The beauty and personal care industry has been under increasing scrutiny in recent years for hiding toxic chemicals in their products. Consumers are demanding more transparency and safety from the products they use. In response to this growing concern, the U.S. government has taken significant steps to ensure better protection for consumers through the introduction of the Safer Beauty Bill.

What is the Safer Beauty Bill Package?

The Safer Beauty Bill Package aims to address critical gaps in the cosmetics industry by focusing on safety and ingredient transparency. At the heart of the Safer Beauty Bill Package is a push for stricter regulation of cosmetic products and the ingredients used in them. This bill is a landmark piece of legislation aimed at improving transparency, enhancing safety standards, and ensuring that beauty products are free from harmful chemicals. It builds on the foundation set by the Cosmetic Modernization Act of 2022 (MoCRA), which expanded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authority to regulate the cosmetics industry more effectively. With this bill, the U.S. is making strides toward a beauty industry that prioritizes consumer health and well-being.

Four Bills in the Safer Beauty Bill Package Against Toxic Chemicals

  1. Toxic-Free Beauty Act: Proposes ban on hazardous chemicals, including lead, formaldehyde, and phthalates
  2. Cosmetic Safety Protections for Communities of Color and Salon Workers Act:  Grants $30 million for research, education, and safer alternatives; regulates FDA oversight of synthetic hair products
  3. Cosmetic Hazardous Ingredient Right to Know Act: Product labels and company websites required to fully disclose fragrance and hazardous ingredients with links to safety information
  4. Cosmetic Supply Chain Transparency Act: Upstream suppliers are required to provide safety and composition data to brand owners and formulators

Beyond MoCRA—the Impact of the Safer Beauty Bill Package

With growing concerns around the use of toxic chemicals in everyday products, the Safer Beauty Bill represents a monumental shift toward a safer, more transparent beauty industry. Not only will it empower consumers with better information, but it also holds manufacturers accountable for the safety of their formulations.

The bill also addresses inequities in the market, particularly those affecting marginalized communities who are disproportionately exposed to harmful beauty products. Research cited shows that Black women using permanent hair dye face up to a 60% higher risk of breast cancer, compared to an 8% increase for white women. Additionally, Black women who used hair straighteners had a 30% higher risk of breast cancer and double the risk of uterine cancer of White women. Salon workers also face exposure risk and is listed as an occupation of carcinogenic hazard by the International for Research Agency on Cancer. By tightening regulations, the bill aims to ensure that all consumers, regardless of background, have access to safe, non-toxic beauty products.

Safer Beauty Bill Will Eliminate Toxic Chemicals

The Safer Beauty Bill Package is a commitment to the health and well-being of consumers. It promises to set a new standard for transparency, safety, and ethical practices in the beauty industry, ensuring that the products we trust are not only effective but also safe for everyday use. Hundreds of clean beauty companies are already disclosing fragrance ingredients and creating formulations that are not harmful to use. This package will endorse eliminating trade secrets of toxic ingredients and minimize the risk of using cosmetic products.

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