Why We’re Standing Behind California’s AB 728: Protecting Kids from Harmful Skincare Products

By: Jayla Burton

Here’s something you might not know: There are no laws in California (or anywhere) that prevent anti-aging skincare products from being sold to kids. Yep, that’s right! Products with powerful ingredients like retinol and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) – which are great for adult skin but potentially harmful to young skin – are flying off shelves and into the hands of minors. That’s why we’re all about Assembly Bill 728 (AB 728), introduced by Assembly Member Alex Lee, which aims to ban the sale of these products to anyone under 18.

Why is this so important? Children’s skin is much thinner and more delicate than ours, and using products designed for aging adults can cause irritation, dryness, and long-term skin issues like eczema. By passing AB 728, we’re making sure kids don’t have access to ingredients that could harm their skin. It’s a simple but essential step to protect young people and keep their skincare routine safe and healthy!

As an environmental health organization with thousands of members in California, we’re excited to throw our full support behind AB 728. A huge shout-out to Assembly Member Lee for leading the charge on this. We encourage everyone in California to get involved – reach out to your local legislators and make sure this bill passes!

Here’s the letter of support that we sent:

Memorandum of Support
AB 728 – Assembly Member Alex Lee

Title: An act to prohibit the sale of anti-aging skincare products to minors.

Description: This bill bans the sale of anti-aging products that contain vitamin A derivatives (such as retinol) and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to minors.

Justification: Currently, there are no state or federal laws that restrict the sale of anti-aging skincare products to minors. These products often contain ingredients like retinol and AHAs, which are designed to target skin aging concerns such as wrinkles, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation. However, these ingredients, while beneficial for adult skin, can be harmful when used by children due to their sensitive skin and developing skin barriers.

Children’s skin is significantly more delicate than that of adults, with a thinner epidermis, a higher skin pH level, and a faster skin cell turnover rate. These factors make children’s skin more susceptible to irritation and environmental damage from skincare products meant for older skin. When used inappropriately, ingredients like retinol and AHAs can cause redness, dryness, and irritation. In some cases, these products can damage the skin’s barrier, leading to long-term dermatological issues such as eczema and dermatitis.

AB 728 will protect minors by restricting the sale of these potentially harmful skincare products to them, reducing the risk of unnecessary skin damage. This bill is a proactive and sensible step toward ensuring that children are not exposed to adult skincare products that could cause more harm than good.

Women’s Voices for the Earth, a national environmental health organization with thousands of members in California, strongly supports AB 728. We commend the authors for their leadership in safeguarding children’s health and urge the legislature to pass this important bill to protect our youngest consumers from potentially harmful skincare products.

For further information, please contact WVE Director of Programs Jayla Burton, jaylab@womensvoices.org