Guide Note

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is an allied group dedicated to making the beauty industry accountable for products causing cancer, birth defects, and other health issues. The campaign monitors consumer safety, and lobbies for cosmetics companies to recall products, or replacement them with safer alternatives. Its latest campaign involves the removal of lead from popular lipstick brands. They have stated that although the use of soap, shampoo, hair conditioner, deodorant, body lotion, shaving products and makeup may not cause cancer or other problems, but small amounts of toxins in each of these can accumulate in the body, causing possible long-term issues.

Fast Facts

1. Founded in 2002
2. Founding companies:
   • Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow
   • Breast Cancer Fund
   • Commonweal
   • Environmental Working Group
   • Friends of the Earth
   • National Black Environmental Justice Network
   • National Environmental Trust
   • Womens Voices for the Earth
3. Over 600 companies have signed their Compact for Safe Cosmetics
4. Nail polish poses the highest concerns