The products we use daily to care for our bodies may carry hidden risks that affect some communities more than others. In our daily lives, we interact with a multitude of personal care products (PCPs), including skincare, haircare, beauty items, and menstrual products like tampons, sanitary pads, menstrual cups, washes, and wipes. While many of these products are designed to support hygiene, self-care, or enhance personal presentation, many of them may contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can negatively impact human health by interfering with the endocrine system, which regulates reproduction, growth, and development.
Chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, and benzophenone are commonly used in these products as preservatives, color enhancers, and fragrance additives. The pervasive use of these harmful substances can raise serious concerns, particularly regarding their disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.
Unfortunately, products specifically marketed to Black and Brown women often contain some of the most harmful ingredients. This is partly a result of Eurocentric beauty standards, which prioritize features aligned with European ideals, thereby marginalizing the natural beauty of Black and Brown women. These standards influence product marketing, leading companies to promote items that conform to these narrow definitions of beauty, creating pressure for these women to purchase products that pose significant health risks. Additionally, inadequate cosmetic regulation allows harmful ingredients to be included in beauty products without sufficient oversight, leaving marginalized communities vulnerable to health hazards. Systemic racism further compounds these issues, as it targets Black women with products that are more likely to jeopardize their health, particularly concerning reproductive and respiratory issues.
According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, Black women collectively spend $7.5 billion on beauty products annually, exposing themselves to an average of 168 unique chemicals every day. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for more regulatory protections concerning the safety of the products we use and advocacy in the beauty industry.
The Cumulative Risk Factors
In addressing these issues, it is crucial to understand the cumulative risk factors associated with chemical exposure in personal care products. Dr. Robin Dodson, a research scientist specializing in exposure assessment, emphasizes that EDCs are not only present in our homes but also in everyday consumer products. During Rutgers University’s 4th Annual Environmental Health Panel, she highlighted her research, which revealed that the levels of methyl paraben—a common preservative—were twice as high among Non-Hispanic Black women compared to their Non-Hispanic White counterparts. This disparity can be attributed to the prevalence of racialized beauty norms that lead Black women to purchase and use more hair products. Given that these products are used daily, the cumulative exposure to harmful chemicals can have serious health implications.
EWC Beauty Certification: Leading the Way for Safer Products
Addressing these disparities requires proactive solutions that challenge industry norms and prioritize consumer health. The EWC Beauty Certification, founded by Marcha Chaudry, is one such initiative. As an attorney and policy analyst with expertise in public health and protections, Chaudry leads the Equity and Wellness Collaborative (EWC) in developing innovative solutions to enhance safety and transparency in the beauty industry. She has dedicated her career to ensuring that beauty and wellness products are safe, effective, and respectful of all consumers' needs.
Marcha Isabelle Chaudry, Board Member of the Independent Beauty Association, Advisory Committee Member of the Non-Toxic Black Beauty Project
Guided by Chaudry’s expertise and commitment to consumer protection, EWC Beauty Certification program goes beyond mere compliance; it simplifies the journey for brands committed to safety, transparency, and efficacy. This rigorous certification process ensures that only products with proven effective formulas and substantiated claims earn the EWC seal. Certified brands adhere to strict U.S., state, federal, and international regulatory standards, proactively excluding banned and potentially harmful ingredients.
Key Features of EWC Beauty Certification:
- Ingredient Verification: EWC enforces a strict list of over 50 prohibited ingredients, ensuring that all certified products are free from harmful substances.
- Claim Validation: EWC verifies that all product efficacy claims are backed by credible evidence, whether through third-party testing data, consumer testimonials, or existing clinical studies.
- Safety & Transparency: Certified brands must fully disclose all ingredients and provide safety testing results, offering complete transparency to consumers.
In addition to the general certification, EWC offers the Inclusive Beauty Certification, tailored for Black- and Brown-owned brands or those marketing products primarily to underrepresented communities. This certification not only upholds the same high standards as the general EWC Beauty Certification but also ensures that products are effective for diverse skin tones and hair types.
