California Assembly Approved the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act — Here's Why That's Important

On June 11, the California Assembly voted on a new legislation that would help regulate the use of highly toxic chemicals in personal care products. The Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, A.B. 2762, bans 12 toxic ingredients commonly used in makeup products, including formaldehyde and mercury, and was passed with a bipartisan vote of 54-0.

If enacted, California would become the first state in the country with a ban like this in place and join the likes of the European Union, where these chemicals have already been banned from beauty products. In the next steps, the bill will go to the state Senate where it will be voted on once more, sometime this summer before August.

"I want my daughter growing up in a state where I don't have to examine the label, and be an expert toxicologist, to know the soaps, face creams and toothpastes that are safe for her to use," said the lead author of the legislation, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi. "That's why I introduced AB 2762 to get the most toxic chemicals out of the products we use on a daily basis."

Despite many of the ingredients listed in the Toxic-Free Cosmetic Act being linked to breast cancer, they're still used in products that are sold all over the US. If passed by the California Senate, this will mean big changes for makeup products sold in the state and the beauty industry as a whole.