Locke Lord QuickStudy: This Will Not Make You Blush. States ‎Are ‎Making Regulation of Cosmetics a Priority

Cosmetics Regulation

Currently, cosmetics are regulated through the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA)– ‎which has recently been revamped by the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA)–and ‎various state legislation. At the national level cosmetic ingredients other than color additives do not ‎require FDA approval although each ingredient must be safe for humans. FDA, however, will review ‎specific ingredients that cause particular harm or concern. For example, FDA will likely ban the use ‎of formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing chemicals including methylene glycol from hair ‎relaxers given a recent proposed rule.‎

MoCRA includes a provision expressly providing that nothing in the act would prevent a state from regulating particular cosmetics or ingredients. Thus, States may still pass laws regulating cosmetics subject to potential FDA preemption. This has the potential to create uncertainty when it comes to various state regulation on cosmetics.

Breadth

Multiple states have taken steps to independently ban ingredients from cosmetics following the European Union law passed in 2021. Such laws will require market participants to reformulate regardless of FDA intervention.

Below are a few states that either have passed or are considering legislation covering cosmetic ingredients: (Mobile users: rotate your phone horizontally to view the chart)

State	Legislation Passed	Effective Date	Ingredients
California	Yes	1. January 1, 2025 2. January 1, 2027	1. dibutyl phthalate diethylhexyl phthalate formaldehyde paraformaldehyde methylene glycol quaternium-15 mercury* isobutylparaben isopropylparaben m-phenylenediamine and its salts o-phenylenediamine and its salts The following per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their salts: perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS); heptadecafluorooctane-1-sulfonic acid-potassium perfluorooctanesulfonate; potassium heptadecafluorooctane-1-sulfonate diethanolamine perfluorooctane sulfonate ammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate; ammonium heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate lithium perfluorooctane sulfonate; lithium heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) ammonium pentadecafluorooctanoate nonadecafluorodecanoic acid ammonium nonadecafluorodecanoate sodium nonadecafluorodecanoate perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) sodium heptadecafluorononanoate ammonium perfluorononanoate 2. lily aldehyde acetaldehyde cyclohexylamine cyclotetrasiloxane phytonadione sodium perborate styrene trichloroacetic acid tricresyl phosphate vinyl acetate 2-chloracetamide allyl isothiocyanate anthraquinone malachite green oil from the seeds of laurus nobilis l. pyrogallol C.I. disperse blue 1 trisodium nitrilotriacetate C.I. disperse blue 3 basic green 1 basic blue 7 3(or5)-((4-(benzylmethylamino)phenyl)azo)-1,2 -(or1,4)-dimethyl-1h-1,2,4-triazolium and its salts basic violet 4 basic blue 3 basic blue 9 Boron Substances: Perboric acids: sodium salt sodium salt, monohydrate sodium perborate monohydrate Boric acid Borates, tetraborates, octaborates, and boric acid salts and esters, including all of the following: disodium octaborate anhydrous disodium octaborate tetrahydrate 2-aminoethanol, monoester with boric acid 2-hydroxypropyl ammonium dihydrogen orthoborate potassium borate, boric acid potassium salt trioctyldodecyl borate. zinc borate sodium borate, disodium tetraborate anhydrous; boric acid, sodium salt tetraboron disodium heptaoxide, hydrate orthoboric acid, sodium salt disodium tetraborate decahydrate; borax decahydrate disodium tetraborate pentahydrate; borax pentahydrate
Colorado	Yes	January 1, 2025	PFAs
Georgia	No	January 1, 2026	All chemicals in section 1 of California’s ban including: lead and lead compounds triclosan toluene di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), butyl benzyl phthalate, and related phthalates butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, and related parabens methanediol and formaldehyde monohydrate oxybenzone
Hawaii	No	December 31, 2026	PFAs
Illinois	No	January 1, 2025	All chemicals in section 1 of California’s ban.
Maine	1. Yes 2. No	1. January 1, 2030 2. TBD	1. PFAs 2. All chemicals in section 1 of California’s ban excluding PFAs and including: heavy metals and heavy metal-containing compounds, including arsenic, cadmium, cadmium compounds, chromium, lead, lead compounds, nickel, and selenium parabens, including butylparaben, ethylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben ortho-phthalates and their esters, including, dicyclohexyl phthalate, hexyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, diisooctyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, and benzyl butyl phthalate formaldehyde releasers including diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate benzophenones, including benzophenone, benzophenone-1, benzophenone-2, benzophenone-3, dihydroxybenzophenone, resbenzophenone and oxybenzone known carcinogens, including benzene, carbon black, coal tar, ethylene oxide, toluene, naphthalene, metallic nickel, styrene and xylene asbestos and asbestos-containing compounds, including talc-butylated compounds, including butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole-siloxanes, including cyclotetrasiloxane, cyclopentasiloxane, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane and cyclosiloxanes; phenylenediamines, including p-phenylenediamine, triclosan, triclocarban and nonylphenol nitrosamine and nitrosamine releasers, including diethanolamine and triethanolamine
Maryland	Yes	January 1, 2025	All chemicals in section 1 of California’s ban.
Minnesota	Yes	January 1, 2025	PFAs
Nevada	No	January 1, 2025	PFAs
New Jersey	No	TBD	dibutyl phthalates, toluene, or formaldehyde used in nail polish triclosan used in sanitizer or hand and body cleansers PFAs
New York	No	TBD	All chemicals in section 2 of Maine’s ban. PFAs dibutyl phthalates (DBP), toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, and xylene used in nail polish triclosan, triclocarban or derivatives of such antibacterial compounds used in cleansing products
North Carolina	No	TBD	PFAs
Oregon	Yes	January 1, 2027	Limits the following ingredients to 10ppm: ortho-phthalates PFAs formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing agents methylene glycol mercury and mercury compounds* triclosan m-Phenylenediamine and its salts o-Phenylenediamine and its salts
Rhode Island	Yes	January 1, 2025	PFAs
Vermont	No	July 1, 2026	All chemicals in section 1 of California’s ban including: ortho-phthalates bisphenols arsenic and arsenic compounds ethylene glycol styrene 1,4-dioxane cadmium and cadmium compounds octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane decamethylcyclopentasiloxane toluene parabens lead and lead compounds* asbestos hydroquinone ethyhexyl acrylate ethyl acrylate aluminum salts benzalkonium chloride coal tar compounds triclosan methylisothiazolinone methylchloroisothiazolinone p-phenylenediamine and its salts any undisclosed synthetic fragrances not listed in this subsection
Washington	Yes	January 1, 2025	All chemicals in section 1 of California’s ban including: ortho-phthalates PFAs formaldehyde releasing agents triclosan products containing more than one ppm of lead*

‎*Denotes compound already banned in cosmetics by federal statute or regulation.‎

Conclusion

While most laws passed or proposed target similar ingredients, market participants would be wise to conduct their independent research to assure they are in compliance with state law. With many states moving to enact bans on various ingredients it may be easy for companies to lose track of what is acceptable and where. A new era of cosmetics is around the bend and Locke Lord’s FDA Regulatory and Cosmetic and Personal Care teams can help you prepare for what is to come.

AUTHORS

RELATED SERVICES

RELATED NEWS & EVENTS

Locke Lord QuickStudy: This Will Not Make You Blush. States ‎Are ‎Making Regulation of Cosmetics a Priority

Don't miss a beat.

AUTHORS

RELATED SERVICES

RELATED NEWS & EVENTS

Disclaimer

One firm, endless possibilities