Statement by Personal Care Products Council on California Assembly Bill 2491

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:     

Lisa Powers, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 297-1232
Stefanie Harrington, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 615-6558

Statement by Personal Care Products Council on California Assembly Bill 2491

WASHINGTON—“Assembly Bill 2491, introduced by Assemblyman Alex Lee, while well-intentioned in its efforts to protect preteens, falls short of addressing the real issue and instead creates restrictions so complicated that compliance or enforcement would be largely impossible. By proposing sales restrictions for a wide range of cosmetics and personal care products, including basic essentials like sunscreens, moisturizers, and cleansers, this bill threatens to overregulate products that are safe and essential for healthy skin care.

“Safeguarding preteens from the pressures of social media and the inappropriate use of cosmetics is extremely important to our member companies. This bill would not provide such safeguards. AB 2491 is a hastily drafted attempt to use legislative force to stop a social media trend. Every ingredient targeted by this bill is safe when used as directed at the appropriate age. In addition to reviewing product ingredients with each sale, this bill would require cashiers to know whether a product has been advertised as anti-aging and would further require them to verify a customer’s age at checkout.

“We must collectively find real solutions that genuinely promote the welfare of preteens. In the meantime, we urge legislators to vote no on AB 2491.”  

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Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As the manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.

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Supporting a Global Plastics Pollution Treaty for a More Sustainable and Beautiful World

By Natalie Obermann
Vice President, Global Strategies

Our industry strongly supports this global effort to address plastics pollution through improved waste management and recycling systems by promoting innovation and eco-design, and by reducing the production and use of virgin plastic where possible and beneficial to the environment. We believe that promoting a circular and sustainable economy is intrinsically related to solving this issue. Our industry first voiced its support for the agreement when the United Nations (U.N.) Environment Assembly’s announced the March 2022 resolution, which initiated the treaty negotiations.  

As the U.N.’s intergovernmental negotiating committee meets on the agreement in Ottawa, Canada, this week, PCPC and our member companies are participating in these discussions to provide industry’s perspective. PCPC has been working closely with our cosmetics association colleagues from around the world to develop global industry positions on the proposed treaty in order to speak with one global voice. This negotiation in Canada is the fourth of five sessions, with the U.N. aiming to complete this process by the end of 2024.

There is a significant amount of global political support among U.N. Member States for a legally binding treaty aimed at reducing plastic pollution and promoting economic circularity. However, some important questions are still being negotiated, such as whether the treaty will address environmental sustainability beyond marine pollution such as chemical management and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.

The final result of this negotiation process will be a formal, legally binding treaty — the U.N. Plastics Pollution Treaty. While not all countries involved in the negotiations may ultimately sign the final treaty, we expect companies in today’s global marketplace will nevertheless adapt their business operations to support a circular economy and reduce plastics pollution. Given the global nature of our business and supply chains, PCPC member companies will be impacted by the Treaty outcomes regardless of which countries sign.

The global cosmetics and personal care products industry is proud to contribute to the well-being of people and the planet by integrating sustainability throughout product lifecycles. This Earth Day, we look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders of the U.N. Plastics Pollution Treaty who share the common objective of creating a more sustainable and beautiful world.

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Statement by the Personal Care Products Council on PFAS in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:     

Lisa Powers, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 297-1232
Stefanie Harrington, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 615-6558

Statement by the Personal Care Products Council on PFAS in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

WASHINGTON – “Cosmetics and personal care products companies remain committed to advancing innovative approaches while creating products that benefit a variety of consumer needs. The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), working with a variety of stakeholders, supports using alternatives to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in product formulations. Our industry has been steadily moving away from PFAS as ingredients and using innovative formulation approaches to deliver high-performance and high-quality products.

“PCPC member companies take their responsibility for product safety and the trust families put in those products very seriously. Science and safety are at our core. In the U.S., cosmetics are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). All cosmetics products and their ingredients are subject to the same safety requirement under the FD&C Act – they must be shown to be safe for consumers before they are marketed.

“In a 2021 study published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Letters, some of the fluorine levels detected could be the result of trace amounts from materials naturally occurring in the environment or as a result of the manufacturing process. It is inappropriate to assume that anything with a fluorine atom has the same safety profile. The FDA recognizes the possible presence of trace materials and offers guidance on allowable levels. PCPC supports the FDA’s authority to review these compounds, and they have the expertise to do so. The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA), which modernized federal cosmetics regulatory oversight under the FD&C Act, requires the FDA to conduct an assessment and publish a complete report on PFAS in cosmetics by Dec. 29, 2025.”

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For more information on cosmetics and personal care products and their ingredients, please visit www.CosmeticsInfo.org. Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As manufacturers, distributers and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to safety, quality and innovation. 

