WASHINGTON – A new study from researchers at Rutgers and Columbia universities finds that Black women, middle-age adults and consumers with lower incomes are more likely to use personal care products that have high hazard scores in the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep® database.
These use patterns expose these groups to potentially harmful chemicals in cosmetics at higher rates than other groups.
The study, published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, details the specific personal care products used, the chemicals they contain and the factors influencing product selection.
The researchers analyzed data from 593 adults, who reported the products they used in a 24-to-48-hour period. To identify hazard scores for these products, the researchers relied on Skin Deep, which rates products on a scale of 1 (least hazardous) to 10 (most hazardous) based on their ingredients.
The study comes after EWG in February released a report revealing that only 21 percent of 4,011 personal care products marketed to Black women are low hazard in Skin Deep.
“These findings highlight a major gap in consumer safety,” said Alexa Friedman, Ph.D., a senior scientist at EWG. “Many personal care products – especially those marketed to Black women – contain chemicals linked to hormone disruption and reproductive health risks.
“Many hair products are missing from databases like Skin Deep, making it harder for people to make informed choices. We’ve been working to close this gap, adding over 25,000 products overall – including 4,000 new products last year that are marketed to Black women,” she said.
The new study was led by researchers at the Rutgers School of Public Health and the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. They investigated the ways chemicals in everyday products – from soap and shampoo to perfume and body lotions – may affect human health. Their research sheds light on the reasons further studies are needed to reduce exposure to harmful ingredients and promote safer alternatives.
“Many people assume personal care products are thoroughly tested for safety, but that’s simply not the case,” said Emily Barrett, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology at the Rutgers School of Public Health. “Many of these chemicals have been linked to health risks, including reproductive issues and certain cancers.
“There’s very little oversight or testing to ensure that the chemicals in personal care products won’t harm consumers in the long run. Our study reinforces the urgent need for stronger regulations and greater transparency in the beauty industry,” she added.
Health risks linked to hazardous ingredients
The university researchers found that Black women were nearly twice as likely as white women to use hair products with high hazard scores. These products expose them to chemicals that can interfere with hormones and reproductive health.
Age also played a role in the selection of higher hazard products. Adults ages 40 to 59 used cosmetics with the highest hazard scores. The scores largely stem from the use of anti-aging beauty products, which often contain ingredients linked to health concerns.
Younger participants, ages 18 to 29, favored perfumes and colognes with the highest hazard scores. These products can contain hundreds of chemicals not listed on ingredient labels, except grouped under the umbrella words “fragrance,” “parfum” or “aroma.” These mixtures can include hormone-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates.
“Phthalates are widely used to help personal care products hold onto color and scent, but they come at cost to health. We’ve linked high phthalate exposure to pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes, hypertension and preterm birth,” said Barrett.
Of the 9,349 unique personal care products reported by participants, only 68 percent could be found in the Skin Deep database, leaving a large information gap for many products used by a diversity of consumers.
“This raises concerns about equal access to safety information,” said Hong Lin, an EWG scientist. “We’ve made it a priority to add more products marketed to Black women to Skin Deep, but we know there’s still more work to do to capture what is actually being sold.”
Financial barriers are a factor, since high-hazard products are more commonly sold in neighborhoods of people living on lower income. In these communities, safer alternatives are often harder to find or more expensive.
“Consumers deserve to know what is in the products they use every day, so they can take steps to reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals,” said Adana Llanos, Ph.D, MPH, associate professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health and co-leader of the Cancer Population Science Program at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University.
“Access to information is critical, but the burden shouldn’t fall entirely on individuals. Companies and regulators must take responsibility to ensure that all products on the market are safe,” said Llanos.
Risks of chemical mixtures
Llanos, who has studied the link between personal care products and cancer risk, found a striking pattern in an earlier study: Black women who used darker shades of hair dye had a higher risk of breast cancer, but white women who used chemical relaxers also showed an increased risk. This revelation sparked deeper investigation into the ways the chemicals in hair dyes, relaxers and other beauty products may contribute to health disparities.
“Studies show repeated exposure to mixtures of chemicals can pose far greater health risks than exposure to a single ingredient,” said Friedman. “People are exposed to complex mixtures of ingredients that can disrupt hormones, interfere with fertility and increase the risk of cancers and other serious issues.
“The beauty industry should take active steps to prevent exposure to toxic chemicals. Everyone deserves access to safe personal care products,” she said.
And it’s not just women who face these disparities. In 2023, EWG commissioned a survey that found personal care product use among men has nearly doubled since 2004, with the average adult now using 12 products a day, containing up to 112 different chemical ingredients. Women use an average 13 products daily, and men use 11.
The EWG study also found that consumers are exposed daily to an average of two ingredients linked to cancer and two linked to reproductive and developmental harm.
Look for lower hazard products
“Making safer choices does not have to mean replacing everything all at once,” said Lin. “Small changes such as swapping out one everyday product for a safer alternative can be a simple way to start reducing exposure to harmful chemicals.”
The study also found that consumers who actively sought out safer products were more likely to choose lower-risk options. To do that, consumers can read labels in databases like Skin Deep or consult ingredient-checking apps such as EWG’s Healthy Living app, which includes Skin Deep.
Consumers can also choose products bearing the EWG Verified® mark, which are free from chemicals of concern and meet EWG’s strictest standards for health.
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The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
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