A new analysis finds 80% of more than 4,000 beauty products marketed toward Black women contain at least one moderately hazardous ingredient – and most contain multiple, reports Tom Perkins of The Guardian on February 25.

From the article: “The analysis follows a 2016 study with similar findings, and the authors suspect the chemical load in products like hair straighteners and skin lightening creams probably contributes to elevated rates of some diseases in Black women, including uterine and breast cancers.

“The authors say they are disappointed little progress has been made since 2016. While the federal government targeted a small number of hazardous substances during Joe Biden’s administration, Donald Trump’s administration may reverse what little progress was made. The authors say it is up to state governments and the beauty industry to act.”

Formaldehyde is one of the toxins found in the analysis, an ingredient added to hair straighteners popular with Black women. Lieff Cabraser and the Equal Justice Society represent over two hundred and eighty women who have been diagnosed with uterine or ovarian cancer after using hair relaxers.

The article continued: “The Food and Drug Administration began implementing a ban on its use in hair products last year, but the Trump administration has since moved to undo it.”

Read the full article.