Maybelline · Foundation & Primer
Maybelline Grippy Serum Makeup Grip Primer
Lower concern primer; no known PFAS chemistry or waterproof treatment.
Maybelline has not disclosed PFAS in this primer formula. Makeup primers typically use silicones and polymers without PFAS unless marketed with water-resistance or extreme durability.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
silicone, polymers, pigments, waxes
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Maybelline Grippy Serum Makeup Grip Primer is made of, ingredients and materials
Maybelline Grippy Serum Makeup Grip Primer is formulated primarily from silicone polymers, waxes, and pigments designed to create a hydrophobic base for makeup application. Silicones in cosmetics are inert, non-absorbable molecules that sit on skin surface and do not penetrate or bioaccumulate. The wax and polymer blend creates the grip texture without requiring volatile organic compounds or film-forming resins known to off-gas. No coating, waterproofing agent, or flame retardant system is involved in primer chemistry.
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.
Lead
Maybelline primers may contain iron oxide pigments for tint; iron oxide is FDA-approved colorant with low systemic toxicity when applied topically. No specific contamination with lead or cadmium has been reported for this product, but third-party testing is not published.
Source, ATSDR ↗Fragrance allergens (undisclosed components)
Maybelline Grippy is fragrance-free according to product labeling, limiting risk from synthetic fragrance allergens. If fragrance is present, brand does not itemize individual fragrance components, which is standard industry practice but limits allergen assessment for sensitive individuals.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
1,4-dioxane (cosmetic impurity)
Maybelline Grippy does not list 1,4-dioxane as an ingredient. This impurity can arise in ethoxylated ingredients; none are documented in this primer's typical silicone-wax formulation.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Silicone and wax-based primers do not require formaldehyde-releasing preservatives; no DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, or diazolidinyl urea are standard in this product class.
Source, ATSDR ↗Talc contamination
This primer is a serum-based gel, not a powder, and does not use talc as a base material. Talc is absent from the known formulation.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Maybelline (L'Oréal USA subsidiary) maintains compliance with FDA cosmetic regulations and EU cosmetics directives but does not publish detailed ingredient breakdowns or third-party safety certifications for individual primers. The brand has no documented recalls or safety violations specific to this product line. Maybelline does not publicly disclose PFAS testing or avoidance commitments, though this primer carries no known PFAS chemistry based on ingredient class.
How it compares in its category
Silicone-based primers are the dominant category standard and generally present lower concern than water-based or synthetic polymer alternatives that may require preservatives or film-forming additives. This product's formulation is typical for mass-market makeup primers; it does not use talc, formaldehyde resins, or heavy-metal pigments at levels that trigger regulation. Comparison products (bareMinerals, Smashbox, e.l.f.) use similar silicone backbone chemistry with comparable hazard profiles.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct heat and sunlight to prevent wax separation or polymer degradation; silicone primers do not require refrigeration. Apply a dime-sized amount to clean skin before foundation; overuse may clog pores in sensitive individuals. Primers are not meant for ingestion or eye contact; wash hands after application. Replace if the product separates, changes odor, or shows visible mold growth (rare in anhydrous formulas but possible if water or saliva enters the container).
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Maybelline 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 Maybelline Grippy Serum Makeup Grip Primer?
- mineral powder, silicones, mica
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Fragrance allergen sensitization
- mineral powder, silica, mica, talc
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- Talc inhalation
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- mineral pigments, glycerin, plant extracts, silicones
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More foundation & primer 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.