'Stark' trading standards warning issued over cosmetic products which could cause serious harm

Stephen Topping
·4-min read
Nail products are among the items experts have raised concerns around
Nail products are among the items experts have raised concerns around -Credit:Pixabay: picjumbo_com


Trading standards experts have issued a 'stark' warning about dangerous cosmetics products being sold online. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) says illegal products are being found online with ingredients that can cause pregnancy complications, skin infections and osteoporosis.

The organisation has today (April 25) launched its #CostOfBeauty campaign to raise awareness around the harms posted by skin lightening creams with illegal ingredients, illegal teeth whitening kits, and professional use gel nail and L&P nail systems being used by consumers at home. Christine Heemskerk, Lead Officer for Product Safety at CTSI, said: “Cosmetic products should attract compliments, not complications.

"These dangerous goods can leave the public with serious life-long side effects. Trading Standards will remove these products from sale and take action where needed, but online sellers need to take responsibility for the goods available for sale on their websites.

READ MORE: 'My son was out cold, covered in blood... someone thought he was dead'

"Turning a blind eye is not an option when dealing with people’s health. Online marketplaces can and must do better.”

Skin lightening products are used for various reasons. However, some of these products contain dangerous banned ingredients such as hydroquinone, mercury and licensed medicines like corticosteroids.

Creams containing these substances are illegal to be sold in the UK and Europe, because of the damaging and unpleasant side effects that can occur from prolonged use. Meanwhile, illegal teeth whitening kits for home use can cause burns and damage to gums.

It is illegal for these teeth whitening kits to contain more than 0.1 per cent hydrogen peroxide or other bleaching agents that release hydrogen peroxide. Teeth whiteners bought from online marketplaces have been found to contain illegal and dangerous levels of hydrogen peroxide - in as much as 300 times the safe, legal limit, the CTSI says.

UV Gel nail treatments and L&P (liquid monomer and polymer powder) nail systems use chemicals known as acrylates, including HEMA (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and Di-HEMA (trimethylhexyl dicarbamate). In some people these chemicals can cause allergies to develop, which could result in skin damage and lifelong side-effects.

To reduce the risk of developing an allergy, UV Gel nail treatments shouldn’t come into contact with the skin so they should only be administered by trained salon professionals using proper lamps. Trading Standards officers have been working hard to intercept these dangerous products at UK ports and borders.

Get the latest headlines here

Suffolk Trading Standards Imports Team alone found that 88 per cent of the cosmetic products checked in the last year were found to be unsafe or non-compliant. Dr Emma Meredith, Director-General of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA), the trade association representing manufacturers of cosmetics and personal care products in the UK, said: “The safety of our customers is the number one priority of the cosmetics industry and the UK has strict laws dedicated to the safety of cosmetic products and their ingredients.

All cosmetic products legally placed on the UK market, even via online, must abide by these robust rules. CTPA would advise purchasing your cosmetic products from a reputable retail source and ensure they are correctly labelled with a full ingredients list. If a product is labelled ‘for professional use only’, please only trust a professional to apply it for you, so you can get the results you want, safely.”

The chair of British Dental Association’s health and science committee, Mick Armstrong, added: “At best, people may be wasting their money buying over-the-counter and online products to whiten teeth. Home whitening kits are likely to take longer and be less effective than treatment from the dentist. While hydrogen peroxide, as used in dental practices, is the gold standard for whitening teeth, the lack of clarity over chemicals used in over-the counter and online products means you could be gambling with your teeth.

“Some online products have been found to contain dangerous chemicals, including toxic or banned substances that can severely burn gums, or irreparably damage teeth. Dentists are trained to consider a patient’s wider health and detect problems, such as gum disease, that impact on the suitability of an individual to have their teeth whitened.

"They also know what whitening products are effective to use, and safe for teeth and gums.” Anyone with concerns around suspicious cosmetic products - or who has experienced adverse reactions - is urged to call the free Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest stories

  • BBC Gardeners' World star Carol Klein announces shock health diagnosis and major surgery

    The popular TV presenter has been presenting permanently on the show since 2005

  • Amanda Holden sizzles as she displays toned legs in tiny mini dress

    Amanda Holden stunned fans on Saturday when the Britain's Got Talent judge posed in a tiny mini dress that showed off her toned physique

  • 'I didn't think we would harm him in the way we did', says medic who performed surgery that killed leading doctor and dad-of-two

    The family of Professor Amit Patel will be forced to wait another month before answers about the tragic death of the beloved dad-of-two

  • Side effects of 'weight loss' drug Ozempic as expert loses three stone

    Ozempic is a drug primarily prescribed to diabetic people, however it is commonly used as an off-label drug for weight loss

  • Terrified patients forced to flee major hospital 'in the dark' after power outage

    Patients have spoken of the dramatic moment they were forced to evacuate a major city hospital 'in the dark' after a critical incident was declared. People being treated at the Bristol Royal Infirmary said they heard what some thought was an 'explosion' as they were plunged into darkness and told to leave the site immediately. Multiple emergency services remain at the scene in Bristol city centre after what hospital bosses have since described as a 'power outage'. But those forced to flee said there was significant confusion about what was happening - with some claiming it was a ceiling collapse and others saying sparks were flying causing a fire. Lisa Davidson, 50, a housewife from Bristol, was having a blood infusion inside for Crohn's disease. She said: "All the lights went off and they kept flashing on and off. Then they told us to go out, we couldn’t find our way out.

