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Is Your Makeup Toxic? The Alarming Rise of PFAS in Cosmetics
Published 3 months ago
Description
- 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