Counterfeit beauty products found to contain mercury and lead

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 30 Oct, 00:27 · Archive

Tests of counterfeit cosmetics seized by Trading Standards found mercury, lead, methanol and nicotine in the products.

Counterfeit beauty products seized by Trading Standards have been found to contain mercury, lead, methanol and nicotine following chemical testing. Four in ten of all seized cosmetics contained potentially harmful substances. Tests on products discovered in raids found 13,200 parts per million of mercury in one skincare product, high levels of lead in lipstick, eyeshadow and contour products, nicotine in perfume, and a counterfeit fragrance that was approximately 80 per cent methanol.

Cosmetics, skincare and perfumes are now among Trading Standards' ten most commonly investigated counterfeit goods. The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit and Greater Manchester Police seized 1,666 counterfeit hair products in July from a warehouse in Manchester, including hair extensions, shampoo and conditioners. A separate raid in Bolton by Trading Standards officers led to the seizure of £2 million worth of counterfeit goods, including perfume, cosmetics, clothing and vapes at a production facility in a commercial property.

According to the latest Intellectual Property Office Counterfeit Goods Tracker, 20 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds who bought beauty products last year knowingly purchased counterfeits, a significant rise from 6 per cent in 2023. Independent toxicologist Rani Ghosh said the findings raise serious questions about what goes into these products and how they are made. She noted that whilst some reactions to unsafe cosmetics may be visible, such as irritation, swelling or changes to the skin, longer-term effects may not be immediately apparent.

The Intellectual Property Office's Face the Fakes campaign is working with content creators and the beauty industry to raise awareness of the potential harms of counterfeit beauty products.

How it is being reported

• Counterfeit beauty products found to contain mercury, lead and methanolTests found lead in lipstick, eyeshadow and contour products, nicotine in perfume and a counterfeit fragrance made up of around 80% methanol.Evening Standard · 30 Oct, 00:01
• Counterfeit beauty products found to contain deadly chemicals after major raidPerfumes, skincare and cosmetics seized by Trading Standards have been found to contain potentially deadly chemicalsThe Independent · 30 Oct, 00:01
• Counterfeit beauty products found to contain mercury, lead and methanolTests found lead in lipstick, eyeshadow and contour products, nicotine in perfume and a counterfeit fragrance made up of around 80% methanol.Independent Business · 30 Oct, 00:01

In this story: Trading Standards · Intellectual Property Office · Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit · Greater Manchester Police · Rani Ghosh · Manchester · Bolton

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