Taking it to the Hill
#SaferBeauty4All
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LONG OVERDUE
This week, I will be joining 200 women in Washington D.C. to raise awareness about some new legislation that is desperately needed to protect both our health + the health of the planet.
As a reader of The LIFT, I invite you to get involved.
Here’s a quick rundown on some of the highlights so you can be part of the action this week. We need all the voices we can get.
First - it’s important (albeit upsetting) to know that currently, companies are legally allowed to sell personal care products with chemicals that can cause cancer + other serious health harm to both people + our planet. From cancer-causing asbestos in baby powder, to hormone-disrupting phthalates in body wash, to brain-damaging lead in lipstick + mercury in skin cream. The list goes on.
Cosmetic safety reform is LONG overdue.
SAFER BEAUTY BILL PACKAGE
Four bills have been introduced in Congress to make beauty + personal care products safer for everyone by getting the toxic chemicals out, reducing unsafe chemical exposures for the most vulnerable + making ingredient transparency the new industry standard.
It’s called the Safer Beauty Bill Package.
The highlights:
Ban the worst first. Ban 11 of the most toxic chemicals including mercury, formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates, phenylenediamines + the entire class of PFAS “forever” chemicals.
Reveal fragrance + flavor ingredients. Would require disclosure of these secret, unlabeled + often toxic chemicals in our personal care products.
Defend the health of women of color + salon workers. These two vulnerable populations are among the most highly exposed to toxic chemicals because of the products marketed to them or commonly found in their workplaces.
Ensure supply chain transparency. So cosmetics companies can get the information they need from their upstream suppliers to make safer products.
These bills are supported by leading cosmetic companies + NGOs such as Beautycounter + Breast Cancer Prevention Partners. I encourage you to read up on each of the bills + learn more.
HR 5537: Toxic Free Beauty Act (This is the one that will ban 11 of the most toxic chemicals on the planet.)
HR 5538: Cosmetic Fragrance + Flavor Ingredient Right to Know Act (This is the one requiring disclosure of the secret, unlabeled + often toxic fragrance + flavor chemicals.)
HR 5540: Cosmetic Safety for Communities of Color + Professional Salon Workers Act (This is the one that creates cosmetic safety protections for women of color _ professional hair, nail + beauty salon workers.)
HR 5539: Cosmetic Supply Chain Transparency Act (This is the one requiring upstream suppliers to provide ingredient disclosure + safety data to cosmetic companies.)
GET INVOLVED
Considering we have not had any significant updates to federal legislation in this industry since 1938, this is an historic opportunity to move the needle in a positive direction.
On Wednesday, April 27, I will be joining women from all 50 states to meet with representatives in Congress to raise awareness + support for these bills in Washington D.C.
In addition, that same day, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners is hosting a national call-in day.
This is where you can get involved.
SUPPORT #SaferBeauty4All
Here’s a link with details about the National Call In Day. They make it super easy to find + connect with your local representatives. There’s a script right there on the page that you can read when you leave your message. It would be awesome if you put this on your calendar for this week - April 27. But, if that date doesn’t work or you forget, don’t let that stop you from taking action now.
This collective effort between NGOs, companies + individuals is what drives action + change. We need your help to make federal cosmetic safety policy reform a priority for Congress.
The time for meaningful cosmetic safety reform is right now.
Join me!
YOUR MISSION:
Join me this week in taking some action. I’ll do my part in Washington D.C. You do your part right at home. These three small actions will have a huge impact because we are all working together.
Mark your calendar for the National Safer Beauty Call-in Day, Wednesday, April 27th. From 9am-5pm EST, call your Congressional representative urging them to support the federal Safer Beauty Bill package. Simply click here or dial 1-833-849-9178 and you’ll be connected with your representative. Speak from your heart or use our sample script below.
Send a letter urging your Congressional representative to support the Safer Beauty Bill Package!
Tell a friend and share on social media using hashtag #SaferBeauty4All
RESOURCES:
If you have access to HBO Max, I highly recommend you take the time to watch this docu-series that was just released last week. It’s so informative + powerful. Here’s the trailer.
IN SUMMARY:
We can each have a significant impact through the small choices we make every day because when we add them up, those little choices affect us all.
See you next week?
Bravo Karen!