Recent enforcement actions highlight the scale of the black market, including a Bolton raid that confiscated £2 million in fake merchandise like cosmetics and perfume. Greater Manchester police and intellectual property crime units also intercepted 1,666 counterfeit hair items in a separate July operation. Laboratory screenings confirmed that these untracked formulations conceal extreme chemical contaminants, ranging from high lead concentrations in lipsticks to toxic industrial alcohols in fragrances.
Key points
The share of young adults knowingly buying fake beauty products jumped from 6% in 2023 to…: The share of young adults knowingly buying fake beauty products jumped from 6% in 2023 to about 20% last year.
Nearly three out of four shoppers who purchase counterfeit cosmetics and toiletries sourc…: Nearly three out of four shoppers who purchase counterfeit cosmetics and toiletries source the items through online platforms.
Officials are teaming up with the British Beauty Council and influencers on a new safety…: Officials are teaming up with the British Beauty Council and influencers on a new safety campaign called Face the Fakes.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Mercury, lead and methanol have been found in counterfeit beauty products seized across the UK, Trading Standards has said.
There is a rising problem with fake beauty products, with scammers selling copies of popular and expensive brands. Cosmetics, skincare and perfumes are now among the watchdog’s most commonly investigated fakes.
Tests found 13,200 parts per million of mercury in one skincare product, high levels of lead in lipstick, eyeshadow and contour products, nicotine in perfume and a counterfeit fragrance made up of about 80% methanol, a toxic alcohol that can cause serious poisoning.
About 20% of 18- to 24-year-olds who bought beauty products last year knowingly purchased counterfeits, up from 6% in 2023, according to the latest Intellectual Property Office (IPO) counterfeit goods tracker.
Counterfeit products are more likely to contain harmful substances because they do not have to undergo health and safety tests or contain accurate ingredient lists. Surveys by Trading Standards found that nearly three in four people who bought counterfeit cosmetics and toiletries purchased them online.
The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit and Greater Manchester police seized…
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