PFAS score
NARS · Waterproof Mascara
NARS Climax Mascara
Waterproof mascara carries PFAS risk; brand transparency absent, proceed with caution.
NARS Climax Mascara is a waterproof mascara, a product category commonly treated with fluorochemical coatings (PFAS) to achieve water resistance. NARS does not publicly disclose PFAS use or absence in this product, nor does it hold independent PFAS verification. No publicly available lab testing of this specific product exists.
The safe swap
Burt's Bees
Burt's Bees 100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown
75/100 safety
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Polymer film/wax blend with waterproofing agent
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 45% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Waterproof Mascara
Burt's Bees
100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown
Wax, pigments, natural oils (typical mascara base)
Lower concern, conventional mascara formula with no known PFAS drivers, but zero transparency from brand.
⚠Risky category by default
RMS Beauty
Volumizing Mascara
Wax, resin, and pigment base (typical mascara formulation)
Lower concern; standard mascara formula unlikely to contain PFAS, but brand makes no explicit commitment.
⚠Risky category by default
Tarte
Travel-size Tartelette
Powdered eyeshadow palette with talc or mica base
Lower concern for PFAS, powder cosmetics rarely need Teflon-family coating, but Tarte makes no public PFAS disclosure.
⚠Risky category by default
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.