Trading Standards Find Mercury, Lead in Fake UK Beauty Products
Trading Standards found toxic substances in counterfeit cosmetics seized across the UK, including 13,200 parts per million of mercury in a skincare product and…
Trading Standards officers found mercury, lead and methanol in counterfeit beauty products seized across the UK, including a skincare product containing 13,200 parts per million of mercury. The findings raise concerns about fake cosmetics and perfume sold to consumers without the safety checks applied to legitimate products.
Tests on seized goods also found high levels of lead in lipstick, eyeshadow and contour products, nicotine in perfume, and a counterfeit fragrance made up of about 80% methanol. Trading Standards said cosmetics, skincare and perfumes are now among the fakes its officers investigate most often.
What did tests find in counterfeit beauty products?
Trading Standards tested a cross-section of 50 seized counterfeit cosmetic products and identified potentially harmful substances. The products included skincare, makeup and fragrance.
Mercury exposure through the skin can damage the kidneys and nervous system, according to the reported findings. Lead can harm the brain, nervous system and kidneys, with particular risks for children and during pregnancy. Methanol is a toxic alcohol that can cause serious poisoning.
The substances may not announce themselves. Independent toxicologist Rani Ghosh said some reactions, such as irritation, swelling or skin changes, can be visible. The effects of mercury and lead inside the body may not be immediately obvious, she said.
“Counterfeit beauty products can look incredibly convincing. You cannot tell from the packaging what chemicals are inside, how the product has been made or what risk it might pose,” Ghosh said. “That is why knowing where your beauty products come from matters.”
Raids uncovered fake goods worth £2m
The seizures included action in Manchester and Bolton. In July, the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit and Greater Manchester police seized counterfeit hair products, including extensions, shampoo and conditioners, during a raid. The Guardian reported 1,666 items; the BBC reported 1,660.
Trading Standards officers also uncovered £2m worth of counterfeit goods at a production facility in a commercial property in Bolton. The goods included perfume, cosmetics, clothing and vapes.
The risks extend beyond what is inside individual products. Counterfeit goods bypass health and safety testing and may not carry accurate ingredient lists. Trading Standards surveys found that nearly three in four people who bought counterfeit cosmetics and toiletries had done so online, making product origin harder to assess from packaging alone.
Buying a fake can therefore expose consumers to chemicals they cannot identify and effects that may take time to show. It also allows counterfeiters to use trusted brand names while avoiding the safety standards legitimate businesses are expected to meet.
Who is buying counterfeit beauty products?
About 20% of 18- to 24-year-olds who bought beauty products last year knowingly purchased counterfeits, up from 6% in 2023, according to the latest Intellectual Property Office counterfeit goods tracker. The figures point to a growing willingness among some younger buyers to choose fake products.
Helen Barnham, the IPO’s head of enforcement engagement, said counterfeit products can appear convincing while containing dangerous substances or being made in unhygienic conditions. Counterfeiters exploit the reputations of brands consumers trust, she said, while bypassing safety standards.
The IPO is launching Face the Fakes, a campaign working with content creators and the beauty industry to raise awareness of the harms. Millie Kendall, chief executive of the British Beauty Council, said the UK beauty industry puts care and expertise into making products people can use with confidence, and said counterfeiters trade on that work without meeting the same standards.
One tested skincare product contained 13,200 parts per million of mercury.
