HR4433-119

What This Bill Does

The Toxic-Free Beauty Act amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to ban a defined set of substances from cosmetics. A cosmetic would be adulterated if it intentionally contains ortho-phthalates, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, formaldehyde, methylene glycol, mercury compounds, certain parabens, phenylenediamines, lilial, styrene, toluene, triclosan, triclocarban, cyclotetrasiloxane, acetaldehyde, or vinyl acetate. It also sets contaminant thresholds: 1,4-dioxane at or above 2 parts per million, lead at or above 2 parts per million for color cosmetics or 5 parts per million for general cosmetics, and asbestos or asbestos-contaminated talc at the lowest possible limit of detection. The bill adds definitions for color cosmetics, contaminants, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, and general cosmetics, giving FDA and companies a concrete enforcement list rather than a general safety statement.

Who Benefits and How

Cosmetic consumers benefit from statutory bans on specified toxic ingredients and contaminant thresholds. Users of color cosmetics benefit from a lower lead limit for products such as foundation, lipstick, blush, eyeliner, and eyeshadow. Public health advocates benefit from an enforceable federal list covering phthalates, formaldehyde releasers, mercury compounds, asbestos-contaminated talc, and other substances. States with cosmetic restrictions benefit because the federal bill reinforces ingredient safety as a regulatory concern.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Cosmetic manufacturers must reformulate products, test contaminants, review preservatives, and remove listed ingredients. Brand owners must manage product compliance and may have to withdraw or relabel products that contain banned substances. FDA must interpret and enforce the new adulteration categories under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Suppliers of restricted cosmetic chemicals lose market access for intentionally added uses in covered cosmetics.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits intentionally added ortho-phthalates, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, mercury compounds, certain parabens, phenylenediamines, triclosan, toluene, styrene, and related substances.
• Sets contaminant limits of 2 parts per million for 1,4-dioxane, 2 parts per million lead for color cosmetics, and 5 parts per million lead for general cosmetics.
• Requires asbestos and asbestos-contaminated talc to be kept below the lowest possible limit of detection.
• Adds statutory definitions for color cosmetics, contaminants, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, and general cosmetics.