Beauty Justice
We are investigating endocrine disrupting chemicals in a range of consumer products used by Black and Latina women in order to better understand how exposures contribute to health disparities.
Media coverage
Is your makeup making you sick?
May 2026, Vox, Explain It to Me podcast
Harmful chemicals lurk in extensions and braiding hair marketed to Black women, study finds
February 2026, NBC News
Hair Extensions May Contain Chemicals Linked to Cancer and Reproductive Harm, New Study Finds
February 2026, Today
Toxic Beauty: Black Women Most at Risk From Harmful Chemicals in Unregulated Hair Products
February 2026, Inside Climate News
5 Ingredients to Watch Out For in Beauty and Personal Care Products
February 2026, Consumer Reports
How everyday beauty products could pose a toxic health threat
May 2025, Washington Post
What’s in Your Braids? Toxic Chemicals Found in Synthetic Hair
March 2025, Capital B News
The Disturbing Truth About Hair Relaxers
June 2024, The New York Times Magazine
For One Environmentalist, Warning Black Women About Dangerous Beauty Products Allows Them to Own Their Health
December 2023, Inside Climate News
Hair Straighteners and Relaxers May Be Harmful to Health. Here’s How to Make Them Better
November 2023, Scientific American
Toxic Pollutants a Growing Concern for Pregnant Mothers and Babies
October 2022, Capital & Main
How to purge risky chemicals from your beauty products
December 2021, Vox
Cancer risk studies raise questions about the safety of long-lasting hair dyes
May 2020, Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN)
Misleading Ingredient Labels on Beauty Products and Potential Health Consequences
February 2020, Spectrum News
Hair Dyes and Straighteners May Raise Breast Cancer Risk for Black Women
December 2019, New York Times
California set to be first state to protect black people from natural hair discrimination
June 2019, Los Angeles Times
Toxic Black Hair Products
June 2018, Living on Earth
Products for Black Women May Disrupt Hormones
May 2018, WebMD
Hair-straightening products contain potentially toxic mix
May 2018, Reuters
Hair Products Popular with Black Women May Contain Harmful Chemicals
May 2018, Scientific American
Hair Care Concerns
April 2018, BBC World News
Study Adds To Concerns About Hair Products Black Women Use
April 2018, WBUR