A new analysis finds 80% of more than 4,000 beauty products marketed toward Black women contain at least one moderately hazardous ingredient – and most contain multiple.
The analysis follows a 2016 study with similar findings, and the authors suspect the chemical load in products like hair straighteners and skin lightening creams probably contributes to elevated rates of some diseases in Black women, including uterine and breast cancers.
The authors say they are disappointed little progress has been made since 2016. While the federal government targeted a small number of hazardous substances during Joe Biden’s administration, Donald Trump’s administration may reverse what little progress was made. The authors say it is up to state governments and the beauty industry to act.
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“The cosmetics industry continues to fail consumers by not ensuring safer products,” said Alexa Friedman, a senior scientist and study co-author with the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a public health advocacy non-profit.
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