Stay cautious, stay safe - 'whitening' and 'anti-ageing' products found to contain mercury and prohibited ingredients

Be cautious when buying cosmetic products from overseas, or unfamiliar sources such as online shops. Even recommendations by friends or relatives cannot guarantee that the ingredients list and country of manufacture are accurate. Products that promise quick, miraculous results or make exaggerated claims such as skin whitening within a short period of time may contain potent ingredients that may harm you.

Here is a selection of cases to illustrate the types of illegal cosmetic products that have been detected.

Beware of irreparable harm caused by unreliable products

A consumer who purchased “Q-nic Care Whitening Underarm Cream” online experienced immediate and effective results which made her suspect that something was wrong with the product. She reported the product to HSA.

HSA’s investigations revealed that “Q-nic Care Whitening Underarm Cream” was sold on local e-commerce platforms and a retail shop.

The cream was touted to help reduce body odour, whiten and smoothen skin tone. It claimed to be “safe, natural, non-toxic and harmless to your skin”. However, a laboratory tests revealed that the cream contained potent ingredients, including very high levels of mercury, a potent steroid (betamethasone valerate) and a preservative (triclosan) that is not allowed in cosmetic skin creams.

Mercury is a toxic heavy metal and is prohibited for use as an ingredient in cosmetic products. Betamethasone valerate is a potent steroid usually prescribed for inflammatory conditions and should only be used under medical supervision. Triclosan is a preservative with anti-bacterial properties which may cause skin irritation.

In another case, a woman in her 20s was detained at the Causeway for attempting to bring the "Wonderglow" and "Tati Skin Care 5 in 1" cosmetic sets into Singapore. She had intended to sell these products online.

"Wonderglow" was marketed online as an anti-wrinkle and anti-ageing product, with claims to brighten the skin in “as early as 3 days”. It was also falsely labelled to be “100% no mercury guaranteed”. Laboratory tests revealed that the "Night Cream" in the set contained very high levels of mercury, exceeding the permissible limit by 7,000 times.

Laboratory tests also showed that the "Therapy Cream 1" in the "Tati Skin Care 5 in 1" set contained mercury exceeding the permissible limit by close to 50,000 times. "Therapy Cream 2" in the set was tested to contain hydroquinone and tretinoin, both potent western medicinal ingredients that should only be used under medical supervision.

Suppliers of illegal health products including cosmetics are liable to prosecution. If convicted, they may be imprisoned for up to three years and/or fined up to $100,000.

You can help us combat illegal, counterfeit and substandard health products. Report any suspicious sale or advertising of health products to HSA through e-mail or phone at 6866 3485.