Advocates took their fight to the sidewalk outside a Sally Beauty this week, pressing New York lawmakers to pass the Beauty Justice Act and crack down on what they call hidden toxins in everyday products. They point to shampoos, relaxers and skin-lightening creams as repeat offenders, backed by new product testing and years of campaigning that argue some personal-care staples contain chemicals tied to cancer and reproductive harm. Supporters say the bill would finally give state regulators real teeth, along with a clear timetable for getting dangerous ingredients out of New York stores.
What the bill would do
The proposal, sponsored by state Sen. Lea Webb, would fold a new "Safe Personal Care and Cosmetics Act" into state environmental law and direct the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to set enforceable limits on specific chemicals. The legislation orders DEC to publish guidance on safer alternatives by Jan. 1, 2028, and to prohibit, starting Jan. 1, 2029, the sale of products that contain intentionally added restricted substances. It also authorizes civil penalties and requires DEC to consult with industry, public health experts and community stakeholders while it defines those thresholds. According to the New York State Senate.
What tests found
An independent analysis of ingredient labels from 577 hair products sold on Sally Beauty’s website reported formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in roughly one in eight products, and certain siloxanes (D4, D5, D6) in about one in 14. Overall, the review concluded that about 17 percent of the products contained at least one of those flagged ingredients, which researchers link to cancer and reproductive harms. The analysis zeroed in on products marketed to people with curly and coily hair. According to Toxic-Free Future.
Advocates pressed retailers in New York
Local organizations including Clean+Healthy and WE ACT led the protest, arguing that the test results show major retailers are still selling products that put frontline communities at risk. Clean+Healthy executive director Bobbi Wilding told reporters that “Sally Beauty needs to join that group of leaders” that have already adopted ingredient thresholds, while WE ACT highlighted that some of the most concerning products are marketed specifically to people with textured hair. As reported by Spectrum News.
National testing adds pressure
Consumer Reports has added fuel to the fire with its own testing, which detected volatile organic compounds and other contaminants in the hair-color samples it examined, reinforcing advocates’ warnings about gaps in federal oversight. New York’s City Council has already signaled it wants tougher rules, passing a resolution that urges state lawmakers to act and citing how many products people routinely use each day. See findings from Consumer Reports and a supporting resolution on file with the New York City Council.
Other jurisdictions are already acting
New York is not moving in a vacuum. Washington state has adopted rules that restrict formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in cosmetics and set compliance timelines for manufacturers, while the European Union has tightened its limits on cyclic siloxanes (D4, D5, D6) in leave-on cosmetics. Supporters of the Beauty Justice Act point to those moves as proof that reformulating products is not only possible but already happening elsewhere. See rulemaking details from the Washington Department of Ecology and an update on siloxanes from the European Chemicals Agency.
What comes next
The bill’s Assembly companion (A.2054) is moving through committee, and if the package passes, DEC would have one year to write implementing rules before any phased-in prohibitions begin. Enforcement would rely on civil penalties for manufacturers that keep selling products with intentionally added restricted chemicals after the law’s compliance date. Lawmakers and advocates say the coming weeks in Albany will be crucial for the bill’s fate. For status updates and timelines, see the Assembly bill page. According to LegiScan.
Advocates argue retailers do not have to wait for Albany. They are urging chains to adopt chemical-policy thresholds now and to pull products that contain known hazardous ingredients even before any legal deadline kicks in. In the meantime, shoppers are being steered toward ingredient-scanner apps and stores that publish restricted-substance lists while the legislative debate plays out.
