Study Finds “High” Levels of Toxics in Top Makeup Products

New research is shining light on the ugly side of the cosmetics industry. A peer-reviewed study published last month in Environmental Science and Technology presented evidence that hundreds of makeup products contain “high” levels of organic fluorine. This is an indicator that they also contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are known more colloquially as “forever chemicals.”

PFAS are called “forever chemicals” due to the fact that they do not naturally break down, and their accumulation within the human body is linked to a range of serious health problems such as cancer, hormone deficiencies and birth defects. 

“This is the first study to look at total fluorine or PFAS in cosmetics so we just didn’t know what we were going to find. This is a product that people are spreading on their skin day after day, so there’s really a potential for significant exposure,” said Tom Bruton, one of the study’s authors and a senior scientist with Green Science Policy Institute. 

Waterproof mascara, foundations and liquid lipstick were the products found to most frequently contain high levels of PFAS. The study did not reveal which major brands were at fault for using PFAS in their products because the authors did not want to “pick on” the companies involved. 

Read the full article here: https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2021/jun/15/pfas-makeup-forever-chemicals