The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released a report mandated by the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) regarding the presence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in beauty and personal care products. Based on mandatory industry filings, the agency identified 51 different PFAS used across 1,744 cosmetic formulations, primarily added to enhance water resistance, durability, and texture. While the study focused on the 25 most common PFAS—accounting for 96% of intentional use—the FDA was unable to make definitive safety determinations for the majority of these chemicals. This lack of a final verdict is largely due to significant data gaps and a lack of publicly available toxicological research, leaving the agency with an incomplete picture of the risks associated with cosmetic exposure.
Despite the uncertainty, the report noted that while five specific PFAS appear to present low safety concerns, at least one was flagged for potential safety issues. Currently, there are no federal regulations prohibiting the intentional addition of PFAS to cosmetics; however, the FDA maintains its authority to take enforcement action should specific safety risks emerge. Moving forward, the FDA plans to increase its monitoring and surveillance efforts aiming to reduce PFAS prevalence across the consumer product supply chain through expanded testing and resource allocation.
