Counter Brands, LLC – parent company of Beautycounter, “the leader in safer skin care and cleaner cosmetics” – has announced the Counteract Coalition, a collaboration of 15 beauty brands in the “safer, natural beauty space that is focused on transforming the nation's outdated cosmetic safety laws and lack of industry regulation.”
 
According to Counter Brands, “laws that govern the $62 billion beauty industry are regulated by 1.5 pages of legislation that date back to 1938. Unlike in Europe and Canada, the substances used in beauty products sold in the U.S. do not require vetting for safety. While nearly 1,400 ingredients are banned from personal care products in Europe, only 30 are banned in the US. Additionally, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no recall authority and there is no industry-standard requirement for ingredient screening or monitoring.
 
The Counteract Coalition says it is redefining the next generation of the beauty industry – “one that is built on transparency, cooperation and a sense of purpose.” Coalition members, says Counter Brands, represent the fastest growing portion of the consumer beauty marketplace and believe that to protect consumers, major regulatory change is needed. To date, the Coalition includes brands and CEOs from the following companies: Beautycounter, Annamarie Skin Care, Biossance, côte, Goddess Garden, Follain, OSEA, Peet Rivko, Rahua, Seventh Generation, Silk Therapeutics, SW Basics, tenoverten, Vapour Organic Beauty and Vintner's Daughter.
 
This week, coalition members traveled to Washington, D.C. to demand more health protective laws governing the industry, and are meeting with lawmakers to ask for a hearing on the Personal Care Products Safety Act (S. 1113).  
 
Beautycounter founder & CEO Gregg Renfrew: "Beautycounter has led the charge to transform our nation's outdated cosmetic safety laws since we were founded. We know we can't do it alone, and are proud to work alongside other leaders in the rapidly growing safer and natural personal care industry to demand change in Washington, D.C."
 
The Personal Care Products Safety Act (S.1113) is championed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and would fix “fundamental flaws and loopholes in existing regulations on personal care products and cosmetics.” By updating federal regulations, the Counteract Coalition believes that consumers will be better protected from harmful ingredients commonly used in personal care products, and businesses will have access to safety information, allowing them to bring products to market faster. 

Renfrew notes, "Legislative change that will truly protect American families from harmful chemicals in personal care products will happen when the safer and natural beauty industry shows it is possible."

Beautycounter develops and distributes nearly 130 products across skin care, color cosmetics, advanced anti-aging, kids, baby and personal care collections. It is a Certified B Corporation. founded by Gregg Renfrew in 2011, and launched in 2013 as a direct-retail brand (direct to consumer through multiple channels) that is now available through 25,000+ consultants across North America, online at Beautycounter.com, and through partnerships including J.Crew, a limited-edition collection with Target, and a pop-up shop on Nantucket Island. 
 
 
PHOTO shows some members of the Counteract Coalition—CEOs and founders of beauty brands. (L-R): Johanna Peet of Peet Rivko, Tara Foley of Follain, Jenefer Palmer & Melissa Palmer of OSEA, Adair Ilyinsky of tenoverten, Gregg Renfrew of Beautycounter, Mary Lennon of côte, Caroline Hadfield of Biossance, Nadine Abramcyk of tenoverten