FDA Release: The State of PFAS in Cosmetics Under MoCRA

by | Feb 13, 2026 | Cosmetics, FDA, MoCRA, U.S. Regulatory

Following the mandates set by the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA), the U.S. FDA has released its latest report on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in beauty and personal care products.

Based on mandatory industry filings, the FDA’s report offers a snapshot of how prevalent these “forever chemicals” are in the supply chain:

  • The agency identified 51 different PFAS currently used across 1,744 cosmetic formulations.
  • These ingredients are primarily added intentionally to enhance specific product attributes, such as water resistance, durability, and texture.
  • The study concentrated on the 25 most common PFAS, which account for approximately 96% of the intentional use reported.

The Safety Verdict: Still “Inconclusive”

Perhaps the most critical takeaway is that the FDA was unable to make definitive safety determinations for the majority of the chemicals identified. The agency cited significant gaps in data and a lack of publicly available toxicological research as the primary reasons for this uncertainty.

While the report noted that five specific PFAS appear to present low safety concerns, at least one was flagged for potential safety issues.

Currently, there are no federal regulations explicitly prohibiting the intentional addition of PFAS to cosmetics in the United States. However, this report signals that scrutiny is increasing. The FDA maintains its authority to take enforcement action should specific safety risks emerge from the data.

Next Steps: Moving forward, the FDA plans to increase its monitoring and surveillance efforts. The goal is to reduce PFAS prevalence across the consumer product supply chain through expanded testing and resource allocation.