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Home/Brand Safety/CoverGirl
Brand safety report

CoverGirl.

Ingredient safety analysis based on 5 products in our database.

Safety Score

3.6/10

Products

5

Flagged Ingredients

11

The report

Full breakdown.

CoverGirl

Baltimore, MarylandFounded 1961
Safety Score3.6/10Poor

CoverGirl was founded in 1961 by the Noxzema Chemical Company (later Noxell Corporation) in Baltimore, Maryland. The brand was acquired by Procter & Gamble in 1989 and then sold to Coty Inc. in 2016 as part of P&G's beauty brands divestiture. CoverGirl relaunched in 2018 as a cruelty-free brand certified by Leaping Bunny, making it one of the largest mass-market cosmetics brands to earn that designation. Despite the cruelty-free certification, CoverGirl lip products still contain synthetic dyes, petroleum-derived ingredients, parabens, and chemical preservatives. The brand's 'Clean' franchise markets products as free from certain ingredients but still uses many conventional cosmetic chemicals.

Products Analyzed

CoverGirl Outlast All-Day Lip Color3/10
CoverGirl Exhibitionist Lipstick4/10
CoverGirl Melting Pout Vinyl3/10
CoverGirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm6/10
CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain2/10

Flagged Ingredients Found

artificial colors(in 5 products)synthetic fragrance(in 4 products)dimethicone(in 3 products)bht(in 3 products)polyethylene glycol(in 3 products)parabens(in 2 products)paraffin waxlanolinretinyl palmitatepropylene glycolpolybutene
Compare with Numbrrrz

Who Owns CoverGirl?

Big Corp Subsidiary

Parent Company

Coty Inc.(COTY)

Parent Industry

Beauty & Fragrances

Parent Revenue

Approximately $5.8 billion (2024)

Acquired

2016 for Part of a $12.5 billion deal with Procter & Gamble

Also Makes

OPISally HansenphilosophyClairolMax Factor

Coty acquired CoverGirl from Procter & Gamble in 2016 as part of a $12.5 billion deal that included multiple P&G beauty brands. Before P&G, CoverGirl was owned by Noxell Corporation.

Corporate ownership does not automatically mean a product is unsafe. It means ingredient and sourcing decisions are influenced by a parent company whose primary business is beauty & fragrances. Consumers deserve to know who profits from their purchases.

The line

Products by CoverGirl.

View full ingredient analysis →
CoverGirl Outlast All-Day Lip Color

CoverGirl Outlast All-Day Lip Color

CoverGirl

Ingredients17
Flagged5
Safety Score3/10
dimethiconebhtsynthetic fragrance
Numbrrrz Organic Lip Balm

Numbrrrz

Organic Lip Balm

Ingredients4
Flagged0
Safety Score10/10
Organic Coconut OilOrganic BeeswaxOrganic Jojoba OilVitamin E
Shop Numbrrrz Instead
View full ingredient analysis →
CoverGirl Exhibitionist Lipstick

CoverGirl Exhibitionist Lipstick

CoverGirl

Ingredients31
Flagged6
Safety Score4/10
paraffin waxparabenssynthetic fragrance
Numbrrrz Organic Lip Balm

Numbrrrz

Organic Lip Balm

Ingredients4
Flagged0
Safety Score10/10
Organic Coconut OilOrganic BeeswaxOrganic Jojoba OilVitamin E
Shop Numbrrrz Instead
View full ingredient analysis →
CoverGirl Melting Pout Vinyl

CoverGirl Melting Pout Vinyl

CoverGirl

Ingredients15
Flagged5
Safety Score3/10
dimethiconepropylene glycolbht
Numbrrrz Organic Lip Balm

Numbrrrz

Organic Lip Balm

Ingredients4
Flagged0
Safety Score10/10
Organic Coconut OilOrganic BeeswaxOrganic Jojoba OilVitamin E
Shop Numbrrrz Instead
View full ingredient analysis →
CoverGirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm

CoverGirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm

CoverGirl

Ingredients21
Flagged3
Safety Score6/10
polybutenepolyethylene glycolartificial colors
Numbrrrz Organic Lip Balm

Numbrrrz

Organic Lip Balm

Ingredients4
Flagged0
Safety Score10/10
Organic Coconut OilOrganic BeeswaxOrganic Jojoba OilVitamin E
Shop Numbrrrz Instead
View full ingredient analysis →
CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain

CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain

CoverGirl

Ingredients14
Flagged6
Safety Score2/10
dimethiconebhtparabens
Numbrrrz Organic Lip Balm

Numbrrrz

Organic Lip Balm

Ingredients4
Flagged0
Safety Score10/10
Organic Coconut OilOrganic BeeswaxOrganic Jojoba OilVitamin E
Shop Numbrrrz Instead

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Flagged

Ingredients of concern.

