Banned Beauty Products Flood Online Stores—Toxic Creams Contain 24,900x the Legal Mercury Limit!

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​In a recent and alarming revelation, over 3,000 beauty products predominantly marketed to Black women have been found to contain hazardous ingredients, including mercury—a toxic element known to cause severe health issues. This discovery underscores the urgent need for stricter regulations and heightened consumer awareness regarding the safety of skin lightening products (SLPs).​

Toxic watchdog group BAN Toxics has expressed deep concern over the continued online sale of banned SLPs containing mercury. Despite being prohibited by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these products remain widely available on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook Reels, Facebook Marketplace, Lazada, and Shopee.​

A recent investigation by BAN Toxics' BT Patrollers involved purchasing and testing various SLPs using a Vanta C Series XRF Handheld Chemical Analyzer. The results were alarming: all eight samples tested positive for mercury, with levels ranging from 5,700 parts per million (ppm) to a staggering 24,900 ppm—far exceeding the 1 ppm limit set by the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive.​

Mercury is often added to SLPs to suppress melanin production, leading to lighter skin. However, its use comes with significant health risks. The World Health Organization has identified mercury in certain SLPs as a "major public health concern." Exposure to mercury can result in symptoms such as irritability, shyness, tremors, changes in vision or hearing, memory problems, depression, and numbness or tingling in extremities or around the mouth.​

The U.S. FDA has also warned about the dangers of mercury exposure, noting that not only users but also their families are at risk. Mercury vapors can be inhaled, and contaminated items like washcloths or towels can spread the toxin.​

In light of these findings, BAN Toxics is calling on social media platforms and online shopping sites to take immediate action by removing content, advertisements, and listings that promote these hazardous products. Thony Dizon, Advocacy and Campaign Officer of BAN Toxics, emphasized the responsibility of these platforms to protect public health:​

"Social media platforms and online shopping sites must safeguard the public from prohibited beauty products that pose health risks. They should proactively take down these listings and take responsibility once and for all."​

Consumers are urged to exercise caution and avoid purchasing SLPs from unverified sources. For those seeking to address skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation, dermatologists recommend products containing safe and effective ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, kojic acid, azelaic acid, tranexamic acid, and licorice-root extract. These alternatives offer safer options for skin care without the associated risks of mercury exposure.​

The persistence of banned, mercury-laden skin lightening products in online marketplaces highlights a critical gap in consumer safety enforcement. It is imperative for regulatory bodies, online platforms, and consumers to collaborate in eliminating these dangerous products from the market and promoting the use of safe, effective alternatives.​

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