Banned Cosmetic Ingredients by State

The FDA prohibits a short list of cosmetic ingredients. States have passed dozens of additional restrictions. Here's what each major state law covers — and which ingredients to watch.

At a Glance

California, NY, MN, MD, WA, CO, and IL all restrict ingredients beyond FDA rules
PFAS are banned in cosmetics in 5+ states — affects long-wear makeup more than handmade products
Formaldehyde releasers (DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15) are restricted in children's products in several states
California's Safe Cosmetics Act requires ingredient reporting above $1,000/year in CA sales
Selling online into a state means that state's law applies to your product
Soap (true soap) is exempt from most cosmetic regulations — these rules target cosmetics and personal care products

Why State Laws Matter

Federal cosmetic law — administered by the FDA — prohibits a relatively small list of substances: color additives not approved for cosmetic use, certain prohibited ingredients like mercury and chloroform, and bithionol. Outside that short list, FDA takes a self-regulatory approach: manufacturers are responsible for substantiating safety.

States have moved faster. Starting in California in the early 2000s, states began passing their own cosmetic ingredient restrictions — targeting PFAS, formaldehyde releasers, phthalates, mercury, lead, and other substances. By 2025, at least seven states have meaningful cosmetic ingredient restrictions that go beyond federal law.

True Soap Is Usually Exempt

If your product qualifies as true soap under FDA's definition — made predominantly of alkali salts of fatty acids, labeled only as soap, and claimed only for cleaning — it is exempt from cosmetic regulations at both federal and most state levels. The restrictions below apply to cosmetics, shampoos, lotions, lip balms, and other personal care products.

California

The most active state for cosmetic ingredient restrictions.

California Safe Cosmetics Act (CSCA)

Requires manufacturers, packers, or distributors with $1,000 or more in annual California sales to report to the California Department of Public Health any product containing an ingredient on the California Chemicals of Concern list — including carcinogens and reproductive toxicants. Reported ingredients include some fragrance components, certain preservatives, and hair dye chemicals. The reporting threshold applies per company, not per product.

California Cosmetics Safety Act (AB 2762, effective 2025)

Bans 13 specific ingredients and ingredient categories in cosmetics sold in California, including:

Dibutyl phthalate, diethylhexyl phthalate, and other restricted phthalates
Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea)
Mercury and mercury compounds
Isobutylparaben and isopropylparaben
Methylene glycol (liquid formaldehyde used in hair smoothing products)
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) intentionally added
m-phenylenediamine and its salts (hair dye precursor)
Triclosan and triclocarban (antimicrobials)
Lead acetate
Toluene

Formaldehyde Releasers Are Banned in CA

DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, Diazolidinyl Urea, and Imidazolidinyl Urea are banned as cosmetic ingredients in California. If you sell into California, swap to phenoxyethanol blends (Optiphen, Optiphen Plus, Euxyl PE 9010), Germall Plus, or Geogard ECT.

Proposition 65

California's Prop 65 requires businesses to warn consumers before knowingly exposing them to chemicals on the state's list of carcinogens and reproductive toxicants. For cosmetics, this most commonly comes up with titanium dioxide (in spray products — inhalation route), lead in lip products, and certain fragrance allergens. If you sell at retail in California, Prop 65 compliance may require a warning label or reformulation to stay below safe harbor levels.

New York

NY Cosmetics Labeling Act (effective 2023)

New York requires that cosmetics sold in the state include a complete ingredient list on the label or — for products with 15 or fewer ingredients — all ingredients must be listed. This closes a labeling gap for fragrance components: products sold in NY must fully disclose fragrance ingredients including allergens. This is stricter than the federal standard, which allows "fragrance" as a blanket ingredient listing.

New York has also passed restrictions on PFAS in cosmetics, aligning with California's ban on intentionally added PFAS.

Fragrance Disclosure in NY

If you sell into New York, your fragrance blends may need individual component disclosure on the label. This is a significant departure from the federal "fragrance" catch-all. Fragrance suppliers can provide full component lists (often available as Safety Data Sheets or IFRA certificates). Review whether your NY-sold products require updated labels.

Minnesota

Protecting Minnesotans from Toxic Chemicals Act (HF 2310)

Minnesota enacted a broad chemicals management law that specifically targets personal care products. Key restrictions for cosmetics:

PFAS: banned in cosmetics sold in MN (intentionally added)
Formaldehyde releasers: prohibited in products intended for children under 5
Ortho-phthalates: restricted in personal care products
Bisphenols (BPA, BPS): restrictions in certain personal care products
Vinyl chloride: prohibited
Certain halogenated flame retardants: prohibited

Minnesota's law phases in requirements over several years. The PFAS restrictions in cosmetics took effect in 2025; additional restrictions on other chemicals follow in 2026 and beyond.

