Collection: SKIN
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are a group of synthetic compounds that were first developed by companies like DuPont and 3M in the 1940s and 1950s. AKA “forever chemicals”, they’re a group of synthetic chemicals that never break down.
Here’s what happened and why you might be concerned:
• In the 1940s, DuPont was tasked with developing a heat-resistant sealant for military applications during World War II. This led to the creation of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the key ingredient in their Teflon non-stick coatings.
• Around the same time, 3M acquired the “Simons Process” which enabled large-scale production of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), another type of PFAS compound that helped DuPont manufacture Teflon more efficiently.
• These PFAS compounds, dubbed “forever chemicals”, are extremely persistent and do not break down easily in the environment or human body. This is due to their strong carbon-fluorine bonds.
• After the war, DuPont and other companies commercialized PFAS for use in non-stick cookware, food packaging, stain/water-resistant fabrics, firefighting foams and many other products due to their useful properties.
• However, studies later found that PFOA and other PFAS compounds are linked to various health issues like cancer, thyroid disease, and developmental problems even at low exposure levels.
By now, you may be concerned that this stuff is in nearly every product we use. Inadvertently, these compounds have contaminated the environment and may be a contributing factor towards causing various health issues.
Naturally, it’s in a lot of skincare products. For example, cosmetics containing ingredients with “fluoro” in the name, such as polytetrafluoroethylene or DEA-C8-18 perfluoroalkylethyl phosphate, may be intentionally contaminated with PFAS. Usually these chemicals unnaturally preserve the product or make it waterproof.
As a former makeup artist, Sean Allen Fenn wanted a forever chemical-free moisturizer that not only he would like, but anyone could use every day.
