Forever Chemicals in Skincare – The Hidden Environmental Cost

"Forever chemicals," or PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are synthetic compounds found in a wide range of consumer products—including cosmetics. While these chemicals offer durability and water resistance, their environmental footprint is raising global concern. These compounds don’t just disappear after we rinse off our face wash or sunscreen—they persist in our waterways, soil, and ecosystems for decades.

What Happens to PFAS After They Leave Your Skin?

When you wash off skincare products containing PFAS, the compounds enter the water system. From there, they are extremely difficult to remove through standard wastewater treatment processes. These chemicals then accumulate in rivers, lakes, groundwater, and eventually, drinking water supplies.

PFAS are bioaccumulative, meaning they build up in the bodies of animals, fish, and humans over time. Traces have been detected globally—from Arctic sea ice to deep-sea sediments and rainwater in remote areas.

Key Findings from Peer-Reviewed Studies:

-A 2020 study estimated that over 200 million Americans could be exposed to PFAS through drinking water (Andrews & Naidenko, 2020).
-PFAS have been linked to population declines in wildlife such as polar bears, otters, and dolphins due to liver damage, hormone disruption, and immune suppression (Kelly et al., 2009; Houde et al., 2011).
-A study comparing PFAS levels in commercial soil amendments found that biosolid-based composts can contain PFAS concentrations nearly 200 times higher than organic composts made from plant or food waste, potentially introducing these chemicals into food crops and groundwater (Lazcano et al., 2020).

The Case for Natural Skincare

Natural skincare products use ingredients that break down in the environment, reducing the risk of long-term contamination. At Zurma, we formulate without persistent synthetic chemicals, relying instead on plant oils, hydrosols, botanical waxes, and naturally derived actives.

Natural ingredients are biodegradable—they decompose through microbial activity and leave no long-term residues. They are non-bioaccumulative, meaning they don’t build up in the tissues of wildlife or people. Botanical sourcing can be regenerative and sustainable, supporting long-term ecosystem health.  Natural skincare formulations are typically safer for waterways and less likely to contribute to aquatic toxicity

Weighing the Environmental Risks

Final Thoughts

The skincare choices we make every day have consequences beyond our own health. At Zurma, we believe environmental responsibility starts with the ingredients we choose to put in our products. That’s why we avoid persistent synthetic chemicals and focus on formulas that are safe for both people and the planet.

Natural skincare isn’t just gentler on your skin—it’s also gentler on rivers, oceans, and the ecosystems we all depend on.

Reference List:

Andrews, D. Q., & Naidenko, O. V. (2020). Population-wide exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from drinking water in the United States. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 7(12), 931–936. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00713

Kelly, B. C., Ikonomou, M. G., Blair, J. D., Surridge, B., Hoover, D., Grace, R., & Gobas, F. A. P. C. (2009). Perfluoroalkyl contaminants in an Arctic marine food web: Trophic magnification and wildlife exposure. Environmental Science & Technology, 43(11), 4037–4043. https://doi.org/10.1021/es900389y

Houde, M., De Silva, A. O., Muir, D. C. G., & Letcher, R. J. (2011). Monitoring of perfluorinated compounds in aquatic biota: An updated review. Environmental Science & Technology, 45(19), 7962–7973. https://doi.org/10.1021/es104326w

Lazcano, R. K., Choi, Y. J., Mashtare, M. L., & Lee, L. S. (2020). Characterizing and comparing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in commercially available biosolid and organic non-biosolid-based products. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(14), 8640–8648. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b07281:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}