The beauty industry is flooded with problematic products that use chemicals harmful to human health, but the federal law on cosmetics is not effective in regulating the playfield. A wave of clean beauty startups have stepped up to battle the issue.

Gregg Renfrew, founder and CEO of Beautycounter, shared her ambition to change the industry at Greenbiz 19 in Phoenix, Arizona. She talked to Joel Makower about how her company is pushing lawmakers to update the regulation on cosmetics to reflect people’s increasing concern over chemical-related health issues. By focusing on supply chain, Renfrew aims to take toxic chemicals out of the equation and produce clean, responsible skincare and cosmetic products for customers.  

Beautycounter also puts emphasis on education and advocacy because, as Renfrew put it, it hopes to lead a cosmetic reform movement powered by people. She hopes to help pass a law allowing the FDA to recall products in the United States that raise chemical concerns. "When I think of the future of Beautycounter, it’s ‘How far can we go? Can we make this a global movement for clean beauty where we eradicate toxic chemical exposure?’" Renfrew said. "The future of beauty is clean beauty."

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