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Statement by Personal Care Products Council on California Assembly Bill 2491

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:     

Lisa Powers, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 297-1232
Stefanie Harrington, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 615-6558

Statement by Personal Care Products Council on California Assembly Bill 2491

WASHINGTON—“The Personal Care Products Council’s (PCPC) member companies are committed to creating products that enhance the healthy development of young skin. Dermatologists agree that anti-aging products are generally unnecessary for younger skin, and preteens should look for mild cleansers, hydrating moisturizers and protective sunscreens. While we support the intent of Assembly Bill 2491, introduced by Assemblyman Alex Lee, we believe it is crucial that the bill balances protecting preteens, education and consumer choice.

“As parents and caregivers seek to guide young people’s purchasing decisions, PCPC’s comprehensive database — CosmeticsInfo.org — can be a valuable resource. It provides critical information about the ingredients used in thousands of cosmetics and personal care products, highlighting how they work and the science behind them. The content is developed and maintained by scientists and other subject matter experts, including dermatologists. Our goal is to ensure parents, caregivers and preteens have access to the information they need to make educated choices about skin care products.

“We look forward to working with California legislators and other stakeholders as AB 2491 makes its way through the legislative process to develop practical and effective regulations. We will continue to advocate for policies that protect young people while preserving choice and industry innovation. Our companies support enhancing self-esteem, not creating needless ‘appearance anxiety’.” 

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Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As the manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.

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On Breaking Glass Ceilings for Black Female Founders

By Monique Rodriguez
Founder & CEO, Mielle Organics

I’m honored to receive the Personal Care Products Council’s Madam C.J. Walker Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Madam C.J. Walker has an incredible legacy – not only was she a trailblazer and one of the greatest entrepreneurs in history, she also empowered women. She not only provided women confidence through her products, but she also provided economic opportunities. She created jobs that helped thousands of women of color achieve financial independence. As a woman founder, who also started a hair care brand from my kitchen, it brings me great joy knowing that the historic achievements we’ve accomplished with Mielle Organics will continue to open the door for more African American women to do the same.

Growing up as a little girl with curly-beautiful hair, I was obsessed with all things beauty and hair care, and I knew my passion was in the beauty industry. Although my mother pushed me to a seemingly more stable career as I became a nurse, I never felt truly fulfilled.

In 2014, after a devastating personal loss, I turned to social media as a creative outlet to express myself and talk about my passion, which was haircare. I made my own concoctions and documented the process on social media, and I quickly found a vibrant community of African American women who, like me, were longing for products that enabled their natural texture and curls to thrive. When I saw how engaged and inspired my social media followers were during my healthy hair journey – commenting on the look and texture, and asking about the concoctions I was making at home and if they could buy it – I had the lightbulb moment to create Mielle Organics.

Through hard work and with the support of an incredible team around me, we’ve since built Mielle into one of the fastest growing Black-owned hair care companies in the U.S. I am so proud of what we have accomplished in 10 years. However, the work is not done. I know I have a bigger purpose, in addition to Mielle, to serve our community and our youth. I am often included amongst a rare group of Black entrepreneurs who have achieved “unicorn” status – that needs to change. According to a 2022 report from digitalundivided, only about 350 Latina and Black women received sufficient startup funding – this is not nearly enough, when there are so many amazing young women of color with big dreams and determination, who need resources and the support of investors to bring their businesses to life.

When we joined P&G Beauty in 2023, it was such an exciting moment. It’s always been our vision to be a global brand and give even more consumers access to Mielle. Through our partnerships with Berkshire Partners and acquisition by P&G, we’re able to accomplish that and much more.

While it raised concerns in our community, I also want to help educate my community on why these partnerships are important; there aren’t many examples of Black-owned companies negotiating a successful exit. The P&G partnership allows us to do more for the community that serves us, and I can assure you that the heart and soul of our company remains the same. At Mielle, we want to show that it is possible to get acquired, and stay true to our brand and our audience. But we must first have a seat at the table to have a voice. As part of the deal with P&G, we were also able to establish Mielle Cares – the non-profit arm of our company – with a $10M donation that was matched by P&G. Mielle Cares is committed to championing the mental health and well-being of pre-teens and teenagers by nurturing a positive and resilient mindset, allowing us to give back by helping the next generation.

I’ve drawn inspiration from Madam Walker’s determination and tenacity in knocking down barriers as a strong, Black female entrepreneur – she never let a “no” stop her, and she overcame the odds. It is in this spirit of Madam Walker that we need to work together to break glass ceilings, and change the trajectory for Black female entrepreneurs and business leaders.

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