The skincare industry, while promoting beauty and wellness, often harms consumers through the use of toxic chemicals, hormone disruptors, and microplastics in everyday products. Many formulas prioritize profit over health, leading to long-term skin damage, allergic reactions, and even systemic effects on the body. A lack of transparency and regulation allows harmful ingredients to persist in products marketed as “clean” or “natural.”

Phthalates, endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in many products, are linked to serious health issues like cancer, infertility, and impaired brain development. Black and Latinx women, especially hairstylists, face higher exposure due to frequent use of hair products like relaxers. A recent study found phthalate levels 10 times higher in these workers than in office staff. Poor regulation and hidden ingredients in salon products worsen the risk, especially during pregnancy.