The California Safe Cosmetics Program (CSCP), using Clearya data collection and analysis tools, in collaboration with community organizations, conducted a field screening that identified prohibited chemicals listed in certain cosmetics sold in stores across California, despite new laws that took effect on January 1, 2025. The screening leveraged Clearya Insights, an AI-powered analytics platform designed to turn data into informed action for safer products, alongside Clearya Survey, a field data collection tool.
The analysis identified 8 distinct prohibited ingredients listed across 24 (0.8%) of the 3,000 product labels photographed during the field visits. These included products sold in national retail chains and independent shops, spanning multiple cosmetic categories such as hair care (hair color, styling and treatment, shampoo), nail products (gel polish, base and top coat, nail treatment), skincare (face masks, cleansers), and makeup (eyeliner, lip gloss). Most of these products were marketed to consumers, while several were labeled "For Professional Use Only".
While this was not a comprehensive survey of the market, the results indicate the presence of non-compliant products still being offered for sale in California after the laws went into effect.
The analysis focused on in-store products, but Californians may also be exposed to prohibited ingredients in additional cosmetics sold online, where ingredient disclosures and regulatory oversight are often more limited, including products shipped by California retailers and retailers located outside the state. Stay tuned for a future report.
These findings illustrate that even with strong cosmetic safety laws in place, ensuring full compliance can be challenging. They highlight the value of data-driven tools in helping both regulators and industry stakeholders identify gaps, monitor progress, and support safer product development.
Clearya invites state agencies, advocates, retailers and brands to explore how Clearya Insights can effectively support their efforts toward safer cosmetics and other product segments, both online and in-store. At the same time, consumers can make informed shopping decisions by proactively using the free Clearya app to screen products before purchasing.
As of January 1, 2025, two California laws regulating cosmetic ingredients are in effect:
To assess initial compliance with these new requirements, the California Safe Cosmetics Program (CSCP) at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) launched a field-based screening project using Clearya Survey, a streamlined product-label collection and analysis tool within the Clearya Insights platform. Clearya Insights is an AI-powered analytics platform for safer products, designed to help regulators, advocates, researchers, and industry stakeholders turn data into informed action. The platform aims to increase transparency, efficiently identify chemical risks, benchmark safety performance across brands, and support continuous improvement toward safer products beyond basic compliance.
Fieldwork was conducted in collaboration with two community-based organizations: California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative and Healthy Heritage Movement.
Trained volunteers visited retail stores and smaller shops in over 30 cities across 12 counties in California, including key locations in Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties. The participants used Clearya Survey to collect accurate images of product ingredient labels available for sale on the shelves.
The label photos were then processed by Clearya Insights’ AI engine to extract and standardize ingredient names, and screen them against the list of prohibited ingredients under AB 2762, and over 10,000 PFAS prohibited under AB 2771.
Out of the 24 product labels listing prohibited ingredients, 18 were photographed between February and March 2025, and 6 were photographed in November 2024. Find the details in the table below.
California's cosmetic safety laws, AB 2762 and AB 2771, reflect years of dedicated advocacy by public health organizations, environmental justice groups, and forward-looking businesses committed to protecting people from harmful ingredients in everyday products. Their efforts helped secure landmark protections that were ultimately enacted by the California Legislature. This screening indicates that most products sold in-store in California are now free of these intentionally added chemicals: a significant step forward for public health.
That said, our work isn’t complete until any remaining products containing these ingredients are reformulated or discontinued, and no one is exposed to harmful ingredients in the cosmetics they use, anywhere.
The AB 2762 law was co-sponsored by Black Women for Wellness, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP), CALPIRG (California Public Interest Research Group), and the Environmental Working Group.
The AB 2771 law was co-sponsored by Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, CALPIRG, and the Environmental Working Group. The bill was supported by over 40 NGOs and cosmetics companies, including:
Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Alaska Glacial Essentials, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District IX, Black Women for Wellness, Brand Geek, Breast Cancer Action, Breast Cancer Over Time, California Association of Sanitation Agencies, California Environmental Voters (formerly CLCV), California Product Stewardship Council, CALPIRG Students, Center for Environmental Health, Clean Label Project, Clean Production Action, Clean Water Action, Consumer Federation of California, Dr. Bronner's, East Bay Municipal Utility District, Eco Plum Sustainable Swag, Educate. Advocate., Elizabeth A. Schaefer MD, MPH, Environment California, Families Advocating for Chemical and Toxics Safety, Friends Committee on Legislation of California, Green Science Policy Institute, Grove Collaborative, Janet Perlman, MD, MPH, Just the Goods, Keep A Breast, Kimberly C. Brouwer, PhD, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Mariposa McCall, MD, National Association of Environmental Medicine (NAEM), National Stewardship Action Council, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), OSEA, Physicians for Social Responsibility - San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, Planning and Conservation League, San Francisco Baykeeper, San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Save Our Shores, Seventh Generation, Sierra Club California, Skin Owl, Sprout San Francisco, US PIRG, 100% Pure.
Learn more in the announcement from CSCP.
Contact hello@clearya.com for questions or comments.
.svg)