Maryland

Cosmetics Safety Enhancement Act of 2020

Maryland was one of the first states to specifically ban formaldehyde releasers in cosmetics for children. The law prohibits the following ingredients in cosmetics marketed to or commonly used by children under 13:

Formaldehyde
DMDM Hydantoin
Diazolidinyl Urea
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Methylene glycol
Quaternium-15
Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate

If you make baby shampoos, children's body wash, kids' detangling spray, or any product clearly targeted at children, these preservatives are off the table for Maryland sales.

Maryland has also passed PFAS restrictions for cosmetics, aligned with the multi-state trend banning intentionally added PFAS.

Washington State

Safer Products for Washington

Washington's Department of Ecology has established a priority chemicals program that restricts substances in consumer products including cosmetics. Current restrictions relevant to soap and cosmetics makers:

PFAS: banned in cosmetics (intentionally added) — effective 2025
Ortho-phthalates: restricted in personal care products
Organohalogen flame retardants: restricted
Bisphenol A (BPA): restricted in certain personal care products

Washington's program continues to expand. The Ecology Department reviews new chemicals categories regularly and adds restrictions on a rolling basis.

Colorado

Colorado Safer Products Act

Colorado passed PFAS restrictions for cosmetics effective January 1, 2025. Cosmetics sold in Colorado may not contain intentionally added PFAS. Colorado's law is modeled on California's approach and targets the same class of fluorinated compounds used in some long-wear and water-resistant cosmetics.

For typical handmade soap, lotion, and balm makers, PFAS are not a common formulation ingredient. The restriction primarily affects professional-grade long-wear foundations, mascaras, eyeliners, and lip products that use fluoropolymers or fluorinated film formers for wear performance.

Illinois

Illinois PFAS Restrictions

Illinois enacted restrictions on PFAS in cosmetics through the Illinois PFAS Reduction Act. Cosmetics containing intentionally added PFAS are prohibited from sale in Illinois. The effective date for cosmetics was January 1, 2025.

Quick-Reference Table

State	PFAS Ban	Formaldehyde Releasers	Phthalates	Fragrance Disclosure	Effective
California	Yes (intentionally added)	Banned in all cosmetics	Several restricted	CSCA reporting	2025
New York	Yes (intentionally added)	Not specifically banned	Not specifically banned	Full disclosure required	2023–2025
Minnesota	Yes (intentionally added)	Banned in child products	Restricted	No specific law	2025
Maryland	Yes (intentionally added)	Banned in child products	Not specifically banned	No specific law	2020/2025
Washington	Yes (intentionally added)	Not specifically banned	Restricted	No specific law	2025
Colorado	Yes (intentionally added)	Not specifically banned	Not specifically banned	No specific law	2025
Illinois	Yes (intentionally added)	Not specifically banned	Not specifically banned	No specific law	2025

State laws change frequently. Verify current requirements directly with each state's environmental or health agency before selling.

What This Means for Small Makers

Most of the state ingredient restrictions target ingredients that small batch soap and lotion makers rarely use anyway — PFAS, lead acetate, toluene, mercury. The two categories most relevant to typical handmade cosmetics are:

1. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives

DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea, and Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate are banned or restricted in California, Maryland, and Minnesota. If you sell nationally or online, replacing these with a non-formaldehyde-releasing preservative system is the cleanest path forward. Phenoxyethanol blends (Optiphen, Optiphen Plus, Euxyl PE 9010), Germall Plus, and Geogard ECT are all compliant alternatives.

2. Fragrance disclosure (New York)

If you sell into New York, review whether your fragrance disclosure meets NY's stricter standard. This mostly affects product labeling rather than formulation — you may need to list fragrance components individually rather than using a catch-all "fragrance" declaration.

Pro Tip

If you sell at a national scale (Etsy, craft fairs that ship nationwide, wholesale to retailers in multiple states), formulating to California's standard is the most practical approach. California has the broadest restrictions — if your formula is clean for California, it's generally compliant everywhere else.

Staying Current

State cosmetic laws are evolving rapidly. Several additional states had legislation pending in 2024–2025, including Michigan, Oregon, and Virginia. Checking each state's department of health, department of environmental quality, or department of agriculture websites annually is the most reliable approach for staying compliant.

California CDPH Safe Cosmetics Program: cdph.ca.gov/safecosmeticsact
Minnesota Dept. of Health: health.state.mn.us (search toxic free kids)
Maryland MDHMH: health.maryland.gov
Washington Ecology: ecology.wa.gov/safer-products
Colorado CDPHE: cdphe.colorado.gov
Illinois EPA: epa.illinois.gov