New Studies Confirm What We Knew: Black Women Are Being Sold Toxic Beauty Products
We Have Always Known—And We Refuse to Be Ignored
There’s a moment when the truth stops being something you can overlook. When the weight of what you’ve learned presses against you so hard that you can’t unsee it, can’t unknow it, can’t pretend it’s not happening. That moment came for me when I realized the products I was putting on my body—things I thought were safe, things I trusted—could cause cancer, could disrupt my hormones, could put my health and my child’s health at risk.
And worse? The products marketed specifically to Black women were the worst offenders.
That isn’t an accident. This is intentional neglect. It is systemic. It IS intentional.
And that’s the truth this industry doesn’t want us to name.
Here’s the reality:
75% of beauty products marketed to Black women contain harmful ingredients.
The chemicals in these products are linked to cancer, reproductive issues, and hormone disruption.
The beauty industry is barely regulated, meaning companies can put whatever they want in our products with no consequences.
This is bigger than beauty.
This is about public health.
This is about how racism shows up in the most intimate parts of our lives—our skin, our hair, our bodies.
It’s about the fact that Black women have always carried the weight of protecting our communities, and yet, when it comes to protecting ourselves, we’re left to figure it out alone.
That stops now.
It has to stop now.
Clean Beauty is More Than a Trend—It’s a Movement
Black women are the most educated group in this country and yet, 1 in 5 of us lives in poverty. We show up. We fight. We lead justice movements. We turn out to vote in record numbers. We move markets with our spending power.
And still, we are an afterthought? Nah. That ends here.
This is why Clean Beauty for Black Girls exists—not just as a nonprofit, but as a movement. Because we refuse to let an industry profit from us while actively harming us. Because we know our power. Because if they won’t prioritize us, we will prioritize ourselves.
This isn’t about waiting for permission. It’s about demanding accountability, taking control of our narratives, and refusing to be anyone’s afterthought. Our voices have always been the conscience of this nation. They’ve always tried to silence us. We can’t let that happen.
“But Does This Really Apply to Me?”
Some of us hear “clean beauty” and assume it’s not that deep. Maybe you go to the gym, eat healthy, drink your water, and figure that’s enough. But here’s the thing:
“I eat organic, but I still use products filled with toxins.”
“I exercise daily, but my lotion contains hormone disruptors.”
“I take care of myself, but my hair products put me at risk.”
We can’t fight for our health in some ways and ignore it in others. Protecting ourselves has to be all-encompassing.
What You Can Do
One word comes to mind first for me: empowerment—knowing better so we can do better.
Here’s where to start:
At-Home Activism:
Read ingredient labels & swap out the next product you run out of with a cleaner, safer alternative.
Take the Intentional Spending Pledge: Commit to buying from Black-owned clean beauty brands.
Follow #CleanBeautyForBlackGirls and share educational content.
Community-Based Activism:
Host a Clean Beauty Conversation at a social club, church, or women’s group.
Get involved in pushing for legislation that holds the industry accountable.
Support and amplify Black-owned beauty brands doing the work.
Industry & Policy Pressure:
Demand ingredient transparency from your favorite brands.
Support legislation calling for better beauty industry regulations.
Use your platform (big or small) to keep this conversation going.
This moment must turn into a movement. If they want to limit our voices, we must amplify them louder than ever. We look forward, and we look back. We fight for ourselves, for our country, and for the next generation.
The truth has always been here. The question is, who is finally ready to listen?