PFAS in Waterproof Mascara: What to Avoid and Safer Alternatives (2026)

PFAS gives waterproof mascara its smudge-proof properties – and ends up near your eyes.

Quick answer

Some waterproof mascara contain PFAS ("forever chemicals") and some do not. PFAS gives waterproof mascara its smudge-proof properties – and ends up near your eyes. Third-party testing has flagged specific brands (below); safer options include RMS Beauty Volumizing Mascara – non-waterproof, PFAS-free and ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara – clean formula. The same chemicals contaminate drinking water, so the highest-impact step for most people is filtering their tap.

How we source this: we report published third-party testing (Green Science Policy Institute, Consumer Reports, Mamavation, Ecology Center, Silent Spring Institute, and peer-reviewed studies) and name the study behind each finding. We do not test products ourselves.

How PFAS gets into waterproof mascara

PFAS chemicals (especially PTFE and shorter-chain fluorosurfactants) make mascara water-resistant. They keep formulas smooth, prevent smudging, and create the "waterproof" claim. PFAS migrate to the skin around the eyes, where absorption is high.

What testing has found

Notre Dame ND-LEAF 2021 study found 82% of waterproof mascaras tested contained high fluorine levels (a PFAS marker). Major brands flagged include NARS, Smashbox, Stila, Urban Decay, and CoverGirl waterproof formulas.

Brands flagged in testing

  • NARS Climax Waterproof Mascara (Notre Dame 2021)
  • Smashbox Photo Op Waterproof Mascara (Notre Dame 2021)
  • Stila Huge Extreme Lash Waterproof (Notre Dame 2021)
  • Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof (Notre Dame 2021)
  • Most waterproof mascaras from drugstore brands (Maybelline, L'Oréal, CoverGirl, Revlon)

Safer brand alternatives

  • RMS Beauty Volumizing Mascara – non-waterproof, PFAS-free
  • ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara – clean formula
  • Kosas The Big Clean Volumizing + Lash Care Mascara
  • 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Mascara
  • Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara – verified PFAS-free

How this connects to your drinking water

Waterproof mascara washes off into wastewater (which can't remove PFAS). PFAS-containing makeup discarded in landfills adds to leachate that contaminates groundwater.

What to do right now

  • Switch to non-waterproof mascara – most are still long-wearing
  • For special occasions, use tubing mascaras (which use polymers, not PFAS, for longwear)
  • Read labels – avoid PTFE, perfluoro-, polyfluoro-, fluoro- ingredients
  • Check brands against the EWG Skin Deep database before buying

Frequently asked questions

Do all waterproof mascara contain PFAS?
No. Several brands have been third-party tested PFAS-free, including RMS Beauty Volumizing Mascara – non-waterproof, PFAS-free, ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara – clean formula, Kosas The Big Clean Volumizing + Lash Care Mascara. The PFAS-containing products are usually those marketed with words like "stain-resistant," "waterproof," "long-wear," "non-stick," or "grease-resistant."
How do I know if my waterproof mascara have PFAS?
Check the ingredient list or product spec sheet for: PTFE, PFOA, PFOS, perfluoro-, polyfluoro-, fluoro-, or "fluorocarbon" prefixes. If the product is labeled "stain-resistant," "waterproof," or "non-stick" without an explicit PFAS-free certification, assume PFAS until proven otherwise.
What's the safest alternative?
For waterproof mascara, the cleanest options include RMS Beauty Volumizing Mascara – non-waterproof, PFAS-free and ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara – clean formula. Switch to non-waterproof mascara – most are still long-wearing.
How does this connect to drinking water contamination?
Waterproof mascara washes off into wastewater (which can't remove PFAS). PFAS-containing makeup discarded in landfills adds to leachate that contaminates groundwater.
Are PFAS in waterproof mascara regulated?
Federal regulation is limited. In February 2024 the FDA announced that manufacturers had stopped selling PFAS-based grease-proofing agents for US food packaging, a voluntary phase-out rather than a ban. 13+ US states have passed PFAS-in-products bans (Maine, California, New York, Washington, Minnesota, others). Personal-care PFAS are not federally regulated, though several states are considering bans.