Health · Public Health & Disease · 3 hrs ago
Tests find harmful chemicals in counterfeit beauty products
UK Trading Standards testing found dangerous substances in counterfeit beauty products seized by enforcement teams.
The products included skincare, lipstick, eyeshadow, contour make-up and perfume.
One skincare product contained 13,200 parts per million of mercury, while one fake fragrance was about 80% methanol.
Four in 10 seized cosmetics contained potentially harmful substances, and tests also found lead in make-up and nicotine in perfume.
Buying fakes is becoming more common among young adults: 20% of 18 to 24-year-olds who bought beauty products last year knowingly purchased counterfeits, up from 6% in 2023.
Counterfeits can bypass safety checks required for legitimate cosmetics, and harmful effects may not be immediately visible.
The IPO’s Face the Fakes campaign is sharing advice, including checking who sells a product and choosing trusted sources.
Testing of counterfeit beauty products seized by Trading Standards found mercury, lead, methanol and other potentially harmful substances.
Four in 10 seized cosmetics contained potentially harmful substances, and cosmetics, skincare and perfumes are among Trading Standards’ 10 most commonly investigated fake products.
One skincare product contained 13,200 parts per million of mercury, while a counterfeit fragrance was around 80% methanol.
The Intellectual Property Office says 20% of 18-to-24-year-olds who bought beauty products last year knowingly bought counterfeits, up from 6% in 2023.
The IPO’s Face the Fakes campaign is working with content creators and the beauty industry to warn consumers about the risks.
- Who
- Trading Standards tested seized counterfeit beauty products. The IPO, police and Greater Manchester Police were also involved in seizures.
- What
- Tests found potentially harmful substances, including mercury, lead, methanol and nicotine, in counterfeit beauty products.
- When
- The article was published on 30 October 2026. A seizure of counterfeit hair products took place in July; the year is not stated.
- Where
- The testing concerned products seized by Trading Standards. Police seized hair products at a warehouse in Manchester, and Trading Standards raided a production facility in Bolton.
- Why
- Counterfeit products can bypass safety standards and may contain dangerous substances. The IPO campaign aims to raise awareness and help people shop more safely.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The share of 18-to-24-year-olds who knowingly bought counterfeit beauty products was 6%.
Police seized 1,666 counterfeit hair products from a warehouse in Manchester.
20% of 18-to-24-year-olds who bought beauty products knowingly purchased counterfeits.
- Mercury
- 13,200 parts per million in one skincare product
- Counterfeit cosmetics
- Four in 10 seized cosmetics contained potentially harmful substances
- Methanol
- Around 80% of one counterfeit fragrance
- Young adult buyers
- 20% knowingly bought counterfeit beauty products last year
- Manchester seizure
- 1,666 counterfeit hair products seized in July
What people are saying
You cannot tell from the packaging what chemicals are inside, how the product has been made, or what risk it might pose.
These findings show why counterfeit beauty products can pose such serious risks to consumers.
There is a rigorous safety framework behind every legitimate cosmetic product sold in the UK.