Safety Alerts
HSA updates on products found overseas that contain potent ingredients (January 2025)
Audiences
Consumer
Healthcare professional
Industry member
Product type
Chinese Proprietary Medicines
Cosmetic products
Health supplements
Traditional medicines
27 February 2025
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The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) would like to update the public on products that have been found and reported by overseas regulators in January 2025 to contain potent ingredients which are not allowed in these products and may cause side effects. This information is provided to increase awareness on safety issues of such products found overseas, which may impact the local population. Please refer to Annex A and Annex B for the list of products and the possible side effects of the potent ingredients. Please refer to the pdf document for images of the products.
HSA’s Advisory
2 Members of the public are advised to:
Consult a doctor if you have consumed any of the products and are feeling unwell.
Avoid buying any of the products when abroad.
Exercise caution when purchasing health products online or from sources (either local or overseas) which you may not be familiar with, even if well-meaning friends or relatives have recommended them. You cannot be certain where and how these products were made. They may be illegal, counterfeit or substandard, and may contain potent ingredients which can harm your health. If buying health products online, we encourage you to buy them from websites with an established retail presence in Singapore.
Be wary of products that promise quick and miraculous results or carry exaggerated claims like “100% safe”, “no side effects” or “scientifically proven”. Consumers should also be cautious of products that produce unexpected quick recovery of medical conditions.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you need help for the management of your acute and chronic medical symptoms and conditions (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, eczema).
3 Additionally, members of the public are encouraged to visit https://www.hsa.gov.sg/consumer-safety/ to learn more about the dangers of buying health products from dubious sources.
4 Members of the public who come across the sale and supply of these products in Singapore may contact HSA's Enforcement Branch at Tel: 6866 3485 during office hours (Monday to Friday) or email: hsa_is@hsa.gov.sg.
Annex A
List of Products
Note: There may be different versions or variants of the products listed below. You are advised to consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure of any health product you intend to use, or if you need help for your acute and chronic medical symptoms and conditions
List of products
Name of product | Potent ingredient(s) | Source (Regulatory Agency) |
|---|---|---|
A DHA Beauty Care Day Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
A DHA Beauty Care Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Adhe_Beautycare Cream Malam | Mercury | Indonesia |
Adhe_Beautycare Cream Siang | Mercury | Indonesia |
Baby Gold Beauty Day Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Baby Gold Beauty Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Balleza Skincare Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Beauty Glow Platinum Triple 3 | Hydroquinone | Indonesia |
Black Horse Vital Honey | Sildenafil and Tadalafil | Swissmedic |
Body Whitening Platinum | Hydroquinone | Indonesia |
Booster Glow Beauty Skin Day | Mercury | Indonesia |
BOOSTER UP Dazzling Lumina Night Cream | Hydroquinone | Indonesia |
BRD Racikan Cream Flek Dokter | Mercury | Indonesia |
CASANDRA Eye Brow Pencil (Brown) | Lead | Indonesia |
Citra Day & Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Clariderm Day & Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
CLB Body Lotion Extra Whitening | Mercury | Indonesia |
CLB Glow Skincare All In One Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
CR Cream Paket Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
CR Day Cream with Vitamin E | Mercury | Indonesia |
CR Racikan Ling Zhi Day Cream with Vitamin E | Mercury | Indonesia |
CR Racikan Ling Zhi Night Cream with Vitamin E | Mercury | Indonesia |
CR Toner | Mercury | Indonesia |
CR U.V. Whitening Day Cream with Vitamin E | Mercury | Indonesia |
CR U.V. Whitening Night Cream with Vitamin E | Mercury | Indonesia |
Cream HN Malam | Mercury | Indonesia |
Cream HN Siang | Mercury | Indonesia |
Cream Super Glowing Night | Hydroquinone | Indonesia |
Diamond Cream Whitening & Anti Acne | Mercury | Indonesia |
Dinda Skincare Bibit Pemutih | Mercury | Indonesia |
Dinda Skincare Day Cream DN (Paket Glowing) | Mercury | Indonesia |
Dinda Skincare Vitamin Wajah Glowing | Mercury | Indonesia |
