The beauty industry is often cited as one of the least regulated sectors in the United States. It’s true that cosmetic products and ingredients (except color additives) do not need FDA approval before going on the market. However, the notion that the beauty industry is entirely unregulated is a myth. The FDA can take action against a cosmetic product if it is found to be unsafe or mislabeled. With the passing of the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) in December 2022, the cosmetic regulatory landscape has started to shift, marking the most significant update to cosmetic laws in over 80 years.In the absence of meaningful federal oversight, states have taken it upon themselves to attempt to regulate the safety of cosmetics. Over the last few years, numerous states have adopted safe cosmetics legislation to protect consumers and the environment from harm. In 2023 alone, nine new state bills regarding cosmetic packaging and ingredients were signed into law in California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.These various state regulations are creating a patchwork of rules that, while well-intended, make regulatory compliance complicated and cumbersome for brands that do business in multiple states. A product that is compliant in one state may not meet the legal requirements in another, which forces brands to either reformulate their products or limit their distribution to avoid the regulatory complexity altogether.