Girls wait in line for a new makeup opportunity at Sephora in Rice Village in Houston on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
A California bill aimed at banning the sale of anti-aging skin care to children under 13 continues to advance through the legislative process.
According to the bill’s text, skin care products containing ingredients such as vitamin A, retinoids, retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, glycolic acid, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and citric acid would be prohibited from sale to children under 13. .
The bill, officially known as AB 2491, would require companies to take reasonable steps to ensure that customers of anti-aging products are not under the age of 13.
Any person or business that fails to comply may be subject to civil penalties not to exceed $10,000 per day.
The bill was introduced in February by Rep. Alex Lee (D-Milpitas). The bill passed the Environmental Safety and Toxic Substances Committee on April 23 and was forwarded to the Appropriations Committee on May 6.
“Children don’t need anti-aging products. AB 2491 protects children from potential harm from the use of products that can cause short-term or long-term skin damage that they would not otherwise experience.” and protect teens,” the news release states. .
The Personal Care Products Council, a trade group representing about 90% of the U.S. beauty industry, including the parent companies of Ulta Beauty and Sephora, said the bill would be “nearly impossible” to enforce even if it became law.
“Protecting preschoolers from the pressures of social media and the inappropriate use of cosmetics is extremely important to our member companies. This bill provides no such safeguards.”
“AB 2491 is a hastily drafted attempt to use legislative power to stop social media trends. All ingredients covered by this bill are safe when used at appropriate ages and as directed. In addition to checking product ingredients at every sale, the bill would require cashiers to know whether a product is advertised as anti-aging and would also require verifying a customer’s age at checkout. ” reads the association’s statement in part.
The bill comes after the moniker “Sephora Kids” went viral on social media. This moniker describes children and teens who are interested in skin care but tend to use products that are considered unnecessary or harmful to young skin. Anti-aging skin care products are popular among people who fit this description.
Skincare companies like Dove, The Ordinary and Kiehls have released statements and social media posts about how and by whom their products should be used, but supporters of the bill believe more needs to be done. There is.
“The industry itself has made statements that children don’t need to use these powerful products. However, America’s multi-billion dollar beauty industry has not taken any meaningful action to address this issue. “Companies are profiting from children unknowingly buying and using products that are not meant for them,” Lee said in a statement. .
At the press conference, Lee was joined by 10-year-old Scarlett Goddard-Strahan, who shared her experiences using anti-aging skin care products.
Goddard Strahan said she was tricked by a TikTok influencer into buying anti-aging skin care products to deal with burns and breakouts after using the products.
“I stopped using these products a while ago and now use Nivea and sunscreen. However, my cheeks are still bumpy and when I sweat or are in the sun, they get itchy and irritated. It causes redness,” Goddard Strahan said.
“I’m embarrassed by the bumps on my face and people at school ask me why my cheeks are red. I feel really self-conscious. I wonder if my skin will always look like this or look like this? I’m anxious.”
The bill must pass the state House and Senate and be signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to become formal law.
