Too Faced · Waterproof Mascara
Too Faced Better Than Sex Original + Waterproof Mascara Set
Skip; waterproof mascara often uses PFAS, no brand disclosure.
Waterproof mascaras commonly rely on Teflon-family coating coatings for water resistance. Too Faced provides no PFAS information, and independent lab data is unavailable for this product.
The better-graded swap
Burt's Bees
Burt's Bees 100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown
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
mascara wax, pigments, waterproof polymer coating (unspecified)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Too Faced Better Than Sex Original is made of, ingredients and materials
Too Faced Better Than Sex Original + Waterproof uses a wax base (typical mascara carrier), synthetic pigments for color, and an unspecified waterproof polymer coating. Waterproof mascaras historically rely on fluorinated compounds (PFAS) or silicone-based polymers to repel water; Too Faced has not disclosed which chemistry is used here. The pigments and any iron oxide or synthetic colorants are the main sources of heavy metal risk in the eye area, where absorption is rapid and the skin barrier is thin.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
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.
Heavy metals
Waterproof and long-wear mascaras often use iron oxide, titanium dioxide, or synthetic organic pigments; no independent lab test of this specific product's lead or cadmium content is on record. The eye area's thin mucous membrane and proximity to tear ducts create higher absorption risk than other cosmetics.
Source, FDA ↗PFAS
Too Faced does not disclose whether waterproofing uses fluorinated compounds (PFAS) or silicone; waterproof mascaras across the market commonly contain PFAS, and brand silence suggests no independent testing or commitment to PFAS-free formulation. This product received a Poor (30/100) PFAS safety grade.
Source, ATSDR ↗Fragrance allergens or irritants
Mascara formulas may include fragrance to mask wax or polymer smell; Too Faced does not itemize fragrance components, so individual allergen risk (e.g., limonene, linalool) cannot be assessed without full ingredient disclosure.
What’s reassuring
1,4-dioxane (manufacturing contaminant)
No published testing or recalls for this product involve 1,4-dioxane; however, if the waterproof polymer or emulsifiers include ethoxylated ingredients, trace contamination is possible but not established on record.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No recalls or test results document formaldehyde releasers in this specific mascara. Wax-based mascaras do not typically require formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, but ingredient list verification is not publicly available.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Too Faced (owned by Estée Lauder Companies) does not publish ingredient transparency reports or independent safety certifications for this product line. No recalls involving this specific mascara for heavy metals, 1,4-dioxane, or formaldehyde releasers have been established on public record. The brand's silence on waterproofing chemistry is consistent with industry norm but limits informed assessment of PFAS or alternative polymer choice. Estée Lauder has faced prior litigation over undisclosed ingredients in other lines but not specifically this product.
How it compares in its category
Waterproof mascaras across brands (including Maybelline, L'Oréal, Urban Decay) similarly lack transparent disclosure of waterproofing agents, making this product representative of the category risk rather than an outlier. Non-waterproof mascaras or those using disclosed silicone or plant-derived polymers (e.g., some indie or clean beauty brands) present lower concern for undisclosed PFAS. The 'Original' formula is a market staple with long shelf history but no advantage over competitors in ingredient transparency.
If you buy it
Remove with oil-based or micellar makeup remover; avoid harsh rubbing at the lash line where the delicate eyelid skin and tear duct sit. Replace mascara every 3 months or if it dries out, clumps, or smells off; dried formula can harbor bacteria. Store in a cool, dry place and do not use if applicator touches eyes after any sign of infection. If you experience itching, redness, or irritation, discontinue and consider patch-testing alternative brands with disclosed waterproofing ingredients.
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
- Too Faced has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Waterproof Mascara
Burt's Bees
100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown
- Wax, pigments, natural oils (typical mascara base)
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed sensitizers
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Chanel
Le Volume de Chanel Mascara
- pigments, waxes, polymers (unspecified)
- Lead
5 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Estée Lauder
Lash Drama Mascara Gift Set
- pigments, waxes, film-formers in liquid mascara
- Heavy metals
5 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
More waterproof mascara 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.