California Assemblymember Alex Lee has proposed a bill, AB 2491, which aims to regulate the sale of skincare products containing retinoids, retinol, and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to children under the age of 13. This move comes as a response to growing concerns about the accessibility and use of potent anti-aging ingredients by minors.
The bill seeks to prohibit the sale of over-the-counter skincare and cosmetic products advertised for anti-aging purposes to children under 13. If passed, it would specifically target products containing vitamin A derivatives like retinoids and retinol, as well as AHAs such as glycolic acid and citric acid.
Assemblymember Alex Lee, representing California’s 24th Assembly District, highlighted the need to protect children from potential harm associated with the use of these powerful ingredients. He expressed concerns over the increasing availability of such products in retail stores and their promotion on social media platforms, citing instances of children as young as seven using anti-aging serums.
The proposed legislation has already cleared the Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee and is set to move to the Appropriations Committee. Assemblymember Lee emphasized that children do not need to use anti-aging products and underscored the responsibility of the beauty industry to take meaningful action in addressing this issue.