11 different ingredients of concern across CoverGirl’s product line. Each links to a full safety analysis.

8

Parabens

A class of synthetic preservatives used to prevent microbial growth in cosmetics and personal care products. Parabens can mimic estrogen in the body, raising concerns about endocrine disruption and links to breast cancer.

In 2 of 5 CoverGirl products
Carcinogen LinkedHormone Disruptor
7

Synthetic Fragrance

An umbrella term that can hide hundreds of undisclosed chemicals. Under US law, companies are not required to list individual fragrance components, which may include phthalates, musks, allergens, and sensitizers.

In 4 of 5 CoverGirl products
Hormone Disruptor
6

Artificial Colors

Synthetic dyes derived from petroleum or coal tar, used to give cosmetics vivid colors. Many are contaminated with heavy metals and have been linked to behavioral issues, allergies, and potential carcinogenicity.

In 5 of 5 CoverGirl products
6

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG Compounds)

A family of petroleum-derived compounds used as emulsifiers, thickeners, solvents, and penetration enhancers. PEGs themselves are relatively low-toxicity, but they are frequently contaminated with ethylene oxide (a known carcinogen) and 1,4-dioxane.

In 3 of 5 CoverGirl products
6

Retinyl Palmitate

A form of vitamin A (retinol ester) used in sunscreens, anti-aging creams, and moisturizers. While vitamin A is essential for skin health, retinyl palmitate becomes problematic when applied topically and exposed to sunlight, potentially accelerating UV-induced skin damage.

In 1 of 5 CoverGirl products
5

BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)

A synthetic antioxidant closely related to BHA, used to prevent oxidation in cosmetics and food. Less studied than BHA but shares some endocrine disruption concerns.

In 3 of 5 CoverGirl products
Hormone Disruptor
5

Paraffin Wax

A white or colorless soft solid wax derived from petroleum, coal, or oil shale. Commonly used in lip balms, lipsticks, and candles to add structure and a smooth texture.

In 1 of 5 CoverGirl products
5

Propylene Glycol

A synthetic liquid used as a humectant, solvent, and penetration enhancer in cosmetics. While considered safe at low concentrations, it is a skin irritant at higher levels and enhances absorption of other ingredients — including harmful ones.

In 1 of 5 CoverGirl products
4

Dimethicone

A silicone-based polymer widely used in cosmetics and skincare for its smoothing, water-repellent properties. Not toxic in itself, but creates a synthetic barrier that can trap impurities, clog pores, and is not biodegradable.

In 3 of 5 CoverGirl products
4

Lanolin

A natural waxy substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of sheep to waterproof their wool. Lanolin is an excellent emollient used in lip balms, nipple creams, and moisturizers, but it is a common allergen and may contain pesticide residues from sheep dipping.

In 1 of 5 CoverGirl products
3

Polybutene

A synthetic polymer derived from petroleum, used as a thickener, binder, and viscosity-increasing agent in lip glosses, lipsticks, and other cosmetics. Polybutene has low direct toxicity but is a petroleum-derived synthetic with environmental persistence concerns.

In 1 of 5 CoverGirl products
Questions

Quick answers.

Is CoverGirl cruelty-free?
Yes, CoverGirl became Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free in 2018, making it one of the largest mass-market cosmetics brands to earn this certification. However, cruelty-free certification addresses animal testing practices, not ingredient safety. CoverGirl products can still contain synthetic chemicals, petroleum derivatives, and other ingredients of concern.
Who owns CoverGirl?
CoverGirl is owned by Coty Inc., a global beauty company that acquired the brand from Procter & Gamble in 2016 as part of a $12.5 billion deal that also included Max Factor, Clairol, and other P&G beauty brands. Coty also owns brands like OPI, Sally Hansen, and philosophy.
What does 'CoverGirl Clean' mean?
CoverGirl's 'Clean Fresh' product line is formulated without certain ingredients the brand considers undesirable, but the definition of 'clean' is not standardized or regulated. Even within the Clean Fresh line, products may contain synthetic ingredients, preservatives, and processing aids that stricter clean beauty standards would not permit. Always read the full ingredient list rather than relying on marketing claims.
A cleaner alternative

10/10 safety, 4 ingredients.

Numbrrrz lip balm with only organic, food-grade ingredients.