May 26, 2026
Dear members of the New York State Legislature,
We, the undersigned, are personal care and cosmetic businesses headquartered in or with significant commerce across New York. Collectively, we directly contribute to the health of the state’s economy through the products we manufacture, the taxes we pay, the workers we employ, the local services we use, and the communities we support. We are writing to strongly urge you to pass the Beauty Justice Act (S.2057B/A.2054B), which bans intentional use of the worst toxic ingredients in personal care and cosmetic products, particularly those that have disproportionately impacted women and people of color.
Many personal care products contain chemicals linked to a broad range of serious health impacts. By banning many of the worst chemicals, this legislation is an important step toward ensuring the safety of New Yorkers and encouraging creation of additional safer alternatives, driving economic innovation. Consumers are demanding change. Responsible businesses are already using safer alternatives and adapting to market shifts. Retailers are forming partnerships to provide safer, affordable products. New York can and should lead on this issue.
The undersigned are businesses which care deeply about the health and well-being of our clients and their communities and are committed to being part of the solution. We believe this legislation is critically important because:
- The health impacts are significant. Many of the personal care and cosmetic products that New Yorkers use every day contain chemicals of concern that can cause or contribute to serious, rising, chronic health issues such as cancer, asthma, developmental challenges, infertility, obesity and more.1
- Exposures are numerous and frequent. Americans use an average of 10 personal care products a day beginning in infancy with products such as baby shampoo and continuing throughout our lives. Even prenatal exposure to certain chemicals is occurring.
- Small exposures can have large consequences. Minor exposure to some chemicals can trigger dramatic changes in our bodies. For our endocrine systems, a small dose of certain chemicals will trigger a qualitatively different and sometimes greater hormonal response than a larger dose of that same chemical. In addition, cumulative effects of repeated exposure are equally or more dangerous.
- These broad health impacts have long term economic costs. We pay for our public health crisis through social services and employee absenteeism, which is especially challenging for small businesses that drive our economy. A healthy citizenry is essential to a strong economy, and preventing illness should be the utmost priority.
- US cosmetic manufacturers meet the much stricter EU chemical restrictions. The United States lags significantly behind the EU and other countries in protecting citizens from toxics in these products.2 The EU bans 2,400 chemicals in cosmetics, and the US bans 15.3 Most major US personal care and cosmetic manufacturers sell similar products into the European market, restricting substances vastly beyond what this bill requires.
- Market momentum in North America reflects consumer demand. The beauty and cosmetics industry in North America has witnessed continuous innovation and the introduction of new and advanced products, catering to diverse consumer needs and preferences. Consumers in the region are shifting from traditional beauty products to clean formulations that feature natural, sustainable, and non-toxic ingredients. The market is supported by the consumer base with strong purchasing power and a well-established retail infrastructure, driving sales.4 The burgeoning US clean beauty industry includes many New York-based companies.
- Market growth encompasses a focus on affordability. Brands aim to bring “clean beauty” to non-luxury lines by meeting strict clean standards at an accessible price point to expand into the mass market. The Beauty Justice Act seeks to eliminate the worst toxic chemicals in personal care and cosmetic products but does not come close to requiring the clean standards these brands are already meeting at an affordable price point. Examples include:
- Walmart launched “Clean Beauty at Walmart” in 2023, an online shop featuring over 900 products, nearly 80% priced below $10. The platform adheres to a “Made Without List” of over 1,200 ingredients, including acetone, aluminum, lead, talc, phthalates, parabens, etc.
- Target, Amazon, and other mass retailers collaborated with lifestyle company Goop in 2023 to introduce Good.Clean.Goop, a lower-priced version of Goop’s luxury wellness products, as a move to tap into the lower-cost market segment. The product line comprises facial cleansers, serums, body lotions, and more.
In conclusion, we, the undersigned, urge you to pass the Beauty Justice Act. Implementation of this legislation will protect public health and the environment and provide a commercial opportunity for companies that can meet the ever-growing demand for safer and non-toxic personal care and cosmetic products.
Sincerely,
B Natural LLC
Bask & Bloom Essentials
Beleza Organica
BGLH Marketplace
BLK + GRN
Clean Beauty Coalition Inc.
conditionHER
Copy, Color and Cause
Credo Beauty
CRUNCHI
Dr. Bronner’s
Dr. Naana Boakye
Ecoslay, LLC
EO Products
EVOLVING TEXTURES INC
Haiama Beauty
Hannah McCall
Henry Rose
I See You Wellness
ILERA Apothecary
Innersense Organic Beauty
Intelligent Nutrients
Just the Goods
Kynkz N Koilz
Lovability LLC
Matrescence Inc.
Mane Moves Media, Inc.
Meraki Hair Wellness
NAIWBE Natural As I
Wanna Be
Natural Hairstyle and Braid
Coalition, Inc.
New Rose Hemp
New Serenity LLC
Oh My Heavenly Hair Inc.
OOLI
OSEA Malibu
Pretty Well Beauty
Prose Beauty, Inc.
Rebundle, Inc.
Sabine’s Hallway Natural
Hair Salon
Salonvironment
Shea Yeleen
Sienna Girl Jones
SimpleeBEAUTIFUL
SkinOwl, Inc.
W.S. Badger Company
Yeleen Beauty
1 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/15/well/live/personal-care-products-chemicals.html
3 https://www.echa.europa.eu/cosmetics-prohibited-substances
4 https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/clean-beauty-market-report