The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is a national coalition of health and environmental groups working to protect health by requiring the beauty industry to phase out chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and other serious health concerns – and replace them with safer alternatives. The Campaign includes 10 founding member organizations, and is working with more than 100 endorsing organizations and tens of thousands of citizen activists around the country.

Together, we are driving significant changes in the market, resulting in safer products and reduced toxic exposure for all of us. Our victories include:

Under pressure from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, regulators and consumers, some cosmetics manufacturers reduced the levels of phthalates in their products between 2002 and 2008, according to product testing initiated by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Test results and 2002 comparisons are available in the 2008 report, "A Little Prettier."

Nail polish manufacturers, including global salon polish leader OPI, removed three of the most toxic chemicals from nail polish – formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate – due to pressure from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

More than 1,000 companies have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, a pledge to remove chemicals linked to adverse health impacts from personal care products and replace them with safe alternatives.

Some major mainstream companies, including L'Oreal and Revlon, have agreed to remove chemicals banned in Europe from cosmetics sold in the United States.

Campaign founding members helped pass California's Safe Cosmetics Act of 2005, which requires companies to notify the state – and the public – if their cosmetic products contain chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm. The law is currently being implemented by the state, and consumers should be able to view ingredient data starting in 2009.

In 2008, nine states considered legislation to ban toxic chemicals from personal care products, reflecting the growing momentum to create policies that protect our health.

More than 5 million searches per month occur on Skin Deep, the world’s largest database of chemicals in cosmetics, created by Campaign partner Environmental Working Group.

Due to growing health concerns about chemical exposures, demand for natural and non-toxic products has increased significantly – and this is now the fastest growing segment of the personal care products market.

­ ­­Mass-market retailers like Target, CVS and Walgreens are jumping on the natural and organic bandwagon as consumers become more aware of the dangers of some ­synthetic chemicals.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics worked with Whole Foods Market in early 2008 to create standards that raise the bar for natural personal care products.

­­CVS pharmacy also started taking steps toward creating standards in 2008.


What You Can Do

Individuals: Join us in our ongoing efforts to give the beauty industry a makeover!

Nonprofits: Endorse the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics


More Information

About Us: A timeline of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics