Beautycounter Launches Coalition To Address Lack Of US Cosmetic Safety Laws

The laws that govern the $62 billion beauty industry are regulated by 1.5 pages of legislation that date back to 1938. Unlike in Europe and Canada, the substances used in beauty products sold in the US do not require vetting for safety. While nearly 1,400 ingredients are banned from personal care products in Europe, only 30 are banned in the US. Additionally, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no recall authority and there is no industry-standard requirement for ingredient screening or monitoring. 

The Counteract Coalition is redefining the next generation of the beauty industry – one that is built on transparency, cooperation and a sense of purpose. Coalition members represent the fastest growing portion of the consumer beauty marketplace and believe that to protect consumers, major regulatory change is needed. To date, the Coalition includes brands and CEOs from the following companies: Beautycounter, Annamarie Skin Care, Biossance, côte, Goddess Garden, Follain, Josie Maran, OSEA, Peet Rivko, Rahua, Seventh Generation, Silk Therapeutics, SW Basics, tenoverten, Vapour Organic Beauty and Vintner's Daughter.

This week, coalition members have come to Washington, D.C. to demand more health protective laws governing the industry, and are meeting with lawmakers to ask for a hearing on the Personal Care Products Safety Act (S. 1113).   

Beautycounter Founder & CEO Gregg Renfrew: "Beautycounter has led the charge to transform our nation's outdated cosmetic safety laws since we were founded. We know we can't do it alone, and are proud to work alongside other leaders in the rapidly growing safer and natural personal care industry to demand change in Washington, D.C."

"Seventh Generation has long believed in the power of business to transform commerce and we're proud to be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Beautycounter and others to demand change to our country's outdated regulations that are currently designed to 'protect' trade secrets and profit over human health," said John Replogle, CEO of Seventh Generation.

Peet Rivko Founder & CEO Johanna Peet: "When we were approached to join the Counteract Coalition, it was a no-brainer. I started Peet Rivko out of the belief that we all deserve clean, safe and non-toxic skincare products. The time for this type of smart regulation is long overdue, and as an independent brand we will use whatever platform we have to speak up for meaningful change."

Mary Lennon, Founder of côte nail shop: "côte is honored and excited to be participating in this historic beauty coalition. From its beginning, côte has stood for safe and performance-driven nail products. We are thrilled to have this opportunity to join forces with like-minded companies to focus attention on the cleaner safer beauty movement."

The Personal Care Products Safety Act (S.1113) is championed by Sen. Dianne  Feinstein (D-CA) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and would fix fundamental flaws and loopholes in existing regulations on personal care products and cosmetics. By updating federal regulations, the Counteract Coalition believes that consumers will be better protected from harmful ingredients commonly used in personal care products, and businesses will have access to safety information, allowing them to bring products to market faster.  

Gregg Renfrew notes, "Legislative change that will truly protect American families from harmful chemicals in personal care products will happen when the safer and natural beauty industry shows it is possible." 

About Beautycounter
Beautycounter is the leader in the safer skin care and cleaner cosmetics category. The Santa Monica, CA-based brand drives a national movement for improved transparency and accountability in the beauty industry, including advocacy to update federal regulations that have stood largely unchanged since 1938. The company's mission is "to get safer products into the hands of everyone." Beautycounter develops and distributes nearly 130 products across skin care, color cosmetics, advanced anti-aging, kids, baby and personal care collections. Beautycounter is a Certified B Corporation. Founded by Gregg Renfrew in 2011, Beautycounter launched in 2013 as a direct-retail brand (direct to consumer through multiple channels) that is now available through 25,000+ consultants across North America, online at Beautycounter.com, and through strategic partnerships including J.Crew, a limited-edition collection with Target, and a pop-up shop on Nantucket Island.  For more information, please visit www.beautycounter.com . 

SOURCE Beautycounter

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