PFAS in Cosmetics & Makeup: What to Avoid and Safer Alternatives (2026)

Long-wear and waterproof makeup often contains PFAS for durability.

Quick answer

Some cosmetics & makeup contain PFAS ("forever chemicals") and some do not. Long-wear and waterproof makeup often contains PFAS for durability. Third-party testing has flagged specific brands (below); safer options include RMS Beauty – third-party tested PFAS-free, organic and 100% Pure – fruit-pigmented, no PFAS. The same chemicals contaminate drinking water, so the highest-impact step for most people is filtering their tap.

How we source this: we report published third-party testing (Green Science Policy Institute, Consumer Reports, Mamavation, Ecology Center, Silent Spring Institute, and peer-reviewed studies) and name the study behind each finding. We do not test products ourselves.

How PFAS gets into cosmetics & makeup

PFAS chemicals are added to cosmetics for water resistance, long-wear properties, and smooth application. They appear in foundations, lip products, mascaras, and sunscreens – often listed as PTFE, perfluoro-, polyfluoro-, or fluorinated ingredients.

What testing has found

Notre Dame ND-LEAF 2021 study tested 231 cosmetic products and found 52% contained high levels of fluorine (a PFAS marker). Foundations, eye products, and lip products had the highest detection rates. Many products with PFAS did not list any PFAS ingredient on the label.

Brands flagged in testing

  • Multiple long-wear foundations from Maybelline, L'Oréal, CoverGirl flagged in Notre Dame study
  • Waterproof mascaras across major brands (NARS, Smashbox, Stila, Urban Decay tested positive)
  • Long-wear lip products from Sephora Collection, NARS, Anastasia

Safer brand alternatives

  • RMS Beauty – third-party tested PFAS-free, organic
  • 100% Pure – fruit-pigmented, no PFAS
  • Ilia Beauty – cleanly formulated, transparent ingredient lists
  • Kosas – verified PFAS-free across product line
  • Beautycounter – bans PFAS via "Never List"

How this connects to your drinking water

Cosmetics rinse off into wastewater. Wastewater treatment cannot remove PFAS, so it ends up discharged into rivers and oceans, eventually reaching municipal drinking water intake points.

What to do right now

  • Avoid any product labeled "long-wear", "24-hour", or "waterproof" unless verified PFAS-free
  • Read ingredient lists – avoid PTFE, perfluoro-, polyfluoro-, fluoro- prefixes
  • Check brands against the EWG Skin Deep database
  • Switch to brands with explicit "no PFAS" policies

Frequently asked questions

Do all cosmetics & makeup contain PFAS?
No. Several brands have been third-party tested PFAS-free, including RMS Beauty – third-party tested PFAS-free, organic, 100% Pure – fruit-pigmented, no PFAS, Ilia Beauty – cleanly formulated, transparent ingredient lists. The PFAS-containing products are usually those marketed with words like "stain-resistant," "waterproof," "long-wear," "non-stick," or "grease-resistant."
How do I know if my cosmetics & makeup have PFAS?
Check the ingredient list or product spec sheet for: PTFE, PFOA, PFOS, perfluoro-, polyfluoro-, fluoro-, or "fluorocarbon" prefixes. If the product is labeled "stain-resistant," "waterproof," or "non-stick" without an explicit PFAS-free certification, assume PFAS until proven otherwise.
What's the safest alternative?
For cosmetics & makeup, the cleanest options include RMS Beauty – third-party tested PFAS-free, organic and 100% Pure – fruit-pigmented, no PFAS. Avoid any product labeled "long-wear", "24-hour", or "waterproof" unless verified PFAS-free.
How does this connect to drinking water contamination?
Cosmetics rinse off into wastewater. Wastewater treatment cannot remove PFAS, so it ends up discharged into rivers and oceans, eventually reaching municipal drinking water intake points.
Are PFAS in cosmetics & makeup regulated?
Federal regulation is limited. In February 2024 the FDA announced that manufacturers had stopped selling PFAS-based grease-proofing agents for US food packaging, a voluntary phase-out rather than a ban. 13+ US states have passed PFAS-in-products bans (Maine, California, New York, Washington, Minnesota, others). Personal-care PFAS are not federally regulated, though several states are considering bans.