This bill addresses health risks from toxic chemicals in cosmetic products, with a special focus on communities of color and salon workers. The government will fund research to identify which chemicals in beauty products—like hair care, nail products, and intimate care items—are causing health problems, especially for women and girls of color. Researchers will study how these chemicals affect people over their lifetimes and develop ways to reduce exposure. The bill also funds similar research specifically for nail technicians, hair stylists, barbers, and estheticians, who often work with these products daily and face significant health risks from chemical exposure.

The bill creates two new national resource centers: one focused on helping communities of color choose safer cosmetics, and another dedicated to protecting salon workers' health. These centers will develop educational programs, community outreach, and training for healthcare providers and salon owners. Additionally, manufacturers of professional salon products must now provide detailed safety information sheets in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean) so salon owners and workers can understand what chemicals they're handling and the risks involved. The bill allocates about $28.5 million over five years for research, resource centers, and safer product development, with priority given to helping minority-owned cosmetic companies create safer formulations.

Cosmetic Safety for Communities of Color and Professional Salon Workers Act of 2023

Schakowsky, Janice D.

Cosmetic Safety for Communities of Color and Professional Salon Workers Act of 2023 This bill establishes several programs and requirements to address harmful chemicals in cosmetics and their effects on customers and salon workers, particularly in communities of color. For example, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to nonprofits and educational institutions to research harmful chemicals in cosmetics that are primarily marketed to and used by women and girls of color. HHS must publish a report summarizing the research, including recommendations for reducing exposure to such harmful cosmetics. HHS must similarly award grants for research, and publish a related report, about harmful chemicals in products that are used by professional nail, hair, and beauty salon workers. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration must award grants to support the development of alternative, safer chemicals that may be used in place of harmful chemicals in cosmetics. HHS must also establish a National Resource Center on Beauty Justice and a National Resource Center on Salon Worker Health and Safety to educate customers and salon workers, respectively, about harmful chemicals in cosmetics, with a particular focus on communities of color. The Department of Labor must require manufacturers of professional cosmetics to prepare and publish product safety sheets that identify harmful chemicals in their products. Salon owners and operators must also provide product safety sheets to their employees.