Is Your Makeup Toxic? The Alarming Rise of PFAS in Cosmetics

A review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified 51 PFAS in 1,744 cosmetic products. Among the 25 most-used PFAS, 19 lacked sufficient safety data for assessment The most common PFAS in European makeup were polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in 26% of PFAS-positive products and perfluorodecalin in 22%, both used to soften skin In a 2021 study, researchers discovered that 82% of waterproof mascaras and over 60% of tested lipsticks and foundations contained high levels of fluorine, indicating the presence of hidden PFAS Several top brands like Urban Decay, Inglot, L'Oréal, Maybelline, Burt's Bees, and Bare Minerals have faced lawsuits or investigations for PFAS contamination despite being marketed as "natural" or "clean" While the FDA lacks a national ban, U.S. states are now leading the shift toward PFAS-free beauty products — nine states have passed or scheduled bans on intentionally added PFAS in cosmetics through 2032