A method for the determination of 12 sulfonamides (SAs) (sulfanilamide, sulfamonomethoxine, sulfacetamide, sulfamethoxazole, sulfadiazine, sulfisoxazole, sulfathiazole, sulfadi-methoxine, sulfamerazine, sulfaquinoxaline, sulfamethazine, sulfanitran) in cosmetics was developed by ultra performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector (UPLC-PDA). The chromatographic column used was Acquity UPLC BEHC C18 (50 mm x 2. 1 mm, 1. 7 microm) and the mobile phase was acetonitrile-0. 1% formic acid aqueous solution. A gradient elution program was utilized for the separation and determination. After liquid-liquid extraction, SAs were separated and detected by UPLC-PDA. The qualification analysis was done by using retention time and spectrum, and the quantification was based on the detection wavelength of 268 nm. The limits of qualification (S/N = 3) and quantification (S/N = 10) for 12 SAs were 1 microg/g and 2 -3 microg/g, respectively. The correlation coefficient of linear calibration curve was over 0. 999 7 within the SAs concentration range of 1 - 25 mg/L (except sulfanitran 0. 5 - 12. 5 mg/L). At the spiked levels of 40 and 8 microg (except sulfanitran 20 and 4 microg), the average recoveries for 12 SAs were 86. 8% - 98. 1% and 80. 1% - 96. 9%, respectively. Relative standard deviations were less than 10%. Routine tests show that the method is simple, fast, and has a good separation efficiency. It can be routinely used for the determination of these SAs in cosmetics.