Tag: clean beauty

Our Mission

Celebrating Black History Month Through Uncompromising Beauty

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Celebrating Black History Month Through Uncompromising Beauty

Getting safer products into the hands of everyone is our mission, and in celebration of Black History Month, we’re honoring the Black community by uplifting through action. 

Beautycounter has worked tirelessly to advocate for safer beauty and regulation of the personal-care industry, helping to reduce toxic exposures that disproportionately affect communities of color. This effort recently paid off with the passing of the Modernization of Cosmetics Act, which will allow the FDA to more effectively regulate the industry. These reforms mark the first meaningful change in cosmetics regulation since the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938. 

In order to pursue safer standards in beauty, we look to the guidance of our Science Advisory Council—and integral to our mission to create a more equitable beauty industry is Dr. Ami Zota. Dr. Zota, a Columbia University Professor, investigates how social-structural factors, such as racism, classism, and sexism, shape beauty product use, environmental chemical exposures, and health inequities in women across the life course.  

To further underscore the importance of Black History Month, we’ll be interviewing Dr. Zota about her work and actionable steps that can be taken. Be sure to check back here later in the month for a link to the full video. 

And as we continue to push the industry beyond clean—in our aim to create uncompromising beauty for all—we pursue a holistic commitment to equity and inclusion among our diverse community of Associates, Consultants, and consumers.  

Unequal exposure, unequal harm  

Research[1] shows that Black and Indigenous communities as well as People of Color (BIPOC), experience higher incidences of certain chronic diseases, including diseases associated with harmful chemical exposures. Unfortunately, beauty and personal-care products can be a source of these toxic chemicals. This presents a unique opportunity for prevention. Over the past eight years, Beautycounter has made significant progress toward stronger regulation and systemic change through our product formulations, more responsible sourcing efforts, and advocacy.  

Our work, our promise 

The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act was a big step in the right direction for our industry—but our work doesn’t stop there. We also pledge to actively advocate to address racial disparities when it comes to unequal toxic exposures. Thus far, we’ve helped pass two California laws: the Cleaning Products Right to Know Act and the Safer Salon Bill. These bills work to protect vulnerable populations like domestic professionals, hotel workers, and salon professionals, by arming them with information to make safer choices. These professions are dominated by women (often women of color) who are exposed to dangerous chemicals for long periods of time in poorly ventilated areas.[2] 

We’ve also held two high-profile Congressional briefings, highlighting the disparate impacts of harmful ingredients on people of color, for Members of Congress and their staff. The briefings were sponsored by leaders of the Congressional Hispanic and Black caucuses. Beautycounter also helped pass two California bills that remove some of the worst offenders from personal-care products as well as promote greater transparency for fragrance ingredients, which can have links to cancer and hormone disruption.    

Through Beautycounter’s unmatched safety standards, we provide a broad lineup of safe and effective makeup, skin care, and body-care products. And to ensure our makeup products authentically serve diverse skin tones, we continue to expand our shade range options.   

Powered by community 

We understand the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our Consultant base, which plays a crucial role in achieving our mission of getting safer products into the hands of everyone. To this end, we have implemented various initiatives to support our DEI efforts. One notable example is our Beautycounter BIPOC Leadership Forum, where we collaborate with a group of BIPOC Consultants to develop resources and programs that promote diversity within our Consultant community and help us advance our goal to transform beauty into a positive force for good.  

Over at HQ, we work to ensure our HQ employee base represents the diversity of the world around us. One way we foster an inclusive workplace is by celebrating our Associate Resource Groups (ARGs)—and this month, Beautycounter’s Black ARG will host an outing to the Pasadena Black History Parade and Festival. 

 Actionable steps for change 

  • Join us February 23 in New York at our Prince Street store for an exploration into the Beauty of Inclusion with Beautycounter’s Sr. Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Jenny Aspinwall, alongside our esteemed local Beautycounter Consultants. RSVP here. 
  • Advocate for ongoing policy change and mobilize our community in support of clean beauty. Take action by texting BETTERBEAUTY TO 52886 in the U.S. to add your voice in celebration this month.  

