We graded 186 makeup for PFAS. Here is what we found (2026 data study)

Our team graded 186 makeup products from 25 brands for PFAS-related risk, and none of them scored above a C. The highest-rated foundations topped out at 75 out of 100, while 35 percent of all products graded landed in D or F territory. Not a single product carried a confirmed PTFE or fluoropolymer signal, which suggests the risk in this category is coming from broader formulation and disclosure patterns rather than the most notorious fluorochemical additives.

Key findings

186 makeup products from 25 brands were graded, and not one earned better than a C.
65 products, or 35 percent of the category, graded D or F.
121 products (65 percent) landed in the C range, making it the dominant grade in makeup.
23 products (12 percent) received the lowest grade, F.
0 products (0 percent) showed confirmed PTFE or fluoropolymer signals, the lowest possible rate for this marker.
The top score in the entire category was 75/100, shared by three MAC foundations.

Grade distribution across 186 makeup products

Grade	Products	Share of category
C	121	65%
D	42	23%
F	23	12%

The absence of any A or B grade is the headline here. Even the best-performing makeup in our database is a middling C, which tells shoppers that "clean" claims in this category should be read with caution. The fact that nearly two thirds of products cluster in the C band, with more than a third falling to D or F, points to a category-wide pattern rather than a few outlier brands.

Top and bottom performers

Every product we graded belongs to just two brands in our top and bottom lists, MAC at the top and Estée Lauder at the bottom, which is a useful reminder that grades track formulation and disclosure detail, not brand reputation alone.

Rank	Product	Grade score
Top	MAC Studio Radiance Face and Body Radiant Sheer Foundation	75/100
Top	MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation	75/100
Top	MAC Pro Full Coverage Foundation	75/100
Bottom	MAC Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation	30/100
Bottom	Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-place Foundation	30/100
Bottom	Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Makeup, Tan	30/100

It is notable that MAC appears in both lists. The brand's Studio Radiance, Studio Fix, and Pro Full Coverage lines score at the top of the category, while its Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation ties for the lowest score in the entire dataset. This spread within a single brand reinforces that grades are formula-specific and should not be assumed to carry across a brand's full product line.

Why zero confirmed fluoropolymer signals still matters

PTFE and other fluoropolymers are the most widely recognized PFAS ingredients, often added to makeup for slip and long-wear performance. In this 186-product sample, we found zero confirmed fluoropolymer signals, meaning the D and F grades in this category are not being driven by that specific, well-known ingredient class. Instead, lower grades likely reflect other PFAS-related formulation risk factors and gaps in public ingredient disclosure that our model accounts for. Shoppers scanning labels for "PTFE" alone may miss the broader risk picture this study captures.

What this means for shoppers

With 35 percent of graded makeup at D or F, and no products reaching an A or B, buyers browsing the makeup finder should not assume that any single product in this category is PFAS-free by default. The best available options in our dataset are C-grade foundations, which suggests this is a category where incremental improvement, not a single perfect pick, is the realistic goal for now.

Methodology

Grades referenced in this study are model-based estimates generated from publicly available product materials, ingredient disclosures, and formulation data, not laboratory PFAS testing of physical samples. Scores and signals can change as brands update formulas or disclose new information. Full detail on how scores are built, weighted, and updated is available on our methodology page.

Cite this study

"We graded 186 makeup for PFAS. Here is what we found (2026 data study)." PFAS Database. https://pfasdatabase.com/guides/pfas-study-makeup-2026. Published February 2026.