On Thursday, the California State Assembly did not go forward with a measure that would have banned the sale of anti-aging skin care products to minors.
Assembly member Alex Lee introduced the measure.
Products containing alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid and vitamin A or its analogs like retinol or retinoids were part of a category that the lawmakers sought to ban.
By the bill’s passage, businesses that make skin care products would have been required to take precautions against selling their wares to minors. A prominent notice warning buyers that the product is not appropriate for use by anybody under the age of thirteen was proposed. Another suggestion was to require consumers to verify their age or submit their date of birth prior to completing a transaction.
The bill’s primary target is cosmetic and skin care items that claim to slow the skin’s aging process by using chemicals such as alpha hydroxy acids and vitamin A and its derivatives. Proponents argue that the primary goal is to shield youngsters from these potent chemicals, which are typically formulated for adults with more advanced skin issues.
The practice of adult skin care products being purchased and used by youngsters and preteens has become a social media phenomenon that has been dubbed the “Sephora Kid.”
The Personal Care Products Council is a trade group that represents prominent companies like Sephora and Ulta. Its representatives are worried that the bill could affect sunscreens, moisturizers, and cleansers and that it would be very difficult to enforce.
Dermatologists are worried that these items might cause harm, including rashes or allergic responses, and that they don’t know where these youngsters, some as young as eight years old, are getting them.
According to the council, members are already teaching young customers how to make age-appropriate product purchases. They worry that if standards are too stringent and people are unable to get safe skin care, there may be unforeseen effects.
The measure sought to impose severe requirements on California companies and outright ban sales to minors.