[1] Zota, Ami, Women of color are disproportionately affected by environmental toxins such as beauty-product-related environmental chemicals. This is independent of socioeconomic status. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28822238 

[2] https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Professional%20Beauty%20Association-%202014%20Economic%20Snapshot%20of%20the%20Salon%20Industry.pdf  

Our Mission

Our Commitment to the Planet: Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050

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Our Commitment to the Planet: Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050

Protecting the health of the people and places we love is our number-one priority—and that means committing to science-based climate solutions. We know the window to act is small, and we’re committed to being a part of the solution. Today, we are excited to announce the transition from our existing goal of carbon neutrality by 2030 to our new climate goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.   

We’re committed to rooting our climate action in science—like we do our ingredient selection process—which is why we’ve made the decision to take on a more aggressive goal that is in line with science. We’ve taken the important step to register this goal with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).  

Wondering why we’ve made this change? It’s simple. The stakes are too high not to act and the threat will continue to grow unless drastic action is taken. We’re committing to doing the real work and directly reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. Instead of paying for offsets, we’re pledging to hold ourselves accountable and change the way we operate our business. By following the SBTi’s Net-Zero guidance (that is “science-based”), we’ll be setting the emission reduction targets required to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.   

An Overview of our Climate Goals, Past and Present: 

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Net-Zero Standard (our new goal) is considered the gold standard for corporate climate action. This is a goal that requires a company to reduce its absolute emissions across its whole supply chain, in order to support the target to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C, as agreed in the 2015 Paris Climate Conference. Our goal is intended to align and be validated with the Science Based Targets initiative’s Net-Zero Standard, which provides a common and robust framework that empowers companies to set validated net-zero targets aligned with science.

“Beautycounter commits to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain no later than 2050, using a science-based approach.”

Carbon neutrality targets (our previous goal) are often not as ambitious as they sound, because it is a commitment that relies heavily on carbon offsets and unproven technologies. This type of goal is not a promise to reduce emissions. In order to claim “carbon neutrality,” companies must counterbalance CO2  emissions with carbon offsets in order to reach net zero. The problem is, this may conceal the need for deeper emissions reductions that are in line with what climate science requires for the world to keep global warming to 1.5°C. Carbon neutrality claims also do not necessarily cover non-CO2  greenhouse gasses. The SBTi does not validate carbon neutrality claims. 

You can read more about this announcement and Beautycounter’s commitment to climate action on our updated climate page here.  

#betterbeauty, Our Mission

Today Marks an Important Step Forward in Beauty Regulation 

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Today Marks an Important Step Forward in Beauty Regulation 

Today, Congress passed its Fiscal Year 2023 Spending Bill to fund the federal government through September 30, 2023. Lawmakers included the ‘‘Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act,” which includes important provisions to strengthen the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ability to regulate cosmetic and personal-care products.  

Major provisions include:  

  • Mandatory recall authority which will enable the FDA to act when products harm consumers. 
  • Fragrance allergen disclosures which will require allergens to be disclosed to consumers. 
  • Registration of new Good Manufacturing Practices which will increase oversight and inspections.  
  • Requirements for safety substantiation to be on file which will force many brands to articulate what ingredients are safe.  

These reforms mark the first meaningful change in cosmetics regulation since the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938. While we celebrate this progress, there is more work to do. The bill includes provisions limiting states from taking action on important cosmetic safety policies. We look forward to continuing our work with lawmakers to improve cosmetic safety laws, and to make all beauty and personal-care products safer for everyone. 

Over the past decade, Beautycounter has led the industry in urging policy changes to better protect the health and safety of all people, and we have continued to drive advocacy work this year. Collectively, the Beautycounter community has sent over 236,000 emails, made over 16,000 calls, and held over 2,200 meetings with Members of Congress. Many of the small wins in Congressional reform have been made possible by the 10 years of hard work from within the Beautycounter community and our partner organizations, as well as leadership from our champions and supporters in Congress. 

Beautycounter’s mission has always been to get safer products into the hands of everyone—and we’d like to thank our community for joining our movement to demand better beauty. Together, we helped pass the biggest change to federal cosmetic safety laws since 1938. Take it in. Celebrate it. And when we regroup in the new year, the work continues. 

Our Mission

This Giving Tuesday, Let’s Give More Good

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This Giving Tuesday, Let’s Give More Good

Giving Tuesday began in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. It has since grown into a global movement that inspires us all to give back, celebrate community, and create lasting change. Mostly importantly, everyone can be a part of it: people, non-profits, businesses big and small—you name it.   

