Everything You Need to Know About PFAS in Your Beauty Products

Different makes visually distorted by liquid displayed on a purple background.

A few years ago, I became aware of a potential problem with the waterproof and long-wearing makeup products I loved: They probably contained PFAS.

Also known as forever chemicals, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) truly deliver on their name; some of them are used to create mascara that doesn’t run, foundation that doesn't fade, and eyeliner that can survive a long night of tears. But this class of synthetic chemicals has been linked to a number of health risks.

I considered accepting that my makeup might need to run from now on. But as I’ve looked into this topic, I’ve learned that’s not the reality.

While the United States does not yet have a federal PFAS ban, multiple European and state-level restrictions are driving industry-wide change. In the US, a California ban, which took effect in January 2025, is likely to have a ripple effect, since California is a powerhouse in the cosmetics market. Some cosmetic companies have also faced lawsuits alleging false advertising related to PFAS claims.

Beauty brands are now motivated to rid their formulas of PFAS, rather than to create special versions for states with PFAS restrictions, cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos said. So the waterproof mascara that you buy today is much less likely to contain PFAS than it was a few years ago.

But just because your makeup doesn’t contain PFAS, that doesn’t mean it’s going to run. Instead, many products are being reformulated to include ingredients with a long history of use, and they are still tenacious.

Here’s what you need to know about PFAS in cosmetics and how to shop for makeup that’s less likely to contain these chemicals.



from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/hP8Kwqc
via IFTTT

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Nugget Is the ‘Original Play Couch.’ Costco’s Version May Be Better.

Image
If you’re a parent of a child under 10, you’ve probably heard of The Nugget, the beloved play sofa that launched a thousand (well, at least 20) competitors. I’ve only recently discovered the category; but now that my eyes are open, play-cushion sets seem to be everywhere — even at Costco. I’m inherently skeptical of any product that claims to solve a need that I’m unaware of having. But, last summer, a junk collector hauled away our sofa, whose base had finally broken clean in half from eight years of my son’s intense, anime-inspired dance-jumping. It turns out we could’ve used a play sofa — and saved our couch  (as well as our cushions). The Nugget , the first play couch to widely popularize the concept, experienced viral popularity during pandemic lockdowns in 2020. It is also a Wirecutter favorite . Its modular design is simple: There are two long, hinged cushions and two triangular bolsters, all with removable, washable covers. And while The Nugget is arguably the most popu...
Read more

The 30 Most Popular Prime Day Deals, According to Wirecutter Readers

Image
Amazon’s summer Prime Day — which is now a four-day event rather than the usual two days — is well underway, and we’ve been working hard to surface the best deals for our readers. We’ve sorted through thousands of on-sale items to pinpoint truly excellent discounts on the things our experts have found are worth your time and money. Among the 500-plus deals we’ve posted so far —less than 1% of every discount we’ve reviewed — some have grabbed the attention of our readers more than others. Here are the 30 Prime Day deals that our readers have loved the most, including soft sateen sheets, a luxe leather tote, an investment-worthy blender, and more. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/tDSahdQ via IFTTT
Read more

We Bought a 450-Pound Mystery Pallet Packed With Returned Goods From Amazon and Beyond. Here’s What We Found Inside.

Image
When I convinced my bosses at Wirecutter to spend over $700 on a 450-pound, 6-foot-tall cardboard box filled with hundreds of mystery products that had been returned to Amazon and other retailers, I assumed that what we’d find inside would be a revealing snapshot of what shopping looks like today. Anyone can buy these pallets stuffed with discarded products. For months, I’d watched content creators on social media giggle in excitement as they’d pull packages one by one from their own surprise boxes and rip them open, ceremoniously revealing a bevy of weird and wonderful items. A sparkly diamond ring! A cozy custom blanket emblazoned with the faces of a young couple! Some sexy (unworn) lingerie! I was certain that my own box would be a mix of great stuff, mediocre stuff, and some downright lousy stuff. My Wirecutter colleagues and I would use the items we found to meditate on product quality, manufacturing, and the retail life cycle. And we’d likely discover something interesting an...
Read more