Smashbox · Beauty Primers & Setting Sprays
Smashbox Christian Cowan Layered Look Mini Primer + Setting Spray Set
Skip until PFAS disclosure or testing provided by brand.
Cosmetic sprays often use waterproofing agents; Smashbox has not disclosed PFAS content or pursued third-party verification. No public lab data available on this specific product.
The safe swap
Estée Lauder
Estee Lauder Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist
75/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned its C.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
liquid cosmetic primer and setting spray
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.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This is a dual-product set: a liquid silicone-based primer and an alcohol-based setting spray typical of professional makeup lines. Primers in this category usually contain cyclopentasiloxane or similar volatile silicones for slip and longevity, plus humectants and polymers. Setting sprays are primarily alcohol (often 40-70% by volume) with water, glycerin, and film-forming agents. Neither product involves heat exposure or coating degradation risk like cookware, but preservative systems and fragrance components warrant attention.
The brand's record and disclosure
Smashbox is owned by Estee Lauder and maintains minimal public PFAS disclosure across its product lines. The brand has not published comprehensive ingredient safety statements or third-party certifications (EWG Verified, Clean Beauty, etc.) that would signal rigorous hazard screening. No major recalls specific to this primer-spray set are on public record, but the silence on water-resistant formulations (common in setting sprays) and PFAS use leaves a transparency gap.
How it compares in its category
Professional makeup primers and setting sprays are largely unregulated for PFAS content in the US, unlike some other cosmetic categories. Competitors like Urban Decay and MAC similarly lack public PFAS testing, making this product typical rather than exceptional. Brands like RMS Beauty or Beautycounter offer greater ingredient transparency and third-party safety audits, representing a higher standard in the space.
If you buy it
Use primers and setting sprays in well-ventilated areas to minimize inhalation of volatile silicones and alcohols. Patch-test on a small facial area first, especially if you have sensitive skin or fragrance allergies. Replace both products every 12 months or if separation, discoloration, or odor changes occur, as preservative breakdown can increase microbial contamination risk. Store away from heat and direct sunlight to preserve formula stability.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
1,4-dioxane (solvent/contaminant)
Liquid cosmetic bases often contain 1,4-dioxane as an unintended byproduct of ethoxylation in emulsifiers or surfactants. Smashbox does not publicly disclose whether their primer or spray formulations are distilled or purified to remove it. FDA lists it as a probable carcinogen; levels in cosmetics are typically trace but cumulative with daily use.
Formaldehyde releasers (preservative resins)
Primers and setting sprays require preservatives; some brands use DMDM hydantoin or imidazolidinyl urea, which release small amounts of formaldehyde over time. No public formulation data exists for this Smashbox product, so presence cannot be ruled out. Long-term facial application poses low but non-zero sensitization risk.
Fragrance allergens (undisclosed components)
Smashbox primers and sprays typically list fragrance as a single ingredient without breaking down component allergens. Common sensitizers in makeup fragrances include limonene, linalool, and citral. Users with fragrance sensitivities or compromised skin barriers should request full fragrance disclosure from the brand before purchase.
Heavy metals in colorants (if tinted primer)
This set includes a primer (potentially tinted) and clear setting spray. If the primer contains iron oxides or other pigments, trace heavy metals are possible but no recalls or warnings specific to Smashbox primer colorants are on record. Standard cosmetic regulations limit but do not eliminate metal contamination in pigments.
Siloxane accumulation in skin (silicone primers)
Cyclopentasiloxane and other volatile silicones in primers are rapidly absorbed or evaporate, but repeated daily use may result in subclinical buildup, especially if skincare is not thorough. No established toxicity threshold exists for topical silicone accumulation in humans, but some toxicologists flag long-term daily exposure as a precautionary concern.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 35% 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 Beauty Primers & Setting Sprays
Estée Lauder
Estee Lauder Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist
liquid spray formulation, water and glycerin base
Lower concern. Spray cosmetic with no known PFAS triggers.
⚠Risky category by default
Estée Lauder
Estee Lauder The Smoother Universal Perfecting Primer
Silicone, glycerin, water, pigments
Liquid cosmetic primer with lower PFAS concern, no red flags identified.
⚠Risky category by default
Estée Lauder
Estee Lauder The Mattifier Shine Control Perfecting Primer and Finisher
silicones, talc, pigments, waxes
Lower concern; cosmetic primer with no known PFAS-prone ingredients.
⚠Risky category by default
More beauty primers & setting sprays 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.