Testing finds hazardous substances in counterfeit beauty products

Crime · First reported 30 Oct, 00:01 · Updated 00:31

Image: Wikimedia Commons · NASA Johnson Space Center · Public domain

Tests of seized counterfeit cosmetics found mercury, lead, nicotine and methanol. Authorities also reported seizures in Manchester and Bolton, while an IPO tracker found more young adult buyers knowingly purchased counterfeit beauty products in 2025 than in 2023.

Testing found 13,200 parts per million of mercury in one skincare product, lead in some makeup, nicotine in perfume and a counterfeit fragrance made up of around 80% methanol.
Police seized 1,666 counterfeit hair products from a Manchester warehouse in July; a separate Bolton raid resulted in the seizure of counterfeit goods valued at £2 million.
The IPO tracker reported that 20% of 18–24-year-olds who bought beauty products in 2025 knowingly bought counterfeits, compared with 6% in 2023.

Summary written by Lux AI from 2 articles

Key facts

Mercury finding: 13,200 parts per million in one skincare product.
Young adult counterfeit purchases: 20% of 18–24-year-old beauty-product buyers knowingly bought counterfeits in 2025, up from 6% in 2023.
Manchester seizure: 1,666 counterfeit hair products seized in July.
Bolton seizure: Counterfeit goods valued at £2 million seized.