,On December 29, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a congressionally mandated report under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) evaluating the safety of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) intentionally added to cosmetic products. Based on mandatory cosmetic product listing data, the FDA identified 51 PFAS used in 1,744 cosmetic formulations and focused its safety review on the 25 most frequently used PFAS, representing approximately 96% of intentional PFAS use. The agency concluded that toxicological data for most PFAS are incomplete or unavailable, creating significant uncertainty and preventing definitive safety determinations. While five PFAS appeared to present low safety concerns under intended conditions of use, one PFAS raised potential safety concerns with substantial remaining uncertainty. The report highlights major data gaps, limited public availability of toxicology studies, and the need for further research. Although no federal regulation currently prohibits PFAS in cosmetics, the FDA will continue monitoring emerging data and take action if safety concerns arise.
Consult
