Unearthing Toxic Beauty: Project CLEAR Protocol to Assess Skin-Lightening Product Exposure in Northern Manhattan

Skin lightening products (SLPs) are widely used among communities of color and often contain toxic chemicals that pose serious health risks. Despite regulations, these products remain accessible in the United States through deceptive labeling and illegal sales, which might contribute to unequal availability of and access to products containing harmful chemicals. This study uses a novel spatial sampling approach to audit retailers in Northern Manhattan, assessing SLP availability in relation to neighborhood context, focusing on neighborhoods with high proportions of Black and Latinx residents. In Phase 1, 50 retail stores will be selected and audited based on spatial and sociodemographic data. Trained research assistants will document retailer environments and SLP availability. In Phase 2, 30 products will be purchased for targeted and non-targeted chemical screening for harmful substances. Using store audit data, geographic information system mapping, neighborhood-level regression analyses, and chemical assays of detected chemicals of concern, we will assess how SLP distribution, availability, and ingredient profiles vary across Northern Manhattan neighborhoods. Findings will inform exposure and risk assessment research, consumer and provider education, and policy discussions on personal care product ingredient regulation.