On April 4, the National Assembly approved an environmental bill. From 2026, cosmetics must no longer contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also called PFAS. But a question arises spontaneously: where can we find them in large quantities?
Everyday products questioned
Since 2019, numerous studies have shown that eternal pollutants are indeed present in some cosmetics sold on the French and international market. Makeup or skin care… All areas of beauty are affected. We find it in powders (loose or compact), in the formula of mascara, foundation and even lipsticks. On the skincare side, anti-aging treatments are particularly affected, whether dedicated to the eye contour or even the face.
The problem ? This is because all these products (containing ingredients suspected of being endocrine disruptors or even carcinogenic and neurotoxic) are in permanent contact with our skin but also with our mucous membranes. Real gateways.
How to avoid them?
Before 2026, you’ll likely have to repurchase makeup and skincare products. But how can we ensure these do not contain PFAS? Difficult to answer this question. Second a study by the Green Science Policy Institute, published on June 15, 2021 in the media Environmental science and technology letters, Out of 231 beauty products tested in the United States and Canada, nearly half of the foundations, mascaras and lipsticks contained perfluorinates.
The worst ? This is because they have not even been reported or indicated in the INCI list which must be on the back of each package.
To avoid them, therefore, we will have to keep our eyes open. In France the government is more attentive to the list of ingredients contained in cosmetics. So, if you find the wording “dimethicone”, it means that your product contains perfluorinated substances. When in doubt, turn to brands with clean formulations that hand-select every ingredient included in their products. Let’s hope there are more and more.
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
