Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
Most people assume cosmetics and personal care products are tested for safety. They are not. Companies can legally use chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, and reproductive harm in the products we use every day.
Disproportionate impacts. Communities of color face disproportionately high exposure to hazardous chemicals because personal-care and beauty products such as skin-lightening treatments, hair relaxers, and acrylic-nail products — which frequently contain toxic or endocrine-disrupting ingredients — are aggressively marketed to, used by, and sold within these communities.
State leadership. States have made significant progress in requiring companies to share information about ingredients and banning hazardous chemicals in personal care products. Washington, Oregon and Vermont passed laws to eliminate harmful chemicals from cosmetics. Washington’s law will also support the transition to safer products by identifying safer chemicals and providing support to small businesses. Additional states have eliminated PFAS from cosmetics.
What more can be done?
Additional policies that eliminate hazardous chemicals, require full ingredient disclosure (especially for ingredients like fragrance and flavorings) and promote safer solutions will help keep consumers safer.
Learn more about the harmful chemicals in personal care products and cosmetics from our allies at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
Menstrual Products
Menstrual products such as tampons and pads are used directly in contact with some of the most absorbent tissue in the body but manufacturers are not required by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to test for or disclose harmful chemicals. Studies have found PFAS, heavy metals and other chemicals linked to cancer and hormone disruption in many of today’s menstrual and intimate care products.
State leadership. Vermont now bans PFAS, phthalates, formaldehyde, lead and other harmful chemicals from menstrual and other intimate care products. Additional states have restricted PFAS from menstrual products.
Learn more about toxic chemicals in menstrual products from our allies at Weaving Voices for Health & Justice.
