MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil Eye Liner
Waterproof cosmetics carry PFAS risk. Skip until MAC reveals formula details.
The waterproof formula suggests fluorochemical water repellency, a historical PFAS marker. MAC offers no public PFAS statement or ingredient disclosure.
The better-graded swap
Ere Perez
Jojoba Eye Pencil
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
gel pencil with waterproof formula
Lab data
No public lab test
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What MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil Eye Liner is made of, ingredients and materials
MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil is a pigmented gel-based eyeliner in pencil form, marketed as waterproof. Waterproofing in cosmetics typically relies on silicones, polymers, and waxes to repel water; many waterproof formulas historically incorporated PFAS (fluorinated compounds) to achieve water and oil resistance. The specific polymer or silicone backbone in this product is not disclosed by MAC in available public materials, making it impossible to rule out legacy PFAS use or fluorinated alternatives.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Fragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components
MAC Colour Excess is marketed without explicit fragrance, but gel formulas may contain low levels of fragrance or masking agents not itemized on the label. Individuals with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity should patch-test before use around the eye area.
Bacterial or mold growth in pencil packaging
Gel eyeliner pencils are sharpened or twisted, exposing fresh product surface repeatedly. If the pencil is stored in humid conditions or the cap is left off, the open gel surface is vulnerable to contamination; higher risk than liquid formulas in sealed bottles.
PFAS
Waterproof cosmetics, especially pencil eyeliners, have a documented history of PFAS use to achieve durability. MAC's silence on the waterproofing polymer chemistry and absence of a published PFAS-free claim suggest unverified or legacy formulation. See PFAS verdict above.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Heavy metals
No published recalls or test data for MAC Colour Excess specifically. Eyeliners use FDA-approved colorants, but imported pigments in cosmetics can occasionally carry trace lead or cadmium; MAC does not publish heavy metal testing data for individual products.
Source, FDA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Gel-based eyeliners do not typically require formaldehyde as a preservative; no evidence of this hazard in gel pencil eyeliners as a category, and no recalls involving MAC eyeliners on this front.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
MAC (Estee Lauder subsidiary) does not publicly disclose ingredient-level transparency for waterproofing agents in its waterproof cosmetics lines. The brand has not published statements on PFAS phase-out or alternatives. No major recalls or safety controversies specific to this eyeliner product are on public record. MAC does list ingredients on product labels, but waterproofing agents may be grouped under vague terms like 'polymer blend' or proprietary language, limiting consumer verification.
How it compares in its category
Waterproof gel eyeliners across brands face the same PFAS disclosure gap; MAC is not uniquely problematic in this regard. Non-waterproof gel and pencil eyeliners from the same brand or competitors avoid the waterproofing chemistry question entirely. Brands like Beautycounter and some indie/indie-adjacent lines have published PFAS-free certifications for eyeliners, though they typically sacrifice waterproof performance or durability.
If you buy it
Apply only to eyelid skin; avoid contact with eye mucosa (as with all eyeliners). Do not use if the pencil tip shows visible degradation, mold, or dried-out texture, as gel formulas can harbor bacteria once the seal is broken. Replace every 3 months or sooner if used daily. If waterproofing is not essential for your use case (e.g., everyday wear without swimming or sweating), consider a non-waterproof alternative to sidestep the PFAS uncertainty.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- MAC has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil Eye Liner?
- Jojoba oil, wax, pigments
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Jojoba oil, waxes, pigments (typical pencil formulation)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Jojoba oil, waxes, pigments (natural eye pencil formulation)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens or essential oil irritants
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More eyeliner grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.