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This stuff won’t go away. That’s the recurring message behind the problem with the aptly named ‘forever chemicals’. This class of chemicals are found in everyday products like plastic-based food packaging, nonstick pans and even the makeup products that we apply directly to our skin. Part of the reason that they have gained the name as ‘forever chemicals’ is that they remain and accumulate overtime in our skin, the air we breathe and our water resources.
“Every American deserves to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and eat safe food — free of chemicals and pollutants that harm the health and wellbeing.” In October 2021, the Biden Administration made an announcement acknowledging the risk of forever chemicals and their intent to safeguard public health from these chemicals. Yet, with forever chemicals having a long-standing reputation for being present in our cosmetics and posing harm to our health, many wonder why there isn’t a stronger push for have chemical free makeup.
Forever Chemicals In Makeup
Forever chemicals are PFAS—or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl compounds that represent a range of more than 4,700 chemicals. These man-made substances are present in makeup and personal care products ranging from mascara to shaving cream. You’ll often find these PFAS labeled in ingredient lists as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), perfluorooctyl triethoxysilane, perfluorononyl dimethicone, perfluorodecalin, and perfluorohexane. Other times, ingredients could unintentionally include PFAS due to impurities of the raw materials or certain materials breaking down and combing together to form PFAS.
If you’re wondering why these chemicals are used in the first place, the answer lies in their nickname. While chemical free makeup doesn’t hold the promise of being long lasting, PFAS were designed to make cosmetics last longer. They can also make skin appear shiny and smooth. Think waterproof mascaras, all-day foundation formulas and lipstick that doesn’t come off. These are the same class of chemicals used in wear-resistant products like Teflon or non-stick pans, but on your skin and eyelashes.
It’s believed that more than 50% of cosmetics available on the market in the US contain PFAS. In a study conducted by the University of Notre Dame researchers, 231 makeup products like mascaras, foundations and blush contained PFAS. And, it turns out that 84% of waterproof mascaras contained PFAS. What’s most disturbing about this study is that 88% of the products tested lacked adequate or transparent information about the ingredients on their labels.
Forever Chemicals In Humans
When it comes to the question about whether or not these chemicals are absorbed into the skin, research is limited. Few studies have looked at the health impact of PFAS absorption through personal care or cosmetic products.
However, since many personal care products are designed to be absorbed by the skin, some studies suggest that all ingredients- toxic chemicals included- are absorbed by the skin and accumulate over time. And, it isn’t only our skin that absorbs these chemicals. Researchers from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), the California Environmental Protection Agency and UC Berkeley published a 2021 study showing 109 chemicals present in the blood samples of mothers and their babies.
The health impact is also a grey area in terms of studies with a lot of ‘probable’ and ‘possible’ risks like damage to the liver and the immune system, increased risk of some types of cancer and low birth weights. Yet, some researchers caution that the risks are underestimated. Part of the reason is that as forever chemicals, these don’t simply go away, but accumulate over time. So, what began as a trace amount from lipstick can accumulate over the course of several years.
Forever Chemicals In The Environment
The Environmental Protection Agency has assessed that more than 120,000 locations around the US pose a risk of exposure to forever chemicals. Some of these are industrial sectors, waste management and airports. But, it isn’t only certain sites that contain these chemicals from waste runoff or manufacturing plants. We are exposed to them in everyday moments as well. Research suggest that our drinking is also affected by these chemicals. A study from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that forever chemicals are present in our drinking water. These are estimated to take thousands of years to breakdown. While other hazardous chemicals like arsenic or uranium have been restricted, PFAS are a group that has long been overlooked.
What Can Consumers Do Now?
The best thing that we as consumers can do to protect our own health is to steer clear of these forever chemicals. Support natural and organic makeup brands. Be wary of waterproof or long-wearing formulas. If you’re unsure of what brands and products to shop, use the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database which features hundreds of makeup, skin, hair and even oral care products that have been researched and verified for containing safe (and only safe) ingredients.
Another step that we as consumers can take it to voice our concerns to policymakers. As it stands right now, the Biden administration is offering a 2021-2024 roadmap to “research, restrict, and remediate harmful PFAS.” However, while the administration is making plans to regulate and study the effects of these forever chemicals, the U.S is still far behind other countries that are already banning certain PFAS. Since 2020, the E.U has been banning a growing list of PFAS that are harmful to the environment and customer’s health. If you’d like Biden administration to take further action against forever chemicals join groups to help ban PFAS from our food supply, advocate for chemical free makeup and clean drinking water.
Read and learn more about clean beauty:
Break Up With Single-Use Plastics With These Eco Beauty Products