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

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Briana Mercola

Alternative Health, Health & Fitness

4.6 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 10 February 2026

⏱️ 9 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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

Transcript

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0:00.0	Are you putting forever chemicals on your face every morning without realizing it?
0:04.0	Welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom. Stay informed with quick, easy-to-listen
0:09.0	summaries of our latest articles, perfect for when you're on the go. No reading required.
0:14.0	Subscribe for free at Mercola.com for the latest health insights.
0:17.0	Hello and welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom. I'm Ethan Foster.
0:22.6	Today we're unpacking what researchers and regulators are revealing about PFAS in cosmetics,
0:28.8	where they show up, why safety data are still missing for many of them, which products are
0:33.7	most implicated, and what steps you can take to reduce your exposure right now.
0:38.3	I'm Alara Sky. PFAS, P-Floro-Alkyl substances, are used to make makeup smoother,
0:46.3	longer wearing, and more water-resistant. They don't readily break down, so they accumulate
0:51.3	in you and in the environment.
0:55.6	Studies now link PFAS exposure with fertility problems, developmental concerns, cancers,
1:02.4	immune suppression, thyroid and hormonal disruption, elevated cholesterol, metabolic disorders,
1:09.3	and fatty liver disease driven by chronic inflammation and oxidative stress.
1:13.6	A federally mandated FDA review under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act analyzed 1,744 cosmetic products
1:23.6	and identified 51 different PFAS. The agency focused on the 25 most used
1:30.7	compounds, about 96% of the PFAS detected, and concluded that toxicology data were incomplete
1:37.7	or unavailable for most of them. Of those it could evaluate, a handful showed low safety concerns
1:43.4	and one raised potential risk,
1:45.9	underscoring major data gaps that require further research.
1:49.2	The list of PFFAS found in cosmetics includes polytetrophloroethylene, perflurononal dimethicone,
1:56.4	perflorohexylethylethylethylethylethylentylasellineoroacetyl-tide 2, and several ethers.
	...

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