Maybelline SuperStay · Lipstick
Maybelline SuperStay 24 2-Step Lipstick
Avoid until Maybelline discloses PFAS use in waterproofing agents.
This waterproof two-step lipstick is marketed for 24-hour hold, a claim historically achieved using PFAS-based water-repellent coatings in cosmetics. Maybelline provides no public disclosure of PFAS ingredients or alternatives, leaving waterproofing chemistry unspecified.
The safe swap
Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips 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
film-forming polymers, liquid pigments, waxes, oils in a two-step long-wear system
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent treatments have historically contained PFAS chemicals.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
PFAS
Maybelline has not disclosed PFAS content; long-wear lipstick waterproofing almost always relies on fluorinated polymers or PFAS-derived surfactants. Without brand transparency, assume possible PFAS exposure through absorption via lips and ingestion.
Source: ATSDR ↗Lead
Iron oxide and mica pigments can carry trace heavy metal impurities; no public testing data for SuperStay 24 is available. Risk is lower in major brands than in unregulated products, but third-party verification is absent.
Source: ATSDR ↗Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components
SuperStay formulas contain fragrance/flavor agents typically not individually listed on packaging. Common lip color allergens include cinnamyl alcohol, limonene, and linalool; sensitive individuals may react without ingredient-level transparency.
Microplastic particles in pigment or glitter additives
If SuperStay 24 contains shimmer or sparkle, synthetic plastic microbeads may be present; these are ingested during lip wear and contribute to microplastic body burden. Maybelline does not disclose microplastic use.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No recalls or reports of formaldehyde in SuperStay lipsticks on record. Modern cosmetic preservatives in this category typically use gentler systems, but Maybelline does not publicly specify which preservatives are used.
Source: ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
SuperStay 24 is a two-step system: a liquid color base (film-forming polymers, pigments, oils) plus a clear topcoat to lock color and extend wear. The film-forming polymers create the waterproof barrier that defines long-wear performance, but manufacturers rarely disclose whether these polymers contain PFAS (PFAS "forever chemicals") for water and oil resistance. Pigments in lip color can include synthetic iron oxides, titanium dioxide, or mica-based colorants; some formulations historically used heavy metals like lead or cadmium as impurities in cheaper pigment batches, though modern cosmetics regulations make this less common in major brands.
The brand's record and disclosure
Maybelline (owned by L'Oreal) has not publicly disclosed PFAS use in any SuperStay products, despite PFAS becoming a major transparency issue in cosmetics since 2021. The brand holds no third-party certifications for heavy metal testing, fragrance allergen labeling, or PFAS exclusion. No major recalls of SuperStay 24 lipsticks for heavy metal contamination or toxic volatile compounds have been reported, but absence of a recall does not confirm safety testing.
How it compares in its category
Long-wear lipsticks inherently carry higher PFAS risk than traditional formulas because waterproofing requires specialty chemicals; SuperStay is mainstream and affordable, making it a common choice, but competitors like MAC Fix+ or Fenty Beauty Beauty Beauty offer similar wear claims. Brands that explicitly exclude PFAS (e.g., some indie cosmetics) or conduct third-party heavy metal testing are rarer in the mass-market segment. SuperStay's two-step system is typical of its price range and does not inherently signal lower or higher toxicity risk than single-step alternatives.
If you buy it
Patch-test on inner lip or arm 24 hours before full application to catch irritation or allergic responses to fragrance or film-forming polymers. Do not use on broken or very irritated lip skin, as occlusive long-wear formulas can trap bacteria. Replace every 2-3 years or if the formula separates, dries out, or develops odor, as older cosmetics can degrade and harbor microbes. Avoid ingesting residue; while occasional lip color swallowing is low-risk, long-wear formulas coat the mouth longer and should not be treated as food-safe.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Maybelline SuperStay has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Lipstick
MAC Fix+
MAC Frost Lipstick
wax, oils, pigments, emollients (typical lipstick base)
Lead
Limited concern
Azo dyes and synthetic colorants (allergic sensitization)
Limited concern
Fragrance and flavor oils (allergen, aspiration risk)
Limited concern
Lower risk from standard lipstick formula, though MAC makes no PFAS statement.
⚠Risky category by default
MAC Fix+
MAC Sleek Satin Lip Set
liquid/cream lipstick with standard pigments and emollients
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Limited concern
Coating or formula instability causing separation or contamination
Limited concern
Lower risk for typical cosmetic formula without known PFAS drivers, though brand remains silent on PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
NARS
Powermatte Lipstick
Pigments, waxes, oils in standard lipstick base
Talc contamination (asbestos trace)
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and sensitivizers
Limited concern
Lower risk for standard cosmetic without PFAS triggers, though brand makes no transparency claims.
⚠Risky category by default
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.