Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act of Washington State Passes Into Law

Good news!

Washington State governor has signed the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act into law! Washington has now joined states like California and Maryland in passing legislation that forbids dangerous substances from being used in personal care products. Canada and the EU both prohibit or limit 600 substances from personal care products, yet only 30 ingredients are prohibited or restricted in the US. This gives consumers the chance to be exposed to chemicals that are known to be harmful.

The new law prohibits the sale of cosmetics containing harmful ingredients such as lead, mercury, formaldehyde, phthalates, and triclosan.

The Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act is a critical step in protecting the health and safety of consumers. Studies have shown that many of the chemicals commonly used in personal care products have been linked to a range of health issues, including cancer, reproductive problems, and developmental delays. Progress has been made with laws like the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act but the personal-care goods sector still lacks adequate regulation. Due to this, consumers may be exposed to substances that could be dangerous and have been related to a number of problems, including cancer, problems during pregnancy, liver damage, thyroid disease, asthma, skin irritation, and more. By banning these harmful chemicals, Washington is taking a bold step to ensure that the products we use on our bodies are safe and free from toxic substances.

Under the new law, manufacturers of personal care products sold in Washington State must disclose all ingredients on their labels, including those that are considered “confidential business information.” They must also conduct safety testing and provide a comprehensive list of the chemicals used in their products to the Washington State Department of Health.

Beautycounter’s Never List goes beyond WA’s new law and is made up of more than 2,800 questionable or harmful chemicals that we never use as ingredients in our products. This includes the nearly 1,700 chemicals banned or restricted in personal care products by the European Union, plus additional chemicals screened by Beautycounter and found to be of concern.