Did You Know? We’re Formulated Without “Forever Chemicals”

At Gabriel Cosmetics Inc. we're committed to health and ingredient standards that go above and beyond what is legally required in the United States. Our company prides itself on the integrity and transparency of which it was founded, and these core principles drive us to develop clean, mistake-proof, and results driven beauty products that don’t compromise on aesthetics, functionality, or accessibility. All of our earth conscious and ethically made products are formulated from 100% natural ingredients with no animal by-products or synthetic chemicals—including “forever chemicals” aka PFAS.

What exactly are PFAS? Often referred to as “forever chemicals,” PFAS—or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—are a highly persistent and potentially toxic class of chemicals that are widely used in cosmetics (and other products like clothing, food packaging, and rugs) in the United States and Canada to increase their durability and water resistance. They were given the name “forever chemicals” because they don’t naturally break down and have been found to accumulate in the human body. The chemicals have been linked at certain levels to cancer, birth defects, liver disease, thyroid disease, decreased immunity, hormone disruption, and a variety of additional health problems.

A peer-reviewed study published in Environmental Science & Technology (check it out here) earlier this year tested for the chemicals in hundreds of products from major cosmetic brands, and detected what they characterized as “high” levels of organic fluorine, an indicator of PFAS, in over half of the 231 makeup and personal care samples studied. While the top offenders were waterproof mascara (82% of brands tested), foundations (63%) and liquid lipstick (62%), PFAS were also present in eyeliner, concealer, lip balm, blush, lipstick, nail polish, and more. 

Because these are products that we apply to our body everyday, it makes the risk of exposure significant and direct as they can enter the body through our tear ducts, by being absorbed through the skin, and through inhalation and ingestion. The other major issue is that the ingredient lists of most of the products tested didn’t disclose the presence of the chemicals, making it nearly impossible for them to be avoided. Basically, you could be using products that contain PFAS and not even know it.

The good news? About half of the cosmetics tested didn’t contain high levels of the chemicals, which means that makeup can definitely be made without PFAS. Additionally, the No PFAS in Cosmetics Act was recently introduced in Congress, which is a bill that would ban the inclusion of PFAS chemicals in cosmetics products such as makeup, moisturizer, and perfume.