Final week I spent 2 days in Washington, DC on a Beautycounter advocacy journey. Right here’s the recap!
Beautycounter Advocacy Journey to DC
Final week I went to Washington, DC with Beautycounter to foyer for transparency and elevated regulation within the magnificence trade.
Our meals trade is very regulated, however the magnificence trade shouldn’t be…but.
Consequently, doubtlessly dangerous components are allowed for use in on a regular basis magnificence merchandise. Customers need to know what’s within the merchandise they use and everybody in our nation ought to be capable of stroll right into a drug retailer and know that what they’re buying is freed from poisonous chemical substances.
There are loopholes and an absence of transparency throughout the wonder trade. Anybody can put the phrase “clear” on their merchandise, however that phrase isn’t regulated.
The European Union has banned or restricted 1,400 components from private care merchandise, however the U.S. has banned or restricted solely 30. The U.S. has not handed a significant federal regulation governing the cosmetics trade since 1938. That’s nearly a century. Consider all that has modified since then.
Because it was based in 2013, Beautycounter has been advocating for brand new legal guidelines that enhance transparency within the trade and get nearer to making sure that every one private care merchandise (not simply Beautycounter’s) are protected and free from dangerous components. And that they’re extensively obtainable.
Some advocacy wins
You may be taught extra about Beautycounter’s advocacy initiatives and successes on this web page.
Listed here are some highlights:
- Greater than 2,100 conferences, 16,000 calls, and 200,000 emails within the struggle for change
- First clear magnificence CEO to seem earlier than a Congressional Committee (yay Gregg!)
- Safer Perfume Invoice – a step in the direction of closing the loophole in perfume
- Poisonous-Free Cosmetics Act in California
On the finish of the day, the dialog about clear goes past make-up and encompasses our well being and the surroundings too. As a B Company, Beautycounter is defending the well being of the planet with considerations for sustainability, carbon footprint, moral and accountable sourcing, and testing each ingredient batch that is available in.
Guide representatives
The journey was earned by state, and I used to be representing Virginia! Consultants from all around the nation, together with Hawaii and Alaska descended upon the Fairmont Resort in Georgetown for 2 days of conferences, networking, and advocacy. And naturally socializing!
Welcome Reception
The occasion began with a welcome reception.
There have been stations of seafood, kebobs, veggies, and charcuterie.
I made some new pals! Shoutout to Shayna!
Our founder, Gregg Renfrew, introduced us along with a motivating speech about our mission: getting safer merchandise into the arms of everybody.
Images on the Lincoln Memorial
The subsequent morning we loved breakfast after which headed to the Lincoln Memorial for a photoshoot!
Beautycounter Advocacy Conferences
On Wednesday morning after breakfast, we broke out into small teams to satisfy with a scheduled set of Congressional staffers over Zoom. Sadly, because of the pandemic, conferences are nonetheless largely digital (particularly since we have been a big group).
My group was largely East Coasters, and we met with the places of work of:
- Sen. Richard Burr (NC)
- Sen. Tim Kaine (VA)
- Sen. Tim Scott (SC)
- Rep. Elaine Luria (VA)
- Majority Chief Steny Hoyer (MD)
- Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD)
Whereas the conferences have been largely with employees members of their places of work, we did really feel like we have been plugged proper in. A constituent from the state opened the assembly, and we gave them an introduction to Beautycounter, went over related payments, shared tales, and requested questions.
The payments we mentioned
- Senate: The Private Care Merchandise Security Act
- Home: Safer Magnificence Invoice Package deal which incorporates
- Poisonous-Free Magnificence Act
- Beauty Provide Chain Transparency Act
- Beauty Security for Communities of Shade and Skilled Salon Employees Act
- Beauty Perfume and Taste Ingredient Proper To Know Act
These payments would create a system for the FDA to overview components for security, enable merchandise with unfavourable well being impacts to be recalled from the market, and assist shield customers from dangerous components with out having to know components to keep away from.
