Over the past several years, we as beauty consumers have become more cognizant about what is inside the products we use daily. From the increasing desire for clean, vegan products to a more enhanced knowledge about what ingredients are best for our unique skin needs, beauty lovers are turning to the back of the bottle and scanning ingredient lists before purchasing more than ever. In a revolutionary new bill, New York State is upping the ante on what ingredients can go in our self-care products, proposing a ban on dozens of preservatives in skin-care and beauty products.
New York’s AB2054 Bill: What It Means for Your Beauty Shopping
New bills can be hard to understand, but lucky for us beauty lovers, renowned cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson took to Instagram this week to explain New York State’s new AB2054 ingredient ban. “New York bill AB2054 would unnecessarily ban safe preservatives that help maintain the shelf life of cosmetics and personal care products,” Robinson explained in the caption. “As a result, some brands may need to cease sales in NY, leaving consumers with limited options at a higher price for essential products, such as shampoo, lotion, shaving products and makeup.”
On the list of commonly used ingredients proposed to be banned are preservatives like sodium hydroxymethylglycinate and ethylparaben. These preservatives are used to extend the shelf life of personal care products and have been widely known to be safe for use, so the bill could cause detrimental effects for beauty brands, specifically small businesses. “Cosmetic and personal care companies invest heavily in science and safety to create products that support the health and well-being of New Yorkers,” Robinson says. “This bill would hurt small businesses and force trusted brands off the market without delivering real health benefits.”
