Newly Passed California Bill Bans Toxic Chemicals in Makeup
This week was a landmark in the fight to keep beauty products free of harmful ingredients, as California passed The Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act. The new bill takes effect in 2025, and will make it illegal for businesses to sell cosmetic products in California that contain any one of 20+ toxic ingredients.
Ingredients Banned in California Cosmetic Products by 2025
- Mercury
- Formaldehyde
- Paraformaldehyde
- Dibutyl phthalate
- Diethylhexyl phthalate
- Methylene glycol
- Quaternium-15
- Isobutylparaben
- Isopropylparaben
- m-Phenylenediamine and its salts
- o-Phenylenediamine and its salts
- Perfluorooctane sulfonate
- heptadecafluorooctane-1-sulfonic acid
- Potassium perfluorooctanesulfonate
- Potassium heptadecafluorooctane-1-sulfonate
- Diethanolamine perfluorooctane sulfonate
- Ammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate
- ammonium heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate
- Lithium perfluorooctane sulfonate
- lithium heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
- Ammonium pentadecafluorooctanoate
- Nonadecafluorodecanoic acid
- Ammonium nonadecafluorodecanoate
- Sodium nonadecafluorodecanoate
- Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
- Sodium heptadecafluorononanoate
- Ammonium perfluorononanoate
Many of these ingredients — which have been linked to health problems including cancer, hormone issues, and birth defects — are currently banned in other countries, but California is the first state in the nation to take the bold step. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill this past week to make it official. “California is leading the nation by banning toxic ingredients from our cosmetics,” Newsom said. “This legislation will save lives and keep Californians and our environment safe.”
In addition to The Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (Assembly Bill 2762), Governor Newsom also signed The Cosmetic Fragrance and Flavor Ingredient Right to Know Act of 2020 (Senate Bill 312), which requires companies to report any harmful fragrances or flavors in their cosmetic products when it takes effect in 2022. We at KeyGlam applaud these changes and always advocate for products that are free and clear of harmful chemicals and ingredients. It’s also important to remember that bills like these not only protect consumers, they also help salon workers, who are exposed to these chemicals at much higher rates.
