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◆ Compliance Guide · Updated October 2026

PFAS in Cosmetics:
State Bans & Deadlines

◆ Short Answer

Seven US states already ban cosmetics with intentionally added PFAS — California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington since January 2025, Maine and Vermont since January 2026 — and seven more follow through 2032. Nail polish is included. There is no federal ban yet; the FDA's December 2025 report found too little data to decide on safety.

By LuxeFormula Labs · Updated October 1, 2026 · 7 min read

What these laws do

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large family of fluorinated chemicals. In cosmetics they give slip, water resistance and a silky or glossy feel. State laws now stop cosmetics with intentionally added PFAS from being sold, and in some states made or distributed. The laws apply to products sold into the state, wherever they were made — so a brand selling online nationwide is affected by the strictest state it ships to.

State-by-state table

StateLawEffectiveNotes
CaliforniaAB 2771 (PFAS-Free Beauty Act)Jan 1, 2025Manufacture, sale, delivery, holding or offering for sale
ColoradoHB 22-1345Jan 1, 2025Sale, offer or distribution; nail polish is a named example
MarylandHB 643Jan 1, 2025Knowingly manufacturing, selling or delivering
MinnesotaHF 2310 (Amara's Law)Jan 1, 2025Packaging integral to the product counts as part of it
WashingtonHB 1047 (Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act)Jan 1, 2025Manufacture, sale and distribution
MaineLD 1503, as amendedJan 1, 2026Sale, offer for sale or distribution
VermontS.25 (Act 131)Jan 1, 2026Exempts technically unavoidable trace quantities
ConnecticutPublic Act 24-59Jul 1, 2026 · Jan 1, 2028Notification and labeling first, full ban in 2028
New HampshireHB 1649Jan 1, 2027Sale, offer for sale or distribution
OregonSB 546 (Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act)Jan 1, 2027Manufacture, sale and distribution
New JerseyS10422028Signed January 2026
New MexicoHB 212Jan 1, 2028 · 2032Two phases; broader restrictions from 2032
Rhode IslandS 2152 / H 7356AJan 1, 2029All PFAS uses unless found unavoidable
IllinoisSB 561 / HB 2516Jan 1, 2032Latest deadline listed

Green = already in force. Compiled from published legal summaries (sources below); laws are amended often, so confirm current status with each state before relying on a date.

Why nail and makeup brands should check first

The FDA's data on PFAS in cosmetics points to color cosmetics — eye shadow, eyeliner, face powder and foundation — as the categories where PFAS turn up most, with PTFE the most commonly reported ingredient. Nail products are named as an example in some state laws. PFAS can also arrive inside a raw material: a pigment or glitter with a fluorinated surface treatment may not look like PFAS on a finished label.

INCI names to look for

IngredientTypical useNote
PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene)Slip and texture in powders, eye shadow, some nail productsMost commonly reported PFAS in FDA's data
Perfluorononyl dimethiconeSilky feel, water resistanceNamed in FDA's report
Perfluorohexylethyl triethoxysilaneSurface treatment of pigments and powdersNamed in FDA's report; can hide inside a pigment
Trifluoroacetyl tripeptide-2Peptide used in anti-aging skin careNamed in FDA's report
Anything with "fluoro" or "perfluoro" in the INCI nameVariousFlag it and ask the supplier

What to ask your manufacturer

  • A written statement, per formula, on whether PFAS are intentionally added — including in pigments, glitters and powders.
  • Supplier documentation for surface-treated raw materials.
  • Whether packaging components that touch the product contain PFAS (Minnesota counts integral packaging).
  • Which states the statement is written against, because definitions differ.
  • If reformulation is needed: the replacement ingredients, and new stability and wear samples before launch.
Reviewing a formula? Send us your INCI list and we'll flag fluorinated ingredients and quote a reformulation. Custom formula development · Check your label claims too
FAQ

PFAS
Questions

California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington have banned intentionally added PFAS in cosmetics since January 1, 2025. Maine and Vermont followed on January 1, 2026, and Connecticut requires notification and labeling from July 1, 2026, with a full ban from January 1, 2028. More states follow between 2027 and 2032.
Yes. Nail polish is a cosmetic, and some state laws name nail polish as an example. If a nail polish, top coat or glitter contains intentionally added PFAS, it falls under the same bans.
In general, PFAS added to a product or one of its components to perform a function. Definitions differ by state: Vermont and Connecticut exempt technically unavoidable trace amounts from impurities, manufacturing, storage or packaging migration, and Minnesota treats packaging that is integral to the product as part of it.
Yes. PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is a fluoropolymer and is treated as PFAS under the state cosmetics laws. It was the most commonly reported PFAS ingredient in the FDA's data on cosmetic products.
No. Under MoCRA, the FDA published a report on PFAS in cosmetics on December 29, 2025. It found significant data gaps and did not reach a safety determination. The bans so far are state laws.
Read the full INCI list for PTFE and any name containing "fluoro" or "perfluoro", then ask your suppliers about pigments and powders, because surface treatments may not be obvious from the label. Get a written statement for each formula and keep it on file.
Usually, yes. Most PFAS in cosmetics provide slip, water resistance or a silky feel, and there are non-fluorinated alternatives. Reformulating can change texture and wear, so plan time for samples and stability testing.

Sources

  1. FDA — Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in cosmetics (report published December 29, 2025)
  2. Morgan Lewis — State PFAS bans in cosmetics expand ahead of 2026
  3. Compliance & Risks — PFAS in cosmetics: US state bans and compliance deadlines, 2026 update
  4. Holland & Knight — PFAS in cosmetics: state-led regulatory surge
  5. EWG — Summary of FDA data on PFAS in cosmetic products

General information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with each state or your regulatory counsel.

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