PFAS in Skincare: Are These “Forever Chemicals” Hiding in Your Beauty Bag?

Most of us buy skincare and makeup assuming that if it’s allowed on shelves, it must be safe. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case - especially when it comes to PFAS, often called “forever chemicals.”

These ingredients have been used in everything from waterproof mascaras to long-wear foundations, usually without customers realising. And because they’re designed to resist breaking down, they tend to linger - in the environment and, potentially, in our bodies.

This isn’t about panic. It’s about clarity. So let’s unpack what PFAS are, why they’re used, and how to avoid them if you’d rather not wear ingredients designed for non-stick frying pans.

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What PFAS Actually Are

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances - a large group of chemicals known for being extremely durable. They’re resistant to water, oil, and heat, which makes them useful in certain industrial applications.

Somewhere along the line, these same properties were considered beneficial for cosmetics. For example:

• smoother application

• long-lasting makeup

• waterproof finishes

• “perfecting” textures

The problem is that these performance benefits come with drawbacks.

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Why PFAS Don’t Belong on Skin

PFAS don’t break down easily. Not in the environment and not in our bodies. You wash your face, and the product doesn’t just vanish - it can enter waterways, and over time it accumulates in ecosystems.

Recent research has raised concerns about the potential health effects of long-term exposure. These chemicals can be detected in water, soil, wildlife, and even rain. None of this means we need to panic, but it does mean we should be paying attention.

If there’s a gentler alternative for the skin - and for the planet - it makes sense to choose it.

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Where PFAS Are Most Commonly Found

They’re not usually in moisturisers or simple skincare products. PFAS most often show up in cosmetics where longevity or slip is desired.

Products that may contain them include:

• waterproof mascara

• long-wear foundation

• liquid lipsticks

• primers

• smoothing or blurring products

• certain setting powders

They’re often labelled in ways that make them easy to miss unless you know what to look for.

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How to Identify PFAS on an Ingredients List

You don’t need to memorise dozens of chemical names. These clues usually make them easy to spot:

Look for ingredients beginning with:

• “perfluoro-”

• “polyfluoro-”

• “fluoro-”

A very common example is:

• PTFE

If you see these, the product likely contains PFAS.

This isn’t about judging anyone’s makeup bag - we’ve all owned products that looked great and lasted all day. It’s simply about making informed choices, because once you know what PFAS are, it becomes much easier to avoid them.

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What Happens When You Avoid PFAS?

The good news is that you’re not giving anything up. PFAS do not offer benefits for skin health - they offer cosmetic performance benefits. And those can be achieved with safer, more natural ingredients.

When you avoid PFAS:

• your skin barrier is less likely to be irritated

• your overall exposure to persistent chemicals decreases

• the environmental footprint of your routine becomes much lighter

Natural formulations - made with oils, butters, botanicals, clays, and plant-based actives - simply work in harmony with the skin rather than creating additional problems for the body or the planet.

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Puremess’s Approach

At Puremess, we avoid PFAS entirely. Not as a marketing tactic - simply because they don’t align with our purpose. Skincare should support your wellbeing, full stop. And the planet’s.

Our formulations prioritise:

• plant-derived oils and butters

• gentle, skin-supporting botanicals

• transparent ingredient lists

• packaging that protects our environment, including biodegradable and recyclable options and Prevented Ocean Plastic

It’s possible to create effective, beautiful skincare without “forever chemicals.” We’ve been doing it from the start.

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Final Thoughts

You don’t need to become an expert in cosmetic chemistry to take good care of your skin. Sometimes it’s as simple as knowing which ingredients are worth skipping.

PFAS are persistent, hard to break down, and offer no real benefit to skin health. With everything we now understand about their environmental impact, avoiding them is a small but meaningful step toward safer skincare and a healthier planet.

Awareness empowers people to make decisions that feel right for them - and that’s all this conversation is about.