Of course, giving back has always been central to Beautycounter’s mission. That’s why we’re proud to work with trusted partners in support of issues that are important to us and to our community, like protecting public health, advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and advancing scientific research in fields such as breast cancer research. To date, we’ve contributed over $3.7 million in cash and product donations to the causes we stay close to and aligns with our mission.

We make targeted gifts to programs specific to building healthier communities that are free of harmful exposures including toxic chemicals from beauty and personal care and investing in the next generation of sustainability leaders. This ensures that we remain inclusive, representing the causes that unite our Beautycounter community on transforming the beauty industry into a positive force for good.

This Giving Tuesday, we’re proud to highlight the incredible work that some of our nonprofit partners are doing. If you’re able, we invite you to help support the work of our partners through whatever contribution feels right for you; donations links are included below.

Black Women for Wellness (BWW)
 Black Women for Wellness is committed to the health and well-being of Black women and girls through education, empowerment and advocacy. BWW believes in the strength of  this community and its allies, and that they collectively have the solutions, resources and responsibility to create necessary shifts to impact health outcomes. Click here to give now.

Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP)

Breast Cancer Prevention Partners work to prevent breast cancer by eliminating our exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation linked to the disease. Breast Cancer Prevention Partners are a founding member and national coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a coalition working to eliminate dangerous chemicals from cosmetics and personal care products. Click here to give now.

Environmental Working Group (EWG)

Environmental Working Group uses the power of research and information to protect public health and the health of the environment. Their Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database allows consumers to search over 87,000 products for hazardous ingredients. Click here to give now.

Good+Foundation 

Good+Foundation works to dismantle multi-generational poverty by pairing tangible goods with innovative services for low-income fathers, mothers and caregivers, creating an upward trajectory for the whole family. Click here to give now.

We truly believe that every act of generosity counts, and we encourage you to join us as we give more good and support our nonprofit partners this Giving Tuesday. 

Click here to learn more about Beautycounter’s corporate giving.

Our Mission

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month Through Safer Beauty 

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Celebrating Native American Heritage Month Through Safer Beauty 

Getting safer products into the hands of everyone is our mission, and in celebration of Native American Heritage Month, we want to highlight some recent national wins from this community, as well as share important science around environmental health impacts to Native American and Indigenous communities. 

At the start of the 117th Congress, five Native Americans served in the U.S. House of Representatives, the largest Native delegation in history. In 2021, Debra Haaland made history when she was confirmed to serve as President Biden’s Secretary of the Interior, making her the country’s first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary. In August 2022, Alaskan voters elected Mary Peltola, the first Native Alaskan in U.S. history to serve in Congress.  

While representation has grown and some progress has been made, we have a long way to go—particularly as it pertains to protecting the health of this community.  

Advocating To Eradicate PFAS Chemicals From Consumer Products and the Environment 

Recently, California banned the sale of cosmetics containing PFAS—a.k.a., “forever chemicals.” Here’s a quick primer on PFAS: These chemicals are used in a variety of applications, and in beauty they can be used to create products like long-lasting lipstick, longwear foundation, and waterproof mascara. PFAS have been linked to a potential cause of cancer and numerous health harms. They are also known to pollute drinking water and persist in the environment, harming wildlife and ecosystems—along with people. That’s why Beautcyounter bans formulators from using PFAS ingredients in our products; they were added to The Never List™ years ago, and we documented our efforts to eradicate these ingredients from the beauty industry supply chain through our product development program, rigorous testing, and advocacy.  

PFAS chemicals also disproportionately affect Indigenous communities, particularly in Alaska, as groundwater across the state is contaminated by the “forever” chemicals. In addition, the food sources of Native American populations are also at risk. For example, marine mammals such as whales, walruses, and seals represent a significant component of the diets of Indigenous people in Alaska. However, metal contaminants and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)—both byproducts of manufacturing processes—have been found in concentrations from marine mammal samples that trigger advisories for severely restricted consumption. 

We believe that Native Americans (and all Indigenous peoples) should not be forced to choose between maintaining a traditional diet and protecting their health. Beautycounter supports recent EPA efforts to study, restrict, and repair PFAS contamination, and prioritizes the agency of disadvantaged communities. We also work at both the state and federal levels to advocate for safer ingredients not just in personal-care products, but also consumer goods in general. Eliminating ingredients like PFAS—and asking lawmakers to fund green chemistry initiatives—are ways we’re demanding change. You can join us by clicking here. 

