THE WHAT? The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published its long-awaited assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in cosmetic products, highlighting significant data gaps around their safety and use.
THE DETAILS PFAS are a broad class of synthetic chemicals that are intentionally added to certain cosmetics—including colour cosmetics, skincare and nail products—to improve texture, durability, shine and conditioning properties. They may also be present unintentionally due to raw material impurities or the degradation of other PFAS ingredients.
As required under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA), the FDA assessed available scientific evidence on PFAS use in cosmetics and published its findings in a report released on December 29, 2025. The agency identified limited information on PFAS use levels, insufficient data on dermal and oral absorption, a lack of mechanistic understanding, and an absence of dermal toxicity data for PFAS used in cosmetic formulations.
THE WHY? The findings underscore growing regulatory scrutiny of PFAS at a time when brands, suppliers and manufacturers face increasing pressure to substantiate ingredient safety and reformulate products. With MoCRA significantly expanding the FDA’s oversight of cosmetics for the first time since 1938, the report signals that PFAS could face tighter regulatory controls as additional data emerges. The FDA said it will continue monitoring scientific developments to support future safety evaluations, with implications for compliance, ingredient sourcing and product development across the US beauty market.
Source: FDA
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