• Posted January 3, 2026

'Forever Chemicals' Common in Cosmetics, but FDA Says Safety Data Are Scant

Federal regulators have released a mandated report regarding the presence of "forever chemicals" in makeup and skincare products. 

Forever chemicals — known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS — are manmade chemicals that don't break down and have built up in people’s bodies and the environment. They are sometimes added to beauty products intentionally, and sometimes they are contaminants. 

While the findings confirm that PFAS are widely used in the beauty industry, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) admitted it lacks enough scientific evidence to determine if they are truly safe for consumers.

The new report reveals that 51 forever chemicals — are used in 1,744 cosmetic formulations. 

These synthetic chemicals are favored by manufacturers because they make products waterproof, increase their durability and improve texture.

FDA scientists focused their review on the 25 most frequently used PFAS, which account for roughly 96% of these chemicals found in beauty products. 

The results were largely unclear. While five were deemed to have low safety concerns, one was flagged for potential health risks, and safety of the rest could not be confirmed.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary expressed concern over the difficulty in accessing private research. 

“Our scientists found that toxicological data for most PFAS are incomplete or unavailable, leaving significant uncertainty about consumer safety,” Makary said in a news release, adding that “this lack of reliable data demands further research.”

Despite growing concerns about their potential toxicity, no federal laws specifically ban their use in cosmetics.

The FDA report focuses on chemicals that are added to products on purpose, rather than those that might show up as accidental contaminants. Moving forward, FDA plans to work closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update and strengthen recommendations on PFAS across the retail and food supply chain, Makary said. 

The agency has vowed to devote more resources to monitoring these chemicals and will take enforcement action if specific products are proven to be dangerous.

More information 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration provides updates and consumer guidance on the use of PFAS in cosmetics.

SOURCE: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, news release, Dec. 29, 2025