Complementing these efforts, the Nontoxic Black Beauty Justice Project (BBJP) amplifies the focus on safety and transparency within the beauty industry, specifically targeting non-toxic products for Black communities. With its comprehensive database of trusted, non-toxic Black-owned beauty products and its dedicated advocacy, BBJP provides Black women with invaluable resources to navigate the industry safely. Together, EWC and BBJP advance a shared mission of promoting health, inclusivity, and consumer trust in beauty products designed for all.
Educate Yourself, Become an Informed Consumer, and Change Policy
Raising awareness of the hidden health risks in personal care products is essential for empowering consumers to make safer choices. Research studies, such as "Beauty Beware: Associations between Perceptions of Harm and Safer Hair-Product-Purchasing Behaviors in a Cross-Sectional Study of Adults Affiliated with a University in the Northeast," underscore the importance of promoting environmental health literacy to help consumers make safer choices regarding personal care products (PCPs). Increasing awareness of the risks associated with certain PCP ingredients can drive healthier purchasing decisions, especially for communities disproportionately impacted by harmful substances.
Initiatives like the Non-Toxic Beauty Project, the EWC Inclusive Beauty Certification, along with other wellness-focused organizations, are actively addressing these challenges. Through resources like educational databases and community events, these groups work to engage and support those impacted by toxic beauty products, promoting awareness and empowering consumers to make safer choices.
While grassroots and community-driven efforts provide essential support and resources for those affected by toxic beauty products, recent legislative advancements are also shaping a safer landscape for consumers. Another significant development occurred in 2022, when efforts led by consumer advocates and community organizations culminated in the passing of the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act.
This landmark federal legislation aims to raise safety standards and accountability in the cosmetics industry. Yet, the journey toward true beauty justice continues, as the proposed Safer Beauty Bill Package, introduced by U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (Illinois), seeks to further enhance safety regulations and transparency in ingredient labeling, giving consumers greater power over their choices. The Safer Beauty bill package includes four bills: the Toxic-Free Beauty Act (H.R. 3619), which bans 11 harmful chemicals, such as mercury and formaldehyde, prohibited in the European Union (EU) but still allowed in U.S. products; the Cosmetic Safety Protections for Communities of Color and Salon Workers (H.R. 3620), which funds research and resources to protect these highly exposed groups; the Fragrance and Flavor Right to Know Act (H.R. 3621), which requires companies to disclose toxic fragrance ingredients; and the Supply Chain Transparency Act (H.R. 3622), which mandates that suppliers provide ingredient and safety data to cosmetic companies for safer formulations.
Together, these legislative efforts represent a promising step toward transparency and consumer empowerment in the beauty industry. However, with the uncertainty surrounding federal action under the new administration and Congress, it’s crucial to take proactive measures at the state level, using these federal bills as a model. At Clean Water Action, we are actively leading the charge for beauty justice through educational workshops, webinars, and mobilization efforts aimed at pushing for stronger state-level policies and corporate accountability. We’re working tirelessly to create change both in the halls of the state house and within the beauty industry itself.
Through community-driven action, we are amplifying our voice to ensure that marginalized communities, especially Black and Brown women, are no longer disproportionately exposed to harmful chemicals in beauty products. As the point of contact for Clean Water Action’s beauty justice initiatives, I am committed to engaging with advocates, consumers, and organizations to advance policy solutions and hold companies accountable.
Whether you're interested in becoming more informed, organizing a local event, or advocating for policy change, we need your voice in this fight. To get involved, sign up here to receive “Take Action” emails and updates on our beauty justice campaign and other related initiatives.
Let's work together to champion responsible brands, push for stronger regulatory protections, and build a beauty industry that respects and safeguards everyone!
Resources:
Mangabat, D. (2024, September 25). Beauty Justice: Health Risks of Toxic Skin Lighteners. WE ACT for Environmental Justice.
Payne, C. E., Rockson, A., Ashrafi, A., McDonald, J. A., Bethea, T. N., Barrett, E. S., & Llanos, A. A. (2023). Beauty Beware: Associations between perceptions of harm and safer hair-product-purchasing behaviors in a cross-sectional study of adults affiliated with a university in the Northeast. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(23), 7129.
