The FDA Is Finally Regulating Beauty — Here’s What That Means for Your Shelf

mollynissi
3 days ago
2 min read

It kind of flew under the radar, but in 2023 the FDA quietly passed its biggest cosmetic law update in over 80 years. That’s... a long time. So now in 2025, the changes are starting to hit your shelf. From stricter ingredient labeling to the power to recall unsafe products, the beauty industry is officially being held to higher standards. Finally.

The Quick Breakdown

It’s called MoCRA (Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act), and here’s what it does:

Requires brands to register their facilities and products with the FDA
Gives the FDA power to recall unsafe products
Mandates reporting of serious side effects (like rashes, burns, etc.)
Requires ingredient transparency and labeling of allergens
Mandates more rigorous manufacturing safety and quality standards

For decades, cosmetics were barely regulated in the U.S. The EU banned over 1,300 ingredients. The U.S.? Just 11.

Why This Is a Big Deal

Safer products, especially for sensitive or allergy-prone skin
More accountability from brands (no more mystery formulations)
A push toward better testing and clearer claims

What Doesn’t Change (Yet)

The term “clean beauty” is still unregulated, so it’s up to brands to define it (aka, marketing > science)
“Fragrance” loopholes still allows companies to hide complex formulations under a single word
Celebrity/influencer brands can still launch with little R&D, so… buyer beware because it won’t stop influencer skincare brands from launching overnight

But it’s a major first step toward more transparency and consumer protection.

What You Can Do Now

Start reading ingredient labels with fresh eyes — you’ll likely notice more transparency in 2025 packaging
If a favorite product feels slightly different, it may have been reformulated to comply with new safety standards
Keep an eye on brands that embrace this shift vs. those that stay vague

TL;DR

The FDA is finally catching up to the beauty boom. MoCRA brings long-overdue regulation to the skincare world, and while it’s not perfect, it’s a big win for transparency, safety, and smarter choices.