Ethical Sourcing To Protect Indigenous Communities 

The science around Native American impacts calls us to action, as do similar issues in global supply chains. For this reason, we have responsible sourcing programs that focus on protecting communities in our vanilla, palm, and mica supply chains.  

Palm oil is an ingredient frequently used in the beauty industry for its moisturizing abilities, all while being safer and highly versatile. Unfortunately, the palm oil industry is a major driver of deforestation—which contributes to climate change and negatively impacts the low-income communities who live in areas where palm trees are prevalent. Palm harvesting has also displaced many Indigenous communities and is rife with abusive labor practices. 

For these reasons, Beautycounter joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), the leading organization that sets best practices around the production of palm oil. Transparency has always been our North Star, and being a part of the Roundtable means that we are able to better track where our palm oil is harvested and source more environmentally friendly palm oil. These efforts support our goal to create the safest products while always ensuring that both human and planetary health come first. 

Join us this month in honoring Native American communities by taking our text action and exploring resources within our 2021 Social Mission Report  to learn more.

Our Mission

VOTE 2022: Your Guide to the Midterm Elections 

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VOTE 2022: Your Guide to the Midterm Elections 

2022 is a midterm election year. That means that this November, all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives, 35 seats in the United States Senate, 36 gubernatorial seats, and thousands of state and local seats are on the ballot.   

This election is a chance to shape the future. You’ll have the opportunity to vote for candidates who will represent you in Congress and to vote on ballot initiatives that will affect the community in which you live.  

We gathered nonpartisan resources to empower and inform you, so that you can create a voting plan. Use the links below to ensure you are vote-ready: 

1. Make sure you’re registered to vote. 

First, visit Vote.org to check your voter registration status and, if necessary, register to vote (assuming the deadline has not already passed in your state).  

2. Make a voting plan.  

Once you’ve confirmed your registration status, make a plan to vote by looking up your polling place, finding early voting locations, or requesting a vote-by-mail ballot on Vote.org. 

In addition to Congressional seats, you will have the opportunity to vote in down-ballot races for officials such as State Senator, Mayor, and School Board Member. Visit Ballotpedia’s Sample Ballot Lookup tool to see what will be on your ballot and ensure you’re prepared to cast your vote. 

3. Consider working the polls.  

Once you have a voting plan in place, consider signing up to be a poll worker on November 8. Poll workers help Election Day run smoothly and are part of the critical infrastructure of our democracy. In 2020, the U.S. faced a record shortage of poll workers and over 700,000 people stepped up via Power the Polls to help address that challenge. If your voting plan is in place and you want to serve as a poll worker, sign up at Power the Polls.   

4. Read up on your rights. 

It’s important to know your voting rights. If you have any questions about when you’re at the polls or voting early or by mail, call or text 866-OUR-VOTE to speak with a trained Election Protection volunteer. 

At Beautycounter, we believe that beauty should be good for you. That’s why we are the most outspoken beauty brand on Capitol Hill. We also believe in taking part in our democracy. Your vote matters, and this election is an opportunity to elect lawmakers who will work to make our communities cleaner, safer, and better.  

After you vote, don’t forget to post a picture of you and your “I Voted” sticker on social media using the hashtag #BeautycounterVotes. See you at the polls! 

#betterbeauty

Policy Win: California Bans PFAS, Commonly Known as “Forever Chemicals,” From All Cosmetics 

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Policy Win: California Bans PFAS, Commonly Known as “Forever Chemicals,” From All Cosmetics 

Last month, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation that bans intentionally added per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” from all cosmetics sold in California.

Co-sponsored by two Beautycounter partners, the Environmental Working Group and Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, The PFAS-Free Beauty Act is the latest of California’s hard-hitting actions to tackle PFAS.

This marks a huge win for the clean beauty industry. Unless cosmetics companies intend to formulate California-specific products, they will need to ensure that all products sold nationally are compliant with this new California law.

Here’s a quick primer on PFAS: These chemicals are used in a variety of applications, and in beauty they can be used to create products like long-lasting lipstick, longwear foundation, and waterproof mascara. PFAS have been linked to a potential cause of cancer and numerous health harms. They are also known to pollute drinking water and persist in the environment, harming wildlife and ecosystems—along with people. That’s why Beautcyounter bans formulators from using PFAS ingredients in our products; they were added to The Never List™ years ago.

