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This certainly feels like a welcome move regulation over beauty products has admittedlybeen lacking.
Getty Images / Collage by Bella Geraci
But its also reassuring to know that a lot of big beauty brands already follow safe manufacturing processes.
Most reputable companies work hard to create safe products, says cosmetic chemistKelly Dobos.
Certain ingredients are already banned and on the FDAs list ofProhibited & Restricted Ingredients in Cosmetics.
A lot but not all.
Out of all the ingredients that California is banning, the six below are arguably the most concerning.
We took a closer look at them to help answer questions like: How concerned should we be?
What kinds of products contain these ingredients?
And why are they in our mascaras, lotions, and shampoos to begin with?
Thatcan includeshampoos, soaps, moisturizers, and deodorants, as well as household cleaning products.
Why its being banned:There is some concern that lilial can cause skin irritation.
But there is no consensus in the literature regarding its toxicological properties.
A number of authors contradict each other, states the sameScientific Reportsstudy.
However, the authors note that more may be happening when lilial interacts with the body.
Why its used:As a fragrance note, acetaldehyde gives a fruity, apple scent.
Its worth noting that exposure is much more likely and concentrated through sources like industrial emissions and residential fireplaces.
At high-enough levels, there is also concern it can cause skin irritation, Romanowski adds.
Cyclotetrasiloxane is what is known as a cyclicsiliconeand these have been raising eyebrows for a while.
(There are both cyclic, or round, silicone structures and linear ones, like dimethicone.
(Cyclopentasiloxane is not on Californias list, although it is still found insome beauty productsin the US.)
For comparison, a material that’s deemed readily biodegradable can hit that threshold in less than 30 days.
This is an important criterion for assessing bioaccumulation andecological risk, according to the study.
So, if theres no evidence, where do the concerns come from?
What brands could use instead:Variousplant oilsand esters ordimethiconecould serve as suitable substitutes.
Nothing really works as well as silicones, however, Romanowski notes.
Why its used:Its been suggested that phytonadione can reducedark undereye circles, says Romanowksi.
However, he isnt particularly impressed with its capabilities.
I suspect it doesn’t really do much in a cosmetic product, she says.
Theres also formaldehyde in certain kinds ofnail care, according to the FDA.
(These are typically formaldehyde resins; formaldehyde itself is a gas, explains Dobos.)
These types ofpreservativeshave not been used since the 1970s at least, says Dobos.
If you decide you want to scan ingredient lists for them, heres a more completelistof formaldehyde-releasing preservatives.
The IARC, for one, has concluded thatformaldehydeis “carcinogenic to humans.”
In hair straightening products,Allurehas previously reportedthat formaldehyde locks hair into a straighter position that lasts beyond shampooing.
And in nail strengtheners, formaldehyde is supposed to bond with the nails keratin.
PFAS may also be in beauty products things like long-lasting makeup; foundation, and mascara, says Romanowski.
Why theyre being banned:Theres a growing body of research dedicated to the potential health effects of PFAS.
Current scientific research suggests that exposure to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health outcomes.
This is not, we repeatnot, the pop in of PFAS found in cosmetics.
Why theyre used:PFAS are highly water-resistant, so they are great for long-wearing products, says Romanowski.
Dobos agrees, explaining that PFAS have incredibly unique properties that can’t be matched by conventional chemistries.
