Green Beauty Product Testing Finds More Than 60% Have PFAS Indicators

“Time and again, you see that PFAS are everywhere in products where they shouldn't be.”

Recent studies have discovered that many cosmetics, even "green and cruelty free" products are testing positive to toxins. Shutterstock

Green cosmetic makers know their audience. One manufacturer, in addition to the standard lines about how long-lasting and colorful their product is, says that their lip tint is “cruelty-free,” vegan, and made from wholesome ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter.

Missing from the product description is any reference to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or “PFAS” — although one tube of that particular liquid lipstick contained 865 parts per million of the PFAS indicator fluorine, according to a new investigation from the environmental wellness community and blog Mamavation.