Can PFAS from cosmetics and personal care products get into your body?
Use caution with waterproof, sweatproof, and long-lasting cosmetics, especially products used on lips or large skin areas.
What's actually in it
PFAS are long-lasting chemicals used in some cosmetics to help products resist water, sweat, oil, and smudging. They can appear in makeup, sunscreen, lotion, and other personal care products.
The label clue is often a long ingredient name with fluoro or perfluoro in it. Not every product lists PFAS clearly, so waterproof, sweatproof, and long-lasting claims deserve extra scrutiny.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Environmental Pollution tested 31 cosmetic products from 16 product categories in the Chinese market. Researchers used target testing, non-target screening, and machine learning.
Target testing found 10 PFAS in 20 cosmetics, with total concentrations from 0.189 to 143 ng/g. Non-target screening found 15 PFAS in 30 cosmetics, with total concentrations from 4.72 to 263 ng/g. Waterproof, sweatproof, and long-lasting products were more likely to contain PFAS.
The study found that PFAS levels in 2 products, a lotion and a sunscreen, exceeded the acceptable daily intake used in its risk assessment. This does not prove that every makeup product is risky. It does support a simple habit: read labels and choose simpler personal care products when you can.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Integrating target, nontarget analysis with machine learning to illuminate PFAS characteristics and health risks in Chinese cosmetics. | Environ Pollut | 2026 |
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