What California’s PFAS Law Could Mean for the Cosmetics Industry Nationwide

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, is a blanket term describing thousands of synthetic chemicals historically added to a variety of everyday items for functional effects. In cosmetics, companies have used PFAS during manufacture to improve product performance, as it can make formulas easier to apply, more water resistant or more comfortable to wear or use. Recent studies have linked exposure to certain PFAS chemicals to various human health issues, however, and combined with the fact that some PFAS take a long time to be eliminated from the body or degrade in the environment – resulting in the nickname forever chemicals – state and federal regulators have increasingly focused their efforts on banning or severely curtailing PFAS in cosmetics and other consumer products.