California's AB 823: Banning Microplastics in Beauty Products

Imagine shimmering plastic glitter embedded in your favorite lip gloss or tiny polymer beads swirling in facial scrubs. These minuscule acrylates and polyethylene particles wash down drains, lingering in the environment for hundreds of years. Microplastics represent a

Imagine shimmering plastic glitter embedded in your favorite lip gloss or tiny polymer beads swirling in facial scrubs. These minuscule acrylates and polyethylene particles wash down drains, lingering in the environment for hundreds of years. Microplastics represent a significant challenge in the beauty sector, and California is taking decisive action to eliminate them from everyday use.

Why the Beauty Sector Must Take Notice

Defined as solid polymer particles smaller than 5 millimeters, microplastics have been detected in various human tissues, including blood, placenta, and even the brain. This discovery is particularly alarming for an industry whose products come into direct contact with skin, scalp, and respiratory systems through aerosols and powders. Although scientists continue to investigate the precise mechanisms and causal links, the widespread presence of these particles demands immediate precautionary measures and proactive reformulation of product formulas.

Details of California’s AB 823 Legislation

In 2015, California enacted AB 888, which prohibited microbeads in rinse-off products, paving the way for a similar federal ban. This effectively eliminated those gritty beads from facial cleansers and toothpastes. However, a notable exception persisted for leave-on products, allowing certain microplastics to remain in use.

Introduced by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner in 2025, AB 823 addresses this oversight with the following key provisions:

• Prohibiting the intentional addition of microbeads in non-rinse-off and leave-on personal care and cleaning products starting January 1, 2029.
• Outlawing plastic glitter in personal care products effective January 1, 2030.

By July 2025, the bill had garnered unanimous support, passing the Senate Environmental Quality Committee with a 7-0 vote and progressing to the Senate Judiciary Committee. This legislation closely mirrors the European Union’s restrictions under REACH Regulation 2023/2055, which is systematically phasing out intentionally added microplastics in cosmetics and other items between 2027 and 2029.

Implications for Beauty Brands

Beauty companies need to prepare for substantial changes across several areas:

• Product Formulations: The law specifically targets intentionally added microplastics, such as polymer beads, plastic glitter, and certain film-forming agents that provide texture and shine. Brands should immediately review their INCI ingredient lists using reliable microplastic databases and create red-lists for problematic substances.
• Marketing Claims and Transparency: Assertions like “clean beauty” will undergo increased examination. Brands must clearly specify their exclusions, extending beyond just microbeads to encompass all microplastics.
• Innovation Opportunities: The shift will promote natural and biobased exfoliants, including sugar, salt, and jojoba esters, alongside genuinely biodegradable shimmer options like validated cellulose-based particles.
• Broader Market Impact: California’s regulations often influence national standards, amplified by retailer requirements and alignment with European Union policies, leading to widespread reformulation.

Key Players Supporting the Initiative

A diverse alliance including environmental and health organizations, recycling advocates, ocean conservationists, medical groups, and forward-thinking beauty brands has rallied in support of AB 823. This unified front reassures policymakers that viable, effective alternatives are readily available, making the transition practical and achievable.

Innersense Organic Beauty stands out as a leader in this effort. The brand has vocally endorsed AB 823, steering clear of microplastics in its formulations while advancing sustainability through initiatives like post-consumer recycled packaging and Plastic Neutral certification from rePurpose Global. Founder Greg Starkman has personally endorsed coalition letters submitted to Senate committees this summer, lending his individual commitment rather than mere corporate backing.

Core Arguments for Advocacy

Scientific evidence confirms microplastics in human blood, placenta, and brain tissue, justifying precautionary action pending further research. AB 823 effectively seals the leave-on product gap from prior microbead prohibitions and parallels the EU’s progressive stance. Trailblazing brands like Innersense prove that removing intentionally added microplastics enhances brand value and is entirely feasible, with public endorsements amplifying their leadership.

Preparation Steps for Brands and Salons

To stay ahead, businesses should follow these comprehensive steps:

1. Conduct Thorough Inventory Audits: Examine all product formulas against comprehensive lists of microplastic ingredients, extending beyond traditional microbeads. Develop a prioritized red-list and a detailed phase-out timeline.
2. Redesign with Sustainable Alternatives: Substitute plastic glitter with rigorously tested, biodegradable options; replace plastic beads and film-formers with plant-derived or mineral-based equivalents.
3. Optimize Packaging Strategies: Boost the use of post-consumer recycled materials, reduce packaging formats prone to microplastic shedding, and explore refill systems with verified end-of-life recyclability.
4. Engage in Policy Advocacy: Lend your support to coalitions pushing for equitable regulations that foster innovation and safer products across the industry.

By embracing these changes proactively, beauty brands and salons can not only comply with emerging laws but also position themselves as leaders in sustainable, health-conscious innovation, meeting consumer demands for transparency and environmental responsibility.