An important thing to note about PFAS is that they can appear at various points across the beauty product supply chain, such as cleaners used on manufacturing equipment, undisclosed treatments of packaging and raw materials, and coatings for containers used for shipping raw materials and formulas.

These supply chain complexities play a significant role in why we advocate for more regulation and have openly addressed the issue with consumers. So, while a company may source with a higher standard of safety and quality in mind, trace levels of a chemical may inadvertently be introduced into a cosmetic product due to the complexities of the supply chain.

At Beautycounter, we work hard to minimize risks for a product to contain trace levels of a Never List™ chemical, due to inadvertent contamination through product testing and substantial disclosures from our suppliers.

Nonetheless, cleaning up the entire beauty industry is virtually impossible without strong federal regulation that holds all parties along the supply chain accountable. We are proud that Beautycounter has been the most outspoken brand on Capitol Hill calling for supply chain transparency measures to be included in federal legislation.

While this California victory is a major step in the right direction and absolutely should be celebrated, we still have a long way to go. Please join us as we continue to call on Congress to take action that ensures public health, and the environment are protected from harmful exposures associated with the beauty and personal industry. We will continue to keep you up to date on this important work and in the meantime, you can support our efforts by texting BANPFAS to 52886 to ask Congress for federal change.

#betterbeauty, Uncategorized

Climate Week 2022: Celebrating Our Commitment to the Planet

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Climate Week 2022: Celebrating Our Commitment to the Planet

As Climate Week NYC wraps up, we’ve been reflecting on what else we can do to help combat the climate crisis here at Beautycounter, as our mission to get safer products into the hands of everyone is now more important than ever.  

Protecting the health of the people and places we love is our number one priority—and that means committing to climate solutions that reduce our environmental impact. We know the window to act is small, and we’re committed to being a part of the solution through the following ways: 

  • Since day one, we’ve been a Certified B Corp dedicated to using our business power as a force for good. In 2021, we achieved our highest-ever B Corp score—97.7. 
  • We are committed to being carbon neutral by 2030. 
  • We conduct Life Cycle Assessments to guide decision-making for our packaging materials, and  we’ve also been piloting a tool from BlueBird that gives us data and insight to strategically design low-carbon and low-waste products.  
  • We calculate our annual carbon footprint for all scopes across our business in alignment with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard. 
  • We partnered with the Pact Collective to provide a solution for our hard-to-recycle packaging.  
  • We’re actively participating in the B Corp Coalition, a coalition of more than 40+ beauty B Corps around the world who unite to share best practices, pioneer responsible innovation, and create transparency around outcomes in hopes of changing the beauty industry for the better.  
  • We’re a proud member of the Planet A Coalition—for the second year in a row, we’ve joined @ItsPlanetA and over 100 brand allies to pledge our continued commitment to climate action.  
  • Lastly, we’re working closely with our investors, the Carlyle Group, to help scale our work to develop decarbonization initiatives that can solve industry-specific challenges.  

In light of all this, we still have a ways to go. This is hard work, but we are committed to holding ourselves accountable to do better. For more information on our progress, look out for our annual Social Mission Report, and stay tuned as we plan to share more information on our climate goals before the end of the year. 

Our Mission

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month Through Safer Beauty

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month Through Safer Beauty

From September 15 through October 15 (and beyond), we at Beautycounter celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring the diversity of the Hispanic and Latinx communities. And part of honoring this community means uplifting through action. 

Our mission has always been to get safer products into the hands of everyone. The Latinx/Hispanic community among other BIPOC suffer from exposure to a disproportionally higher toxic load as it relates to beauty and personal-care products. Here are some ways we are taking action. 

With the help of our Science Advisory Council (our in-house team of academic researchers and scientists), we make sure we are considering vulnerable groups—including communities of color—when making decisions related to the safety of our products.  

  • A recent study1 that included 100 Latina teenagers, conducted by UC Berkeley’s Dr. Kim Harley (also a member of our Science Advisory Council), showed that when this group switched to cleaner cosmetics (without phthalates, parabens, triclosan, or oxybenzone) for just three days, they had a 25-45% drop in the levels of these four chemicals in their bodies.   
  • We helped pass the Cleaning Products Right to Know Act and the Safer Salon Bill, which protect salon professionals, hotel workers, and maintenance staff by providing them with information to make safer choices.   
  • We held two high-profile Congressional briefings, sponsored by the Congressional Hispanic and Black Caucuses, calling attention to the disparate effects of harmful ingredients on people of color.  
  • Beautycounter helped pass two bills in California that remove some of the most dangerous ingredients from personal-care products, and promote more transparency for fragrance ingredients, which can be linked to cancer and hormone disruption.   
  • Currently, Beautycounter is supporting federal legislation that requires the FDA to examine the effects of ingredients with a lens towards impact on vulnerable populations.   

