Polyperfluoroperhydrophenanthrene Bad Solvent No known benefits Polyperfluoroperhydrophenanthrene at a glance Fluorocarbon made up of fluorine and carbon Mostly used in ingredient blends Utilized as a solvent More research is needed to determine its safety Polyperfluoroperhydrophenanthrene description Perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene (PFHP) is a cosmetics ingredient and fluorocarbon, or a chemical compound made up of fluorine and carbon. It’s most used within blends comprised of other fluorocarbons, particularly perfluorodecalin, where it’s touted as a solvent. Solvents are ingredients that are used to help dissolve or break down other ingredients to form a solution. As with most groups of chemicals, there are good and bad solvents. There are conflicting reports that PFHP belongs to a group of ingredients known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). The United States Food and Drug Administration is monitoring PFAS for potential environmental and health implications. Currently, more data is needed to come to any conclusions regarding the impacts of PFAS. Despite this, these types of solvents are capable of releasing extra oxygen, posing a risk of damaging skin by generating harmful molecules known as free radicals. As such, it’s best to seek cosmetic products that use solvents that are proven to be safe. Related ingredients: Perfluorodecalin