A California bill aimed at banning the sale of anti-aging cosmetics to children under the age of 13 failed to pass the state Assembly after being tabled in the Appropriations Committee on Thursday.
Democratic Rep. Alex Lee introduced AB 2491 last month to combat the controversial skin care fad that is affecting young children online.
Over the past year, the internet has been buzzing with discussions about “Sephora Kids.” A number of viral accounts online have posted images of young children flocking to stores like Sephora, causing chaos and fighting with adult shoppers over the last stock of trendy skin serums and lip oils. are doing. Social media has become huge as children, whose baby teeth have only grown in half of their mouths, are sharing videos of their makeup and skin care routines and enjoying shopping.
Experts have warned that some skin care products popular on social media can irritate young people’s skin. Seven dermatologists told NBC News in February that for several months, teens had been suffering from red, dry, bumpy, itchy rashes after using unnecessary skin care products. It is said that young people in the first half of the group are coming to the examination room in droves.
The bill, which passed the Environmental Safety and Toxic Substances Committee last month, would ban children under the age of 13 from purchasing over-the-counter anti-aging products that contain vitamin A or its derivatives (such as retinoids or retinol) or alpha hydroxy acids (such as glycolic acid, ascorbic acid, and citric acid).
“While I am disappointed in today’s outcome, I am committed to protecting children from unnecessary harm from anti-aging products,” Lee said in a statement after the bill failed. Stated.
Lee said 20 California legislators signed the letter and sent it to the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), a national trade group representing 600 companies in the cosmetics and personal care products industry.
Lee said the lawmakers are “asking the industry to share what concrete actions it intends to take to address the issue of children purchasing anti-aging products.”
“The multi-billion dollar beauty industry has a responsibility to take meaningful action on this issue,” he added.
Anti-aging products (often containing powerful active ingredients such as retinol, glycolic acid, and ascorbic acid) have become much more available at retail stores in recent years, Lee said in a news release last month. said.
A PCPC spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday afternoon.
In its latest statement, PCPC urges California lawmakers to vote against the bill, which threatens to over-regulate safe skin care products such as sunscreens, moisturizers, and facial cleansers. “It’s a hastily drafted attempt to use legislative power to stop the media trend.”
If the bill passes, merchants would be required to enforce age restrictions by posting a prominent notice next to their products in stores and online stating that they are not for sale under the age of 13, and by requiring buyers to indicate their age at checkout. It would have had to take one of several “reasonable” steps, such as requiring verification or banning the use of prepaid credit cards for online purchases.
“While we share Rep. Lee’s concerns about the prevalence of preteens and teens using anti-aging products on social media, even with good intentions, California bill AB2491 would require cashiers to remove products at checkout. “The requirement to verify claims and customer age raises significant compliance issues,” a PCPC spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
