Your bathroom has secrets
Many people assume that everyday products, like shampoo, lotion, makeup, and deodorant, are safe. But as science continues to evolve, research shows that some ingredients may have a bigger impact on human health and the environment than previously understood. Washington’s Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act aims to change that.
We sat down with Shari Franjevic, Ecology’s lead for toxic-free cosmetics, to talk about why this law matters, what ingredients are most concerning, and how consumers and salon professionals can make safer choices. Our conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: What inspired you to work in environmental health and safer cosmetics?
I’ve cared about human and environmental health for as long as I can remember. When I was getting ready for college, I knew I wanted to study engineering, and I got great advice: If you want to clean up messes, study environmental engineering. If you want to prevent them, study chemical engineering. I liked the idea of prevention, so that’s what I pursued.
I started my career in the consumer product industry designing products and understanding how they work. I eventually started working with nonprofits where I combined my love of product design with my commitment to health. I worked with global companies and nonprofits to evaluate and replace harmful ingredients and promote safer products. When the opportunity came to work on the state’s Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, I wanted to bring those benefits home to my own community.
Q: What exactly is the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act?
It’s a Washington state law that makes cosmetic and personal care products safer for people and the environment. And “cosmetics” means more than makeup. It includes nearly everything in your bathroom: shampoo, lotion, sunscreen, shaving cream, and more.
The law bans many toxic chemicals from products made or sold in Washington. These restrictions are among the strongest in the nation. The law also includes support for small businesses that want to go above and beyond state and federal laws in using products that are safer for human health and the environment. We just completed a pilot project to reimburse salons for purchasing and using products listed by select recognition programs.
Q: People are often surprised to learn cosmetics aren’t regulated as tightly as they assume. What’s something else people might be surprised to know?
Many ingredients don’t require approval before being used in products. That means harmful chemicals — including carcinogens or chemicals that affect hormones, development, the immune system, or aquatic life—can end up on store shelves. People often trust that “if it’s sold, it must not contain any harmful chemicals,” but that’s not how the system works.
Q: Can people find these chemicals listed on product labels?
Sometimes — but not always. Labels list individual chemicals, not chemical classes. Some clues help identify a chemical in a restricted class, like “phthalate” in the name or “fluoro” for PFAS. Other chemicals are hidden, like phthalates in “fragrance” or impurities like lead, which aren’t listed at all.
Q: What about people — stylists, nail techs, and others — who handle these products all day?
These professionals work closely with cosmetics and may have much higher exposures because they’re using products for hours, multiple days a week, in enclosed spaces, sometimes working with more concentrated formulas. Having safer products really matters. The law restricts certain chemicals and helps make the products they use every day safer for them and the people they serve.
Q: Are there other people more heavily impacted by these types of chemical exposures?
Yes. Women and women of color use certain products more frequently, like hair straighteners or skin-lightening creams, that may contain harmful chemicals.
Q: What’s one simple way consumers can make safer choices without getting overwhelmed?
Look for credible product certifications that evaluate toxicity and recognize products with fewer toxic chemicals. To support our work with salons, we evaluated cosmetic product recognition programs against a set environmental and human health criteria. So far, we’ve found seven programs that meet our criteria. Certifications meeting our Level 2 criteria ban a broader range of harmful chemicals and assess health hazards of ingredients and impurities.
Also look for fragrance-free products instead of “unscented.” Be wary of waterproof or water-resistant formulas (which can contain PFAS). Avoid unnecessary dyes and choose products with shorter ingredient lists.
Q: Where is the beauty industry headed in the next five to ten years?
We’re seeing huge growth in clean beauty, more bans on harmful chemicals, and greater interest in plant-based and biobased ingredients. We’re also seeing companies increase ingredient transparency as consumers demand it.
Q: What gives you hope in this work?
The growing public awareness. People are asking questions, demanding safer products, and pushing companies to change. Brands are reformulating, suppliers are innovating, legislators are responding, and nonprofits are leading the way. That momentum gives me real hope.
Q: Shari, thank you so much for this eye-opening conversation. Any final thoughts?
Every voice matters! Let your favorite brands know you want safer, certified cosmetics. Talk to your stylists. Share information with family and friends. It all makes a difference.
Listen to the full-length interview (8 minutes) on our YouTube channel.
Washington’s Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act reduces human and environmental exposure to toxic chemicals by restricting certain chemicals and supporting businesses in reformulating and certifying products and switching to safer alternatives. For more information, visit ecology.wa.gov/TFCA.
For help in multiple languages:
Comuníquese con nosotros a ToxicFreeCosmetics@ecy.wa.gov o al 360-338-2913 si usted necesita ayuda con servicios de interpretación o materiales traducidos a otro idioma.
如需翻譯服務或其它語種材料請發送郵件至 ToxicFreeCosmetics@ecy.wa.gov 或撥打電話360-338-2913聯繫我們。
Hãy liên lạc chúng tôi qua điện thư ToxicFreeCosmetics@ecy.wa.gov hoặc gọi 360-338-2913 nếu quý vị cần trợ giúp thông dịch hoặc tài liệu dịch sang tiếng Việt.
통역서비스나 다른 언어로 번역된 자료가 필요하시면 저희에게 이메일 (ToxicFreeCosmetics@ecy.wa.gov) 또는 전화(360-338-2913)로 연락하세요.
Для получения дополнительной информации, пожалуйста, звоните Shari Franjevic (ToxicFreeCosmetics@ecy.wa.gov). по телефону 360-338-2913 и попросите устного переводчика.
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