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UK Trading Standards testing found that 20 of 50 seized counterfeit cosmetic products failed safety checks. The samples included products containing mercury, lead, methanol, nicotine and hydroquinone; the IPO is highlighting the findings through its Face the Fakes campaign.
Trading Standards testing found 20 of 50 seized counterfeit cosmetic products failed safety checks, with substances including mercury, lead and methanol detected, according to findings highlighted by the UK Intellectual Property Office. The results underpin the IPO’s Face the Fakes campaign, which is urging beauty businesses and consumers to take care over where cosmetics are bought and sold.
The testing examined a cross-section of 50 seized counterfeit products across skin care, make-up and fragrance. The IPO’s investigation reported that four in ten of the samples failed safety checks; it did not say that the sample was representative of all counterfeit cosmetics available in the UK.
Among the products tested, a counterfeit skin-lightening cream contained 1.32% mercury, or 13,200 parts per million. Another cream contained 8.1% hydroquinone, which the source says is prohibited in cosmetic skin-lightening products in the UK. High levels of lead were detected in counterfeit lipstick, eyeshadow and contour products, including 40 milligrams per kilogram in one contour kit.
Testing also found nicotine in a counterfeit perfume and around 80% methanol in one counterfeit fragrance. The substances and concentrations were reported for individual items, not for every product in those categories. The source does not identify the brands or sellers associated with the tested products.
Risks Behind Counterfeit Beauty Products
The findings matter because cosmetics are applied to the skin or used near the eyes and mouth, while fragrance can also be inhaled. The source says repeated skin exposure to mercury can damage the kidneys and nervous system, and that lead can accumulate in the body and affect the brain, nervous system and kidneys. At sufficiently high exposure, methanol can cause serious poisoning, including damage to eyesight and the nervous system.
Hydroquinone in the reported cream can cause irritation and, with repeated use, potentially lasting changes to skin pigmentation, according to the investigation. The test results do not establish that anyone was harmed, or determine the exposure a consumer would receive from using any particular item. They do show why the origin and safety controls behind a product are relevant to buyers, salons and retailers.
The IPO campaign is also aimed at businesses that purchase or use beauty products. Counterfeit goods can be sold through routes that do not provide the same assurance of product assessment and legal accountability as legitimate supply chains. The campaign asks professionals to strengthen checks on products they buy, use and sell, while encouraging consumers to choose trusted sources.
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UK Checks and Recent Seizures
Cosmetics, skin care and perfumes are among the ten types of counterfeit goods most commonly investigated by Trading Standards, according to the source report. The IPO’s Face the Fakes campaign is working with beauty industry organisations, scientific experts and social media creators to raise awareness of counterfeit-product risks.
The report also describes enforcement action involving other counterfeit goods. In July 2026, the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit and Greater Manchester Police seized 1,666 counterfeit hair products from a Manchester warehouse, including hair extensions, shampoo and conditioners. Separately, Trading Standards officers seized goods valued at £2 million in a raid on a production facility in Bolton; the reported haul included perfume, cosmetics, clothing and vapes.
Industry representatives say legitimate cosmetics are subject to safety controls. Dr Emma Meredith, director-general of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association, said products undergo a safety assessment and companies have legal responsibilities for goods they place on the UK market. Counterfeit items may bypass those safeguards, but the source provides no case-by-case account of how the seized products were made or distributed.
““Safety and trust run right through our industry, from the brands developing products to the retailers and professionals bringing them to consumers.””
— Millie Kendall, chief executive of the British Beauty Council
Limits of the Sample and Findings
The results describe 50 seized counterfeit products, and the report does not provide details on where or when every item was seized, how the sample was selected, or how many products were tested for each substance. The reported four-in-ten failure rate should not be treated as an estimate for all counterfeit cosmetics in the UK.
The source does not name the products, brands, manufacturers or sellers, or report whether prosecutions or other legal action have followed. It also does not say whether the test results have been published in a full technical report, or provide exposure assessments for people who may have used the products. The findings identify substances in specific samples; they do not confirm consumer injuries.
Campaign and Enforcement Measures
The IPO’s Face the Fakes campaign is using the findings to raise awareness with beauty businesses and the public. The campaign is working with industry groups, scientific experts and social media creators, while the IPO is urging salons, retailers and professionals to strengthen checks on their suppliers and products.
The source does not announce a new testing schedule, further raids or a timetable for additional findings. Readers and businesses can expect the campaign’s stated focus to remain on buying from trusted sources and avoiding products whose seller or supply chain cannot be verified. Any further enforcement action or test results would need to be confirmed by the relevant authorities.
Key Questions
How many seized products failed safety checks?
Twenty of 50 products in the Trading Standards test failed safety checks, according to the IPO investigation. That is a result for the tested sample, not an estimate covering all counterfeit cosmetics.
Which substances were detected?
The report lists mercury, lead, methanol, nicotine and hydroquinone in particular counterfeit samples. It gives specific concentrations for some products, including 1.32% mercury in a cream and around 80% methanol in a fragrance.
Does the report say anyone was harmed?
No. The source describes substances found in seized products and outlines possible health effects, but it does not report confirmed injuries or establish that a consumer used the tested items.
What should salons and retailers do?
The IPO is urging beauty businesses to strengthen checks on the products they buy, use and sell. The campaign also advises choosing trusted sources; the source does not publish a detailed supplier-check checklist.
Is the four-in-ten figure a UK-wide rate?
No such conclusion is supported by the information provided. It refers to 20 failures among 50 seized products tested; the report does not say that the sample represents every counterfeit cosmetic on the UK market.
Source: cosmeticsbusiness.com
