The age-old adage “beauty is pain” is challenged in the hands of California Gov. Gavin Newsom after he passed Assembly Bill No. 496 on Oct. 8, which bans the “manufacturing, selling, delivering, holding or offering for sale in commerce any cosmetic product” that contains any of 26 chemicals highlighted within the bill. Although the bill was just recently passed, it is set to commence on January 1, 2027.

These 26 chemicals are commonly found in personal care products including deodorant, hair dyes, shampoo, and conditioner as well as various makeup products, and are already banned in the European Union (EU). Bill 496 specifically  includes the banning of, “endocrine and hormone-disrupting chemicals.”

Introduced by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Burbank), this piece of legislation prohibits ingredients that are, “not yet banned anywhere else in the United States.” Making it a groundbreaking victory for the safer cosmetics movement.

As someone who enjoys browsing through the cosmetics section of Target and various other places as many others do, I am beyond thrilled to see legislative change that focuses on the safety of products commonly used by people every day. This bill has positively impacted my outlook on the United States prohibiting dangerous chemicals and additives found within our cosmetic and food products in the future.

Not only as a consumer, but as a human being, I feel as though it’s our right and it should be an expectation in this country to buy food and purchase cosmetic or hygienic products without the fear of being exposed to toxic chemicals. The EU is years ahead of the United States, already having prohibited over 2,000 commonly found toxic chemicals in personal care products whereas the U.S. has banned 11.

Recently, I was introduced to an app called “Yuka” that scans products and evaluates their health benefits, showing you whether the product has natural, safe components or the contrary. It wasn’t until I actively started using Yuka that I realized how many of my products contain harmful ingredients. For me, it puts into perspective the lack of direct legislation that currently exists within this country regarding what consumers are exposed to on a daily basis. 

One of the most concerning aspects of this issue is how the chemicals commonly found in these products can cause not only infertility but also birth and genetic defects. It should be a basic human right to not worry about possibly testing positive for life-threatening diseases just for using basic hygiene products. 

According to the nationally recognized organization the Environmental Working Group, which sponsored the legislation, “Manufacturers adhering to California’s rigorous standards are likely to extend the same high standards to products distributed throughout the U.S.” This incremental change in California has a high possibility of positively influencing the entire country for the better and prompting a domino effect of other states taking initiative to focus on this important cause. This bill has and will continue to positively impact my life and I am hopeful in terms of the United States following the EU’s footsteps to continuously ban more harmful toxins found within commonly used products.

Although beauty may be painful at times, it certainly shouldn’t cost someone their life.