Lunch Break
As a result of this weblog is known as Kath Eats, I’ve to share the scrumptious wholesome lunch we had! Quinoa salad, soup, grilled salmon. And actually scrumptious double chocolate cookies!
The way it went
I used to be undoubtedly nervous!! However my talking components went easily. And I really feel like I do know much more about beauty reform after today!
It was fantastic to listen to the tales from different consultants of why they selected to companion with the corporate. And it was superior to see the reactions of a few of our viewers once they discovered that the very merchandise they received prepared with that morning may need components that have been identified endocrine disruptors or hyperlinks to most cancers.
Down Time
After our final assembly, I went again to my room for some downtime. I used to be alleged to have a roommate, however she cancelled on the final minute, so apart from being up all evening Tuesday ready for her to reach and feeling tremendous drained, I had my room to myself, which was superb!!
I took a brief nap and met Shayna for a stroll round Georgetown. Positively wanted the contemporary air!!
Our Celebration
Wednesday night, everybody donned their robes and we departed for the Library of Congress for a celebration.
I like the brand new costume and sneakers I received for the event (I needed to have the costume hemmed, FYI!).
This actually was one of the vital lovely events I’ve ever been to! The Library ceiling was gorgeous, and the setting was magical.
We loved drinks and apps after which sat right down to dinner. I had halibut and essentially the most scrumptious hazelnut dessert.
Our honored visitor for the night was Rep. Jan Schakowsky from Illinois who’s the lead sponsor for the Safer Magnificence Invoice Package deal. She is a firecracker of a girl and had us all laughing together with her discuss!
After which after dinner, she crushed the dance ground.
Science Symposium
We wrapped up our journey on Thursday morning with a science symposium and panel of 4 completely different specialists unbiased of Beautycounter sharing their information with us, telling us what we’re doing proper, how we are able to enhance, and past.
Our in-person panelists have been Dr. Leo Trasande, MD, MPP, a pediatric specialist and creator of Sicker, Fatter, Poorer, and Dr. Lora Shahine, MD, FACOG (she’s very energetic on social media) who’s an OB-GYN specializing in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. On Zoom, we had Dr. Boma Brown-West, MD from the Environmental Protection Fund and Dr. Kim Harley, PhD.
We spent a whole lot of time discussing endocrine disruptors in private care merchandise and their hyperlink to most cancers, infertility, miscarriage, coronary heart illness, and extra. They shared some information from research that linked BPA in girls’s blood to miscarriage and PFAS’ hyperlink to physique metabolism.
Many ladies are motivated to wash up their well being when they’re attempting to conceive or when pregnant, however we should bear in mind to teach our teenage daughters as they’re going by adolescence, too. One examine discovered that when teenagers switched from paraben merchandise to these with out, that they had a 25-45% lower in parabens of their our bodies in simply THREE DAYS. That may be a large drop! Beautycounter’s aim is to arm folks with training with out concern mongering, and we mentioned how to do this successfully.
We additionally mentioned fairness on the core of the clear magnificence motion and the way girls of coloration carry a a lot increased poisonous load. Advocacy begins with training so that provide and demand might be tipped.
I say this usually about meals however it applies right here too: when you can afford to vote along with your {dollars}, DO IT. Firms see change in demand and improve provide, and Congress will lastly change the legal guidelines in order that those that can’t afford to purchase serums can have entry to safer merchandise by the entire trade.
Beautycounter Advocacy Video
Wish to be taught extra? Begin by watching this video:
Are you captivated with higher magnificence?
Being a Beautycounter marketing consultant is about a lot greater than promoting skincare. Our major targets are to teach, advocate, and market superb merchandise that main the trade in security.
If this subject is in any respect one thing you’re captivated with too, you need to take into account turning into a marketing consultant! It’s one of the simplest ways to plug in to those vital points with a neighborhood of like-minded folks. I’ve a weblog publish with a whole lot of FAQs about being a marketing consultant right here. Electronic mail me to kath at katheats.com when you’re enthusiastic about chatting!
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