Gregg Renfrew, Beautycounter’s Founder and CEO, testified as an expert witness in a congressional hearing to encourage greater consumer protection in cosmetics today, Wednesday, December 4. Since its launch in 2013, Beautycounter has advocated for cosmetic reform in both Washington, D.C. and state capitols; mobilized its Independent Consultants across all 50 states to lobby for regulations; and launched the Counteract Coalition in 2017, a group of nearly 20 clean beauty brands dedicated to advancing a safer cosmetics industry.

While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has had jurisdiction over cosmetic products, the $90 billion beauty industry in the United States still remains largely unregulated with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act of 1938 being the most recent major legislation governing the industry.

In her statement, Gregg said, “The current absence of modern, federal safety regulations governing the beauty industry force businesses like Beautycounter to make their own determinations about the safety of products. And though mission-driven companies are integral to social innovation, there is inherent risk of comprehensive change not being adopted in the absence of legislative reform. As companies currently market in their own ways, inconsistent definitions and standards cause confusion, resulting in a lack of consumer confidence. A uniform, safety standard is paramount to maintain consumer trust.”

She continued, “We believe that how Congress defines what is ‘safe’ is one of the most important elements of reform. By creating a strong, safety standard in this bill, Congress has the opportunity to protect the health of American families, while making sure that our business community is keeping pace with international markets, many of whom have long demanded greater oversight of ingredients.”

The hearing, “Building Consumer Confidence by Empowering FDA to Improve Cosmetic Safety” marks the second time in the 40 years that the House has held a hearing focused on personal-care product safety, and it represents bipartisan commitment to undertake cosmetic reform.