China Trumps U.S. #Toxic #Beauty Regulations

Kudos to China for proposing stricter regulations on toxic chemicals in cosmetics, which will bring them more in line with the EU’s. A second draft of the country’s new Complete Technical Safety Standard for Cosmetics was proposed recently, which will ban 100 additional toxic beauty ingredients and classify oral care products like toothpaste as cosmetics, with similar restrictions. How does this stack up to the U.S.?

America’s Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act, which was passed in 1938, has done little to regulate toxic beauty chemicals. Case in point? Formaldehyde in hair straighteners, lead in lipstick and mercury and mascara. Yes, really.

In April, Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the Personal Care Safety Act, which would force discloser from companies and allow the FDA to study potentially toxic beauty chemicals.

Hopefully China’s push will inspire similar action here at home. Meanwhile, click here for my seven toxic beauty red flags and educate yourself about what you’re putting on your body.