Dinda Skincare Whitening Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Dinda Super Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Dokter White Whitening Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Dr. Gold Super Quality SPF 30 | Mercury | Indonesia |
Eczevandia BabyCream | Mometasone | Hong Kong Department of Health |
Eczevandia Cream | Miconazole and Mometasone | Hong Kong Department of Health |
Erfast Day Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Erfast Extra Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Erfast Extra Toner | Mercury | Indonesia |
Erfast Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Esther Bleaching Cream A | Mercury | Indonesia |
Esther Bleaching Cream B | Mercury | Indonesia |
Esther Whitening Cream M | Mercury | Indonesia |
Esther Whitening Cream S | Mercury | Indonesia |
Fair & Lovely Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Farma Skincare Whitening Day Cream | Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
Fass Glow Day Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Galau Day Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Galau Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
HB Glow Platinum Super Dosting Pink | Mercury | Indonesia |
Herbal Plus New, Day & Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Jlfara Seaweed | Mercury | Malaysia National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency |
KKK Sp Pearl Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
KLT Krim Malam | Mercury | Indonesia |
KM 1 Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Labella Day Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Labella Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Lasona Skin Care Daily Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Lasona Skin Care Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
LB Collagen +DNA Salmon Night Whitening Glow | Mercury | Indonesia |
LC Beauty Luxury Day Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
LC Beauty Luxury Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
LC Beauty Ultra Toner Whitening | Hydroquinone and Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
Lien Hua Day Cream (Bunga Teratai) | Mercury | Indonesia |
Lien Hua Krim Pagi Siang Cream Merah / Pot Plastik | Mercury | Indonesia |
Lien Hua Night Cream (Bunga Teratai) | Mercury | Indonesia |
LT Glow Fleck Solution Whitening | Hydroquinone and Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
LT Glow Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Malebbi Cosmetics Face Toner | Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
Malebbi Cosmetics Kromosom Diamond Brightening Body lotion | Mercury | Indonesia |
Marigold Whitening Glow Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Max Slim 7 Days | Sibutramine | Swissmedic |
Natural 99 Vitamin E Jingga / Pot Plastik | Mercury | Indonesia |
Natural 99 Vitamin E Putih / Pot Plastik | Mercury | Indonesia |
Neo Ljk Clear Pore Cream | Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
New Placenta Pemutih Day Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
New Special 99 Black | Mercury | Indonesia |
Night Cream SPC 0.05 | Hydroquinone and Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
NRL Cosmetic Premium Day Cream | Hydroquinone | Indonesia |
NRL Cosmetic Premium Night Cream | Hydroquinone | Indonesia |
NRL Kosmetik Acne Series, Day Skincare Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
NRL Kosmetik Acne Series, Night Skincare Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
NRL Kosmetik Flek Series, Day Skincare Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
NRL Kosmetik Flek Series, Night Skincare Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
NRL Kosmetik Glowing Series, Day Skincare Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
NRL Kosmetik Glowing Series, Night Skincare Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
NRL Toner | Hydroquinone | Indonesia |
Pelicin Premium Crystal With Extra Liposome | Hydroquinone and Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
Pemutih Dokter | Mercury | Indonesia |
Pemutih Sejuta Bintang | Mercury | Indonesia |
Qianyan | Mercury | Indonesia |
Qweena Skincare Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
RATU GLOW Acne Night Cream Plus | Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
RATU GLOW Glowing Night Cream Acne | Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
RATU GLOW Night Cream Whitening | Hydroquinone and Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
RATU GLOW Whitening Night Cream | Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
Rclinic Gell Booster Pelicin | Hydroquinone | Indonesia |
Rose Cream White & Natural Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Salep Flek Night New Formula | Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
SBC Night Cream Glowing Shining | Hydroquinone and Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
