FDA Drops Talc Testing Rule as Brands Race to Go Talc-Free
By @sharedot · · 6 pages
- Beauty
- Talc Free Cosmetics
- Brand Reformulation
The FDA withdrew its proposed asbestos-testing rule for talc cosmetics as brands reformulate bestsellers ahead of the EU's 2027 ban.
The Withdrawn Rule Behind the Talc-Free Wave
NBC News reports that in late 2024 the FDA proposed a rule requiring manufacturers to test talc-containing cosmetics for asbestos contamination, but a year later the agency withdrew the proposal, citing legal and testing complexities.
That regulatory retreat is the backdrop for an industry-wide shift: Charlotte Tilbury, Nars, Laura Mercier and Givenchy have all reformulated or launched talc-free products.
According to NBC News, the European Union is moving toward banning talc in cosmetics in 2027, and brands are reformulating globally rather than maintaining separate regional formulas.
Why the Shift Surprises Science Watchers
The surprising part, per NBC News's reporting, is that brands are not waiting for the science to settle. "Reformulating to talc-free is cheaper than the reputational and legal risk, so brands are getting ahead of it," Dr. Gina Maccarone told NBC News.
Experts told the outlet that talc itself is generally well tolerated, that the real concern is contamination from mining near asbestos deposits, and that recent FDA testing of cosmetic samples has repeatedly come back negative for asbestos — even as the WHO's cancer agency classified talc as "probably carcinogenic" in 2024.
The Bestsellers Getting a Talc-Free Makeover
NBC News rounded up the reformulations fans are debating.
Mac Cosmetics rebuilt its Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation as entirely talc-free in 2025 after more than 30 years, a change NBC says loyal fans met with shock and outrage over differences in texture and longevity — though it retains 70-plus shades.
Nars reformulated its iconic blush line talc-free in 2024, adding mica and kaolin clay with a refillable vegan compact, and Givenchy replaced talc in its Prisme Libre powder with kaolin and synthetic mica.
NBC also highlights newer talc-free launches like Charlotte Tilbury's loose setting powder and Huda Beauty's pressed powder.
Trust, Marketing and What Comes Next
NBC News frames the talc-free stampede as a response to trust and regulation rather than a sign the ingredient harms skin: "I think of the shift as a response to trust and regulation rather than a sign that talc is harming the skin," Dr. Alexandra Bowles told the outlet.
The consumer-pressure dynamic is visible elsewhere in beauty — the Daily Titan reports that brands like Too Faced Cosmetics, UNOVE and Starface turned up in person at the Edikted College Tour stop at Cal State Fullerton to build direct Gen Z loyalty through giveaways and campus ambassadors.