Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) reintroduced the Toxic-Free Beauty Act, which prohibits the use of certain hazardous chemicals from personal and professional care, beauty, and salon products sold in the United States.

Some of the chemicals used to create personal and professional care, beauty, and salon products have been linked to serious harm to human health and the environment, but to date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only banned or restricted eleven chemicals.  Through the Toxic-Free Beauty Act, products containing certain toxic chemicals would be officially considered harmful for consumers by the FDA and result in enforcement against these products, effectively banning the chemicals from use.

“Many people assume that the personal care and beauty items they use are safe, but with minimal oversight, many of the care, beauty, and salon products sold across the country actually contain toxic chemicals,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “I am glad to partner with Congresswoman Schakowsky to reintroduce the Toxic-Free Beauty Act to protect the health and safety of people across the country by banning chemicals known to cause significant harm in beauty products.”

“Safe, accessible beauty cannot wait.  After more than 80 years of inaction, the United States finally updated its cosmetics laws in 2022.  President Biden was able to sign into law the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act, which now gives authority to the Food and Drug Administration to recall beauty and personal care products that are harming human health. While this was an important first step, our work is not done,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.  “I am proud to reintroduce the Safer Beauty Bill Package with my colleagues, Reps. Lizzie Fletcher, Doris Matsui, and Ayanna Pressley, which would protect consumers from toxic chemicals linked to hormone disruption, cancer and other health problems; require full ingredient transparency for consumers and manufacturers; and protect the health of women of color and salon workers, who are among the most highly exposed to toxic chemicals because of the products marketed to them or commonly found in their workplaces.  We must pass the Safer Beauty Bill Package now!”

If enacted, the Toxic-Free Beauty Act would ban the use of the following chemicals in personal and professional beauty, care, and salon products sold in the U.S.:

• Formaldehyde and methylene glycol: two different kinds of formaldehyde found in hair straightening and smoothing products that are linked to cancer, skin irritation, and respiratory harm;
• Mercury: although banned in the U.S except as a preservative in products around the eyes, mercury can still be found in skin lightening creams, beauty and antiseptic soaps, and lotions, and it can negatively impact the brain and nervous system.
• Isobutylparaben and isopropylparaben: parabens found in sunscreens, lotions, eye liner, blush, and hair products that are linked to breast cancer, reproductive harm, and endocrine disruption;
• M-Phenylenediamine and o-Phenylenediamine: chemicals used in hair dye and linked to skin sensitization, cancer, mutagenicity, and organ system toxicity;
• Lillial: a commonly used fragrance ingredient linked to developmental harm;
• Styrene: a carcinogen that can be a contaminant in cosmetic products;
• Toluene: a chemical found in nail polishes that is linked to neurotoxicity and developmental harm;
• Triclosan and Triclocarbon: although banned by the FDA in over-the-counter anti-bacterial products, these chemicals can still be found in cosmetics and are endocrine disruptors and can negatively impact thyroid function;
• Cyclotetrasiloxane: commonly found in hair care and skin care products marketed to women of color, this chemical is linked to endocrine disruption;
• Acetaldehyde: a carcinogen that is linked to neurotoxicity, mutagenicity and cancer;
• Vinyl acetate: a carcinogen that is linked to acute toxicity when inhaled;
• 1,4-dioxane: a toxic chemical that emerges as a byproduct of the manufacturing process called ethoxylation, which is used to make surfactants less harsh that is linked to cancer;
• Lead: one of the most toxic chemicals that can be a contaminant in color cosmetics that is linked to cancer and brain damage; and
• Asbestos: a carcinogen found in talc-based products and some mineral makeup that is linked to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.

If enacted, this bill would also ban two classes of chemicals including:

• Formaldehyde-releasing chemicals: chemicals used to preserve personal care products that can cause allergic reactions even at low levels; and
• Ortho-phthalates: chemicals used in beauty products that are linked to endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity, and cancer.   

Congresswoman Fletcher and Congresswoman Schakowsky first introduced the Toxic-Free Beauty Act in the 117th Congress and reintroduced it in the 118th Congress.  This year, they updated the legislation to add chemicals that several states have already banned.

To view full text of the bill, click here.