Campaign for Safe Cosmetics combats unequal cancer risks for Black women with non-toxic ingredients database

19 Oct 2022 --- Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC), a program from Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCCP), has published a list of top Black-owned beauty brands featuring entrepreneurs making safer beauty products for Black women, free of the toxic ingredients linked to breast cancer and health concerns that disproportionately impact Black women.

The organization released the list as part of its campaign dubbed The Non-Toxic Black Beauty Project amidst Breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote health equity.

The project underscores that Black women face the highest breast cancer mortality rate of any racial or ethnic group in America, 42% higher than White women. BCCP reports that the US$100 billion cosmetics industry is still being regulated by a federal cosmetic safety law that has not been amended significantly since it was enacted over 80 years ago.

Vast database
CSC has developed a searchable database of 700+ non-toxic beauty products and a list of 80 small and medium-sized businesses working toward ingredient safety.

The project underscores that black women face the highest breast cancer mortality rate of any racial or ethnic group in America.“The companies we’re showcasing are making safer Black beauty products that won’t harm the health of Black women and girls,” says Janet Nudelman, director at CSC. 

“We hope that more and more companies will follow their lead and help grow the clean Black beauty industry by selling non-toxic makeup and personal care products that Black women can trust.”

“Over-exposed to and under-protected.”

Black women purchase nine times more hair care products than any other demographic. It is estimated that those who regularly dye their hair with permanent hair dyes have a 44 to 75% higher risk of developing breast cancer than those who do not use hair dye. Additionally, those who use chemical hair straighteners are 30% more likely to develop breast cancer.

“Beauty products marketed to Black women often contain the most toxic ingredients used by the cosmetics industry, including chemicals linked to breast and ovarian cancer, uterine fibroids, reproductive harm and more,” the project outlines.

The campaign references Dr. Zota and Dr. Shamasunder’s research of racial and ethnic inequalities to highlight elevated exposures to beauty product chemicals in women of color are, in part, attributable to the “environmental injustice of beauty”— a framework that links intersectional systems of oppression (racism, sexism, classism) to Eurocentric beauty norms and racialized beauty practices.

The “first epidemiologic study” examining the relationship between straightener use and uterine cancer conducted by the National Institutes of Health recently found that women who use chemical hair straightening products have a higher chance of developing uterine cancer than women who don’t.

Advisor insights
An advisory committee guides The Non-Toxic Black Beauty Project with representatives from non-profit organizations and scientists.

“Textured hair comes with its unique challenges. Choosing products that feel confident and safe can be difficult,” says Dr. Astrid Williams, environmental justice manager for Black Women for Wellness. Black women purchase nine times more hair care products than any other demographic.

“The companies highlighted by this important project were vetted to ensure they are not using carcinogens and other harmful ingredients, making it easier for individuals to choose products and search for healthier options that are held to a higher standard of ingredient safety.”

Dr. Tamarra James-Todd, associate professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, adds: “As a scientist, I’ve spent years researching and documenting the presence of toxic chemicals in hair care and other personal care products marketed to Black women.”

“What makes me so happy about this project is that it has taken that science and translated it into information that can be used to avoid toxic chemicals linked to various adverse health conditions that disproportionately affect black women.”

Dr. Adana Llanos, associate professor at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, mirrors the sentiment and shares that with the ongoing clean beauty movement, consumers are increasingly aware of the potential that their personal care products might contain harmful, toxic chemicals.

“Black women spend substantially more money on cosmetics and hair products annually than other demographics in the US. We also tend to have the worst outcomes for numerous health conditions. So, if harmful exposures from the products we are using contribute to persistent health inequities, we need resources to help promote the purchase of safer products,” she concludes.

Edited by Radhika Sikaria