquid lipsticks skew toward higher-concern formulations in our dataset.

Pros, Widely available and a known long-wear performer by brand reputation; performance and PFAS grade are separate axes and shouldn't be conflated.

Lip Smacker Recode Liquid Lipstick, Say My Name

Materials, Liquid lipstick format from Lip Smacker's Recode sub-line, distinct ch