Source: Intellectual Property Office (IPO) published on this website Wednesday 4 November 2026
Counterfeit beauty products are putting people’s health at risk, prompting warnings from the Intellectual Property Office, Trading Standards and beauty industry experts about the dangers of fake cosmetics. They are urging people to buy from trusted sources.
Testing of products seized in the UK found four in ten (40%) contained potentially harmful substances. These include mercury, high levels of lead, methanol and nicotine.
The Intellectual Property Office’s (IPO) new Face the Fakes campaign is highlighting the hidden risks identified through testing of seized counterfeit products. These include a skincare product containing 13,200 parts per million of mercury and high levels of lead in make-up. A counterfeit fragrance contained around 80% methanol, a toxic alcohol that can cause serious poisoning.
Beauty products are a major target for counterfeiters in the UK. Cosmetics, skincare and perfumes are among Trading Standards’ ten most commonly investigated counterfeit goods.
In July, the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit and Greater Manchester Police seized 1,666 counterfeit hair products from a warehouse in Manchester. These included hair extensions, shampoo and conditioners.
This follows a raid in Bolton, where Trading Standards officers seized £2 million worth of counterfeit goods, including perfume, cosmetics, clothing and vapes.
The findings come as the latest IPO data counterfeit beauty buying is rising sharply among younger consumers. The latest IPO Counterfeit Goods Tracker (September 2026) found that 20% of 18 to 24-year-olds who bought beauty products in 2025 knowingly purchased counterfeits. This is more than three times the proportion recorded in 2023 (6%).
The growing role of online and social media shopping is adding to concerns. Nearly three in four (71%) people who bought counterfeit cosmetics and toiletries purchased them online, where convincing product listings, familiar branding and positive reviews can make fakes difficult to identify.
The real impact of counterfeit beauty
Giorgia Aloi is supporting the campaign after her mother suffered an allergic reaction to a counterfeit foundation purchased through a social media marketplace. What appeared to be a genuine beauty product left her mother with a painful reaction on her face. The experience brought home the potential dangers of counterfeit cosmetics.
The experience prompted Giorgia to establish SafeGlam, a platform raising awareness of the harms of counterfeit beauty products. She is now sharing her family’s experience as part of the IPO’s Face the Fakes campaign to warn others about the risks.
What’s really inside counterfeit beauty products?
Trading Standards has tested a cross-section of 50 seized counterfeit cosmetic products and identified potentially harmful substances across skincare, make-up and fragrance.
- mercury in skincare: one counterfeit skin-lightening cream contained 1.32% mercury, equivalent to 13,200 parts per million. Mercury is prohibited in cosmetics of this type and repeated exposure through the skin can damage the kidneys and nervous system, with effects that may not be immediately visible
- lead in make-up: high levels of lead were found in multiple counterfeit lipsticks, eyeshadows and contour products, including 40 mg/kg in one contour kit. Lead can build up in the body over time, potentially damaging the brain, nervous system and kidneys. There are particular risks for children and during pregnancy
- nicotine in perfume: testing also detected nicotine in a counterfeit perfume, despite it being prohibited in cosmetics
- methanol in fragrance: one counterfeit fragrance tested contained around 80% methanol, a toxic alcohol that can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled. Methanol can cause serious poisoning, including damage to the nervous system and eyesight. This can potentially result in permanent blindness
- hydroquinone in skincare: one counterfeit skin-lightening cream contained 8.1% hydroquinone, a chemical prohibited in cosmetic skin-lightening products in the UK. It can cause skin irritation and, with repeated use, pigmentation changes including patchy skin lightening and ochronosis. Ochronosis is a potentially permanent blue-black discolouration of the skin. Unlike legitimate cosmetics, which must meet strict UK safety requirements, counterfeit products can bypass these safeguards. They can also be made in unhygienic conditions, increasing the risk of contamination. This means people cannot be sure what’s inside them or whether they’re safe to use
Rani Ghosh, an independent toxicologist, said:
“When you hear that mercury has been found in face cream, lead in make-up or nicotine in perfume, it raises serious questions about what is going into these products and how they are being made.
“Some reactions to unsafe cosmetics may be visible, such as irritation, swelling or changes to the skin. But what concerns me as a toxicologist is what you might not see. Substances such as mercury and lead can affect the body internally, and those effects may not be immediately obvious.
“Counterfeit beauty products can look incredibly convincing. You cannot tell from the packaging what chemicals are inside, how the product has been made, or what risk it might pose. That is why knowing where your beauty products come from matters.”
Helping consumers Face the Fakes
The IPO’s Face the Fakes campaign is working with content creators and the beauty industry to highlight the potential harms of counterfeit beauty products using visual content, expert evidence and practical consumer advice. The IPO is also working with industry organisations to help beauty businesses protect their customers and supply chains. New guidance for salons, beauty professionals and smaller businesses is being shared through trade bodies. It provides practical advice on identifying warning signs and sourcing products from trusted suppliers.
Face the Fakes: five ways to shop safe
- Check who you’re buying from. Look beyond the marketplace or social platform and check the seller behind the listing. Where possible, buy from trusted retailers, official brand websites or authorised sellers.
- Question the deal, and don’t be rushed. A discount doesn’t mean something is fake, but an unusually low price can be a warning sign. Be wary of deals or sales tactics that pressure you to buy quickly – pause and think twice before you purchase.
- Look beyond the shiny stuff. Don’t rely on convincing imagery or five-star reviews alone. Check the product information, ingredients, company or contact details and other information you’d expect to see. Look beyond the listing for information about the seller.
- Pay attention if something feels off. When your product arrives, check the packaging for an ingredients list, batch number, company name and address and any relevant safety warnings. Missing details, blurry print, spelling mistakes or something that looks, smells or feels different from what you expect can be warning signs.
- Think it could be fake? Don’t use it – report it. Don’t try it and see. Keep the product, packaging, receipt and seller details, and report your concerns to Trading Standards. Find out more about Face the Fakes and how to shop safe on the Safeglam website.
