A new ChemFORWARD report, with input from Sephora, Ulta, and others, shows progress is being made towards safer beauty ingredients but also highlights many chemicals utilized in products today still lack full health and environmental assessments.
According to the Beauty & Personal Care Ingredient Intelligence Report, which evaluated 8,500 products, 70% of beauty ingredients are now well-characterized for safety. This marks significant progress in the $100 billion personal care sector, driven by industry leaders actively working to enhance ingredient safety.
Key players like Sephora, Ulta, The Honest Company, and Credo Beauty have been instrumental in driving this shift. These companies participate in the Know Better, Do Better (KBDB) Collaborative, promoting transparency and safety in beauty product formulations. Their commitment to safer chemistry is setting new standards across the industry.
Despite the positive advancements, the report reveals that 30% of beauty product ingredients still have unknown impacts on both human health and the environment. This gap represents a critical challenge for the beauty industry and a significant opportunity for innovation. The report identifies ten chemicals of concern that are frequently used but could be replaced with safer alternatives, underscoring the potential for continued progress.
Stacy Glass, Executive Director of ChemFORWARD, stresses the importance of aligning beauty products with safety, highlighting the availability of safer alternatives for high-hazard chemicals, offering a clear path for brands looking to prioritize both human health and environmental responsibility.
As consumer demand for ingredient transparency grows and regulatory standards evolve, the beauty industry is poised for further transformation. Brands that prioritize safer, sustainable ingredients will lead the next wave of beauty innovation. Companies that fail to adopt these practices risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive and informed market.
Christina Ross, Director of Science and Policy at Credo Beauty, emphasizes, "Using safer ingredients isn't just about doing the right thing. It's a must for the cosmetics industry. Real change starts with getting the science right -- and rigorous hazard assessments and ingredient transparency are essential baseline scientific practices to drive our industry forward. By prioritizing safer ingredients and committing to higher standards, we can collectively drive innovation, build trust, and set a new norm."
With increasing global regulations around chemical safety and heightened consumer awareness, the beauty industry must adapt. Brands that lead with reformulation and transparency will be best positioned to thrive in this rapidly evolving landscape.
