What is next for Cosmetic Safety?

Across the world there are countries with over 1400 restricted or banned chemicals from cosmetic products. Would you believe us if we told you the United States FDA has restricted or banned only 11 chemicals? This comes as unsurprising news since federal laws created to ensure the safety of personal care products (PCP) have changed very little since 1938. That is over 80 years of product development and creation that have remained unregulated despite instances of harm to consumers. These are everyday products that go beyond just make up - toothpaste, lotions, baby care, fragrances, etc. Earlier this year, Congress revisited legislation that would increase the FDA’s authority over PCPs.

The Personal Care Products Safety Act is a bipartisan bill (introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Susan Collins, & Rep. Frank Pallone) that would require cosmetic companies to register with the FDA, allowing them to use the same tools to regulate ingredients as they do with food and drugs. This bill would equip the FDA with tools to ensure safety procedures such as:

• Perform yearly safety reviews for 5 ingredients & contaminants

• Require companies to disclose ingredients

• Order recalls for dangerous products

• Require specific labeling/warnings for products containing certain ingredients

Along with these recent pushes for increased safety and regulations, well-known brands like Target, CVS, and Sephora are all stepping up to address consumer concerns. Often referred to as the The Dirty Dozen, this list is made up of 12 ingredients to avoid in skincare products. These ingredients have been linked to serious health issues such as allergies, eczema, cancer, and more. CVS Health announced in 2017 that they would remove parabens and phthalates from nearly 600 beauty and personal care products from its product lines. Around the same time, Target introduced a Chemical Policy and Chemical Goals in terms of transparency, chemical management, and innovation.

The next example is Clean at Sephora, a category of products that do not contain certain dangerous chemicals such as parabens, formaldehydes, mineral oil, those on the dirty dozen, and more. Partnerships have been formed with brands across cosmetics that feature a Clean at Sephora seal, will be clearly marked as “clean” on product pages, and have their own in store areas.

Sephora is defining what “clean beauty” is to them and guiding consumers on what the new standard will be when it comes to safe cosmetic products. The social pressure to be more transparent with ingredients and environmental impacts of cosmetics demands accountability from these companies. With applications like Think Dirty, Clean at Sephora, and the Environmental Working Group (EWG), there are many ways to be informed about what inside your skincare products and the effects it may have on your body. Have you checked what's in your bottle yet?