  • Laura Norton fights back tears over children's health update

    Laura Norton fights back tears over children's health update

  • UK ‘sleepwalking’ into ‘lockdown first’ pandemic agreement, ministers warned

    Britain is “sleepwalking” into a pandemic agreement that risks bouncing it into a “lockdown first” precedent, ministers have been warned.

  • Parents of 15-Month-Old Who Died After Ingesting Drugs in Home Arrested

    The parents of a 15-month-old Florida child were arrested on May 1, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said, after investigations found that their son died after ingesting drugs left “easily accessible” in the home.Daniel Brady Miller and Kelli Nichole Starling were arrested on May 1, authorities said.Footage released by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) shows Starling and Miller being walked through the sheriff’s office compound in Ocala.The MCSO said 15-month-old Daltin Lee Miller was found unresponsive at a home in Ocala on March 1. He was pronounced deceased shortly after emergency services arrived at the scene.Investigations found Daltin had been removed from his parents at birth, but that Miller had gained back parental rights early in February, on the condition that Starling leave the residence due to her use of drugs.It was found that Starling had moved back to the residence later in February, and was in the home on March 1.A black pouch containing drug paraphernalia and a powdery substance that tested positive for fentanyl was found in the home on March 1, deputies said.The 5th District Office of the Medical Examiner found that Daltin died from acute toxicity due to the combined effects of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and xylazine.There was a significant amount of drugs in the child’s blood and liver, the examiner found, indicating that the drugs had been ingested.Miller and Starling were arrested at their home on May 1 for failing to make a “reasonable effort” to protect Daltin from dangerous narcotics in the home. They are being held without bond, deputies said. Credit: Marion County Sheriff’s Office via Storyful

  • Baby alpaca born with "floppy ears" receives treatment to straighten them

    A baby alpaca that was born with "floppy ears" has had treatment to straighten them out. The four-day old alpaca, who is currently unnamed, was born at Velvet Hall Alpacas with "floppy ears" - a rare and slight ear deformity that requires treatment with tape to reshape them. The practice does not harm the alpaca, and after two weeks of treatment with the makeshift splint, the tape will be removed and her ears will be pointing straight. Jean Macdonald, owner of Velvet Hall Alpacas in Innerleithen, Scotland, said that this is the first time she has seen the condition since purchasing their first alpaca in 2011. "Her ears have needed taped because they weren’t the right shape, so we have to tape them so they can grow into the right shape - but we've never had to do it before," said Jean.

  • Police discover what was in drug that led to 'major incident' medical emergency

    Two men died and eight others were hospitalised in the medical emergency last week.

  • High cholesterol: Six red flag signs that can appear in your legs

    High cholesterol is a "silent killer" condition that can raise your risk of heart attacks and strokes. There are some red flag signs that could prove lifesaving if spotted early

  • I followed Victoria Beckham's strict diet for a week - here's why a nutritionist warns against it

    Victoria Beckham's ultra-strict diet is full of healthy fats and nutrient-dense wellness foods, but how easy is it to follow? HELLO!'s Georgia trials the Spice Girl's day on a plate for a week - here's what happened.

  • I tried the longevity regime and felt its benefits in days

    Why do some people live to be centenarians, enjoying good health and vitality long into old age? The answer lies partly in our genes, but the way we choose to live also has a major part to play – as much as 75 per cent, according to research.

  • The most expensive Met Gala jewelry ever worn

    Clothes are usually the focus of the Met Gala red carpet, but A-list attendees often wear millions of dollars worth of jewelry with their outfits too.

  • Family's fears as The Quarrymen's Len Garry 'imprisoned' in hospital

    They have been waiting for a social worker to sign his discharge papers for weeks

  • King Charles receives warm royal welcome from Zara Tindall at Windsor Horse Show

    The King was seen grinning as he received a hug from niece Zara Tindall during a visit to the Royal Windsor Horse Show, as he returns to public duty following his cancer diagnosis. Charles, who in February revealed he had been found with an unspecified form of cancer, made his third public visit of the week to tour the popular equestrian attraction, an event his mother, the late Queen, used to love. At the Horse Show on Friday, the rain was persistent but Charles nonetheless beamed as he was embraced by his niece, Mrs Tindall.

  • Sepsis which nearly killed mum and baby could have been picked up by simple test costing just £15

    Preya is now calling for the £15 swab test to be made available on the NHs to prevent other mums having to go through what she did

  • 60-year-old left to walk 16 miles home at 3am after hospital fails to help

    The 60-year-old was then discharged from Worcestershire Royal Hospital at 3am but had no money to get a taxi and no one to give him a lift back to Evesham.

  • ‘Factor VIII was a wonder drug - but little did we know it was also lethal’

    For an engaged couple, there is the promise of a honeymoon and a lifetime of happiness to follow the big day.

  • Dr Michael Mosley says he will start taking one pill every day

    It has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer and dementia