Forever chemicals in makeup have uncertain health effects, FDA report finds

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — After a three-year study on how certain chemicals widely used in makeup and other cosmetic products affect people’s health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently released a report hundreds of pages long that had no definitive conclusion.

The FDA was congressionally mandated in 2022 to study the effects that perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly abbreviated to PFAS or called “forever chemicals,” had on human health when used in cosmetics.

The substances are known as “forever chemicals” due to their inability to easily break down under natural conditions. They have been found to cause numerous health issues if they accumulate in people’s bodies, including cancer, pregnancy-related issues and increases in cholesterol levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The FDA released its report on Dec. 30, saying it found that 51 PFAS are used in 1,744 cosmetic formulas. The agency said it couldn’t determine whether the substances were safe or dangerous and blamed a lack of available research.

“Our scientists found that toxicological data for most PFAS are incomplete or unavailable, leaving significant uncertainty about consumer safety. This lack of reliable data demands further research,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in a news release about the report. “Consistent with the MAHA Strategy Report, the FDA will continue working with the CDC and EPA [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] to update and strengthen recommendations on PFAS across the retail and food supply chain.”

There are no federal regulations that prohibit PFAS from being added to cosmetics, but the FDA said it would take action if safety concerns emerge.

Click here for the FDA’s full report.