Formaldehyde vs. PFAS in Beauty Products: Why Scientific Accuracy Matters

Written By Clean Beauty Coalition

What Is Formaldehyde and How Is It Being Addressed in Policy?

Formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound (VOC) that may be present in or released from certain hair straightening and smoothing products, particularly when heat is applied during application.

In 2026, federal legislation known as the Healthy Hair Act (H.R. 7685) was introduced to address the risks associated with this category of products.

The bill, introduced by Ayanna Pressley, Shontel Brown, and Nydia Velázquez, proposes to:

  • Ban formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing substances

  • Classify these products as “adulterated” under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

  • Strengthen protections against exposure to harmful chemicals in personal care products

Understanding Exposure

Exposure to formaldehyde can vary depending on:

  • Product formulation

  • Frequency of use

  • Application method

  • Environmental conditions such as heat and ventilation

However, modern public health and regulatory frameworks do not evaluate risk based on isolated exposure alone.

They consider:

  • Repeated use over time

  • Cumulative exposure

  • Occupational exposure in salon environments

Public Health Focus

The Healthy Hair Act reflects growing concern around:

  • The cumulative impact of repeated exposure to formaldehyde in hair treatments

  • Occupational exposure among salon professionals

  • Disproportionate exposure linked to products marketed primarily to Black women

Rather than focusing on a single exposure event, the legislation addresses patterns of use and risk over time, which are central to modern approaches to cosmetic safety.

This is why policy interventions like the Healthy Hair Act are critical, because ingredient safety cannot rely on awareness alone, but must be addressed through enforceable standards.

What Are PFAS and Why Are They Called “Forever Chemicals”?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of synthetic organic compounds engineered to resist water, oil, and heat. Their high stability means they do not break down easily, allowing them to persist in the environment and in the human body over time

In cosmetics, PFAS may be used to:

  • Improve product spreadability

  • Enhance long-wear performance

  • Create smooth, uniform finishes

They are commonly associated with:

  • Long-wear makeup

  • Waterproof products

  • Certain lotions and creams

PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they:

  • Do not break down easily in the environment

  • Can persist in water, soil, and the human body

  • May accumulate over time with repeated exposure

This persistence has made PFAS a growing focus in environmental health research, including studies supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Understanding the Difference: Formaldehyde vs. PFAS

These two are often mentioned together, but they are fundamentally different in how they function, how people are exposed, and how they are regulated.

1. Type

  • Formaldehyde:
    A single compound (with related compounds that release it over time).
    This makes it easier to study, identify, and regulate in specific products.

  • PFAS:
    A large class of thousands of organic compounds.
    This makes regulation more complex because it involves an entire group, not just one substance.

2. Function in Beauty Products

  • Formaldehyde:
    Primarily linked to hair smoothing and straightening treatments, where it may be released during use, especially with heat.

  • PFAS:
    Used to enhance product performance, such as:

    • Waterproofing

    • Long wear

    • Smooth texture

3. Key Concern

  • Formaldehyde:
    The concern centers on direct exposure, particularly:

    • Repeated use

    • Occupational exposure (e.g., salon workers)

  • PFAS:
    The concern is persistence and accumulation, meaning:

    • They don’t break down easily

    • They can build up in the body and environment over time

4. Exposure Focus

  • Formaldehyde:
    Exposure is tied to specific use settings, such as:

    • Applying hair treatments

    • Inhalation during salon services

  • PFAS:
    Exposure is broader and more diffuse:

    • Through multiple products

    • Over long periods

    • Including environmental pathways (water, soil, etc.)

5. Policy Approach

  • Formaldehyde:
    Addressed through targeted bans in specific use cases, such as the Healthy Hair Act (H.R. 7685), which focuses on hair straightening products.

  • PFAS:
    Requires broader regulatory strategies, including:

    • Environmental oversight

    • Multi-industry regulation

    • Ongoing scientific review

Formaldehyde and PFAS are not interchangeable.

Formaldehyde and PFAS are not interchangeable.

  • One is a specific compound tied to defined use cases and exposure scenarios
    The other is a broad class of persistent organic compounds with long-term environmental and health considerations.

Understanding this difference is essential for:

  • Accurate public health conversations

  • Effective policy

  • Meaningful progress in cosmetic safety

    Why Scientific Accuracy Matters

As awareness around ingredient safety grows, so does the risk of oversimplification.

Grouping all “potentially harmful substances” together, without understanding their classification, creates confusion and weakens meaningful public health dialogue.

Scientific accuracy matters because it:

  • Supports informed consumer decision-making

  • Strengthens credible advocacy efforts

  • Enables targeted, effective regulation

  • Prevents misinformation from undermining progress

Effective cosmetic safety reform depends on precision, not generalization.

The Public Health and Policy Context

Consumers today use multiple personal care products daily, often resulting in repeated and cumulative exposure to a wide range of potentially harmful ingredients and substances

This is particularly important when considering:

  • Frequency of use

  • Product layering

  • Long-term exposure patterns

Certain populations, including salon professionals and individuals using specific categories of beauty products, may experience higher exposure over time.

This is why modern policy efforts, including the Safer Beauty Bill Package, are focused on:

  • Strengthening ingredient oversight

  • Increasing transparency

  • Aligning cosmetic safety standards with current science

Read more: Safer Beauty Bill Package — What It Is and Why It Matters

Why Misinformation Slows Progress

Inaccurate or imprecise discussions about ingredients can:

  • Distract from real risks

  • Undermine scientific credibility

  • Confuse consumers and policymakers

  • Delay meaningful regulatory change

Public health conversations require:

  • Clear definitions

  • Evidence-based frameworks

  • Responsible communication

Without these, progress becomes fragmented, and less effective.

Clean Beauty Coalition Position

At the Clean Beauty Coalition, our work is grounded in science, policy, and public health.

We do not generalize ingredient risk.

We:

  • Identify

  • Differentiate

  • Educate

  • Advocate

Based on evidence.

Our mission is to ensure that conversations around beauty and personal care products are accurate, transparent, and aligned with modern regulatory and public health standards.

Explore our advocacy work

What Consumers Should Take Away

Understanding ingredient safety starts with clarity.

Not all potentially harmful substances are the same, and understanding those differences matters.

Consumers should ask:

  • What category does this ingredient belong to?

  • How is it used?

  • What does the research say about exposure and risk over time?

Better questions lead to better decisions, and stronger outcomes for public health.

Closing

As awareness grows, so does responsibility.

Advancing safer beauty requires more than identifying concerns, it requires understanding them with clarity, accuracy, and intention.

Because meaningful progress, in science, policy, and public health, depends on getting the facts right.

Sources

Clean Beauty Coalition

The Clean Beauty Coalition led by Amber Makupson, is an Atlanta-based nonprofit that aims to eliminate toxic chemicals from beauty and personal care products, particularly those that disproportionately affect women and children of color. The organization advocates for ingredient transparency, policy reform, and health equity.

Mission and goals

Driven by research highlighting toxic ingredients in products marketed to Black women, the coalition works to create a safer, more equitable, and sustainable beauty industry through several initiatives. These include advocating for regulatory changes, educating consumers about harmful ingredients, holding brands and retailers accountable for providing clean products, offering a certification program to help brands comply with regulations like MOCRA, and partnering with brands focused on sustainability.

http://cleanbeautycoalition.org
Next

The Safer Beauty Bill Package: What It Is and Why It Matters