SHERBY'S 2-Side Colors Blush On 03 | Lead | Indonesia |
SHERBY'S 9 Colors Eyeshadow and Blush On Set 03 (Blush On) | Lead | Indonesian Food and Drug Authority |
SHERBY'S Make Up Kit Brilliant | Lead | Indonesia |
SHERBY'S Make Up Kit Dramaqueen | Lead | Indonesia |
Spesial Pearl Cream Super | Mercury | Indonesia |
SYR Face Toner (Paket Super) | Hydroquinone and Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
Tabita Daily Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Tabita Glow Daily Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Tabita Glow Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Tabita Nightly Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Tabita Skin Care Smooth Lotion | Hydroquinone | Indonesia |
Toner Pelicin Ekstrak Lemon | Hydroquinone | Indonesia |
Tunjung Biru Glowing Night Cream Flek | Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
Uniparco Light up Dark Spots Correcting Serum | Clobetasol and Hydroquinone | Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency |
Viona Skincare Lightening Day Crema | Mercury | Indonesia |
Viona Skincare Lightening Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Walet Racikan Putih | Mercury | Indonesia |
Whitening Night Cream (dalam paket NezzMG Cosmetics) | Hydroquinone | Indonesia |
Zam Zam Toner | Hydroquinone and Retinoic acid | Indonesia |
Zam Zam Whitening Cream Day Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Zam Zam Whitening Cream Night Cream | Mercury | Indonesia |
Annex B
The possible side effects of the potent ingredients
Corticosteroids (Clobetasol and Mometasone)
Clobetasol and Mometasone are potent steroids that are usually prescribed for inflammatory conditions and should only be used under strict medical supervision. Long-term unsupervised use of steroids (including topical use where the steroid can be absorbed into the body) can cause increased blood glucose levels (which may lead to diabetes), high blood pressure, cataracts, muscular and bone disorders, an increased risk of infections and Cushing’s syndrome (a round face or ‘moon face’ appearance and upper body obesity with thin limbs). Discontinuation of steroids without proper medical supervision can cause serious withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, confusion, and low blood pressure, especially when the product has been taken for more than a few weeks.
Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is a potent ingredient used in prescription medicines for the treatment of skin conditions. The ingredient is prohibited in skincare cosmetic products and should only be used under medical supervision, as hydroquinone may cause harmful effects if not used properly. The inappropriate use of hydroquinone could result in changes in skin colour and hypersensitivity reactions such as rashes, redness, tingling and burning of skin.
Miconazole
Miconazole is a medicine used to treat fungal infections. Side effects from inappropriate use of creams containing miconazole include burning, stinging, swelling, irritation, redness and flaking of the skin.
Phosphodiesterase Type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors
his class of medicine includes avanafil, carbodenafil, sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil and their derivatives. These medicines can cause serious side effects such as strokes, heart attacks, decreased or loss of vision and hearing and priapism (painful and exceedingly long erections). If priapism is not treated immediately, it may lead to permanent impotence. PDE-5 inhibitors are also not suitable for patients with medical conditions such as certain heart-related problems or who are on heart medications such as nitrates. Deaths of patients found to be using sildenafil while on nitrates have been reported overseas.
Retinoic acid
Tretinoin is a potent ingredient used in prescription medicines for the treatment of skin conditions and should be used under medical supervision. The ingredient is prohibited in skincare cosmetic products. Inappropriate use of tretinoin could lead to side effects such as redness and peeling of skin.
Toxic Heavy Metals (Lead and Mercury)
Consumption of excessive amounts of toxic heavy metals such as lead and mercury pose serious health risks and may increase the chance of poisoning. Possible symptoms of arsenic poisoning include vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, heart-related problems, breathing difficulties and numbness of the limbs. Exposure to high levels of lead may cause anaemia, weakness, and kidney and brain damage. High levels of mercury may cause kidney injury (e.g. protein in urine and oedema) and affect the nervous system (e.g. numbness, tingling, dizziness, forgetfulness, headaches and depression).
Download PDF: HSA Foreign Alert_2025_January [PDF, 2485 KB]