TITLE:
Perfluoro- and Polyfluoroalkanes (PFAS) in Cosmetics—A Short Review
AUTHORS:
Thies Thiemann
KEYWORDS:
Cosmetics, Personal Care Products, Perfluoroalkanes, Polyfluoroalkanes, Environmental Health, Regulatory PFAS Framework
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.17 No.8,
July
30,
2026
ABSTRACT: PFAS remain ingredients in certain cosmetic products. Often referred to as “forever chemicals,” many PFAS degrade only extremely slowly once released into the environment, often leading to other PFAS compounds. At the same time, a number of PFAS substances have been associated with adverse human health effects, and some have been identified as carcinogens. Consequently, increasingly stringent legislative measures are being developed that will further limit their use in cosmetics. This review summarizes the current use of PFAS in cosmetics, their effects on human health, and both existing and proposed regulatory restrictions governing their application in cosmetic products.