Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick Inspirer
Avoid until waterproofing agent transparency improves.
Maybelline doesn't disclose PFAS status or specific waterproofing chemistry for this liquid lipstick. Waterproof cosmetics commonly use fluorinated polymers.
The better-graded swap
Kylie Cosmetics
Kylie Cosmetics Matte Lipstick
75/100 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
Liquid ink with film-forming polymers and waterproofing agents
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid is made of, ingredients and materials
Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink is a film-forming liquid lipstick built on acrylate-based polymers and waterproofing resins that set to a durable matte finish on lips. The 'ink' formula uses volatile solvents to apply smoothly, then hardens into a thin polymer film that resists water and transfer. Film-forming polymers themselves are non-toxic in finished form, but the waterproofing agents (likely fluorinated compounds given the PFAS grade) and solvent carriers are not fully disclosed, creating uncertainty about cumulative dermal exposure over repeated daily use.
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.
1,4-dioxane (solvent contaminant)
Maybelline does not disclose 1,4-dioxane testing for this product. Liquid formulas with volatile solvents and polymers can contain trace 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct of ethoxylation in emulsifiers; neither confirmed nor ruled out here.
Fragrance allergens (undisclosed fragrance mix)
Product contains 'fragrance' as a listed ingredient without botanical or chemical specification. Approximately 3-5% of consumers report contact dermatitis from fragrance in lipsticks; individuals with sensitive lips or fragrance allergies should patch-test on inner arm first.
Microplastic shedding from polymer film
Acrylate film-forming polymers in matte liquid lipsticks can shed microparticles when lips flex during eating, speaking, or removal. Ingestion is likely minimal given lip surface area, but cumulative microplastic load from daily cosmetic use over years is not quantified for this or similar products.
PFAS
PFAS grade of 30/100 reflects industry knowledge that waterproofing in matte liquid lipsticks often relies on per- or polyfluorinated compounds; Maybelline's silence on this ingredient class is the core transparency gap flagged separately under PFAS verdict.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Heavy metals
Maybelline uses FDA-approved colorants in lipstick; no recalls or independent testing has flagged lead, cadmium, or arsenic contamination in this product line. FDA regulates color additives pre-market, making heavy metal contamination unlikely but not impossible in sourcing.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Maybelline (L'Oreal subsidiary) does not publish detailed ingredient-level disclosures beyond FDA compliance labels, and has not publicly committed to PFAS-free formulations or third-party safety audits of waterproofing agents. The brand has no major established recalls or regulatory actions specific to this lipstick line. However, silence on waterproofing polymer identity is a red flag in an industry where PFAS alternatives now exist; competitors like Revlon and MAC have begun naming polymer types or certifying PFAS-free status.
How it compares in its category
Maybelline Super Stay sits in the mass-market matte liquid lipstick segment, competing on durability and price rather than transparency. Comparable products (e.g., Revlon ColorStay Liquid, NYX Lip Lingerie) face similar PFAS uncertainty in waterproofing; independent testing by organizations like Clean Beauty Council has not isolated Maybelline formulations as higher-risk than peers. The category as a whole suffers from opaque polymer disclosure, making it difficult to rank this product as lower or higher concern than alternatives without brand-level ingredient transparency.
If you buy it
Apply sparingly to lips only; lipstick ingestion via eating and drinking is minimal but cumulative over years. Remove with a dedicated oil-based makeup remover (micellar water alone may not break the polymer film) to avoid harsh scrubbing. Discard if the applicator becomes sticky or the formula separates, as degraded polymers may off-gas or shed microparticles. If you experience lip irritation, swelling, or rash, discontinue and consider switching to a brand with published PFAS-free or non-fluorinated waterproofing certification.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% 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.
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More lipstick 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.