As beauty editors we live for wacky treatments and products (we’ll try everything once) but, like most women, we also worry about the harmful effects of the mysterious ingredients in those cutting-edge finds too. As the natural beauty scene grows ever more sophisticated we find ourselves making significant swaps in our routine in order to keep a handle on what’s going onto (and therefore into) our bodies. What’s the point of drinking all that green juice if we’re not going to pay attention to what we’re slathering on our skin, right?
Good news for those of you who can relate to this beauty girl dilemma: The New York Times reports that there’s a new bill sponsored by two female senators from either side of the aisle, Dianne Feinstein of California and Susan Collins of Maine, that would give the Food and Drug Administration greater authority over the millions of beauty products sold to consumers each year. The bill, which has support from leaders in the cosmetics industry, would require beauty companies to report harmful reactions reported by consumers and allow the F.D.A. to study questionable chemical ingredients in greater detail. The first culprits on the hit list include three formaldehyde-releasing chemicals including methylene glycol, a chemical previously popular in straightening treatments at salons, as well as a common cosmetic preservative called Propylparaben.
Stay tuned for more on these industry-changing regulations. In the meantime share your opinion with us on Twitter and consider a few of our favorite chemical-free medicine cabinet upgrades, below.
