Tests find mercury and lead in counterfeit beauty products

Trading Standards testing of seized counterfeit beauty products found mercury, lead, nicotine and methanol, including 13,200 parts per million of mercury in one skincare product, officials reported. The findings were made public alongside enforcement seizures and an Intellectual Property Office campaign to raise awareness of the risks of fake cosmetics. Tests also found high levels of lead in counterfeit lipstick, eyeshadow and contour products, and evidence of nicotine in perfume. One counterfeit fragrance was described as being around 80% methanol. Trading Standards said cosmetics, skincare and perfumes are among its 10 most commonly investigated counterfeit categories, and that four in 10 seized cosmetics contained potentially harmful substances. No underlying test records or sample counts were provided in the reports. The Intellectual Property Office’s latest Counterfeit Goods Tracker found that about 20% of 18-to-24-year-olds who bought beauty products knowingly purchased counterfeits, up from 6% in 2023. The figure relates to young adults who bought beauty products, not all people in that age group. The survey methodology was not detailed in the reporting. Enforcement...