DIVERSIFYING OUR COMMUNITY OF LEADERS IN CLEAN 

For us, education is fundamental for our #betterbeauty movement to succeed, and that’s why we prioritize Consultant programs that help raise awareness within their network and communities.   

We recognize that we have an opportunity to further diversify the 50,000+ strong Consultant base that supports us in our mission to get safer products into the hands of everyone. Through Mi Comunidad: Legacy Circle, one of our Consultant programs, we help develop leaders to be agents of change for the beauty industry. These programs include trainings, community webinars, newsletters and events held in English and Spanish, and the opportunity to engage on social media using our hashtag #Somosbeautycounter.   

“To be a Latina, for me, is to be passionate and resilient. To be loud about my values. To feel free to speak Spanish without hesitation. To bring Puerto Rican culture everywhere I go. My culture represents hard work and I celebrate it every day. I’m proud to have partnered with Beautycounter, because they are setting the bar in the beauty industry—of going beyond clean—and that means creating a safer future for all.”—Dhlama M., Sr. Manager Consultant 

EMPOWERING OUR HQ ASSOCIATES 

Over at HQ, our commitment to inclusivity goes beyond Hispanic Heritage Month. Last year we were excited to announce our partnership with Hispanic Association for Corporate Responsibility (HACR) Leadership Pipeline Program (LPP). This partnership was a two-day virtual experience for Hispanic/Latinx managers who aspire to accelerate into executive roles. We are always looking for opportunities to elevate and support our Associates.  

“As a proud Latina and lead of Voces, our Latinx/Hispanic Associate Resource Group, I love that Beautycounter is invested in DE&I (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and the future Leadership development of our Associates. It’s important that we continue to stay committed to this very important work and ever-evolving DE&I journey.” —Jenny A., Senior Director of DE&I 

1 https://cerch.berkeley.edu/research-programs/hermosa-study 

#betterbeauty

Transparency In Action: More About Heavy Metals in Color Cosmetics

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Transparency In Action: More About Heavy Metals in Color Cosmetics

As we’ve previously shared, the raw materials we use in our formulations continue to be a cornerstone of our precautionary approach to formulating safer, high-performance products.

Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements (arsenic, cadmium, lead, etc.). They are plentiful within the earth and can sometimes mix with raw materials that are used in color cosmetics, like clays and micas.

Heavy metals can be potentially harmful to our health depending on various factors, such as the extent and timing of exposure, in addition to other factors. Unfortunately, they can appear in beauty products like color cosmetics that can contain mined ingredients—like mica, iron oxides, and titanium dioxide—to help define shades. 

We tackle this issue head-on with a combined approach with our state-of-the art, in-house lab, and third-party validation of various results during the year. Here are our 2021 third-party testing results for some of our most popular products. Stay tuned for our 2022 results!

Table 1. Average Heavy Metals Concentrations and Limits (ppm)

Heavy MetalAverage Beautycounter Concentrations (2020) (ppm)[1]Average Beautycounter Concentrations (2021) (ppm)[2]FDA Regulatory Cosmetic Product Limits (ppm)[3]
Arsenic0.10.016None
Antimony0.20.152None
Cadmium0.020.003None
Lead (lip)0.20.02510.0 (all products)
Lead (non-lip)0.60.23710.0 (all products)
Mercury0.01—[4]1.0

Beautycounter takes its commitment to clean seriously and is proud of our leadership in the beauty and personal care sector. To learn more about what clean means to Beautycounter, please visit our Blueprint for Clean.

[1] Based on third-party testing data for Beautycounter color cosmetic products made and tested in 2020.

[2] Based on third-party testing data for Beautycounter color cosmetic products made and tested in 2021.

[3] See here: https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/potential-contaminants-cosmetics/fdas-testing-cosmetics-arsenic-cadmium-chromium-cobalt-lead-mercury-and-nickel-content

[4] All third-party testing resulted in “non-detect” findings for mercury except for one product that yielded a value of 0.001 ppm.