Cosmetics That Kills – Malaysians Are Dying From Toxic Beauty Products

The cosmetics industry is a billion ringgit industry in Malaysia, and small-medium scale cosmetics industry are unknowingly putting themselves at huge risk with beauty products that can kill.

Many of these products have unknown origins, many are bought in from China, Thailand or the Philippines, plus some that are manufactured locally. Most are packed with suspicious chemicals and harmful substances to meet the growing demand for cosmetics and skincare products, which promise to turn legions of fans into flawless beauties — or at least make them a couple of shades lighter.

Unfortunately, by making use of loopholes in this poorly regulated industry, manufacturers and retailers have managed to bring these products on sale without much of a care to what it may do to their customer’s health.

They are just required to declare their product ingredients through a “notification process” before being allowed into the market. No lab tests or registration are required.

NST had set up a special team to investigate this claims and find out how dangerous these cosmetics products are, and to their shock, it was worse than they initially expected.
The team bought some samples from kiosks operating in renowned shopping malls, pasar malam, bazaars and businesses running on social media platforms, the products ranged from counterfeit and home-grown brands sourced from sellers, which are then sent to science laboratories run by reputable universities, as well as private facilities, to help identify hazardous compounds contained within.
The products sent in, many currently in trend among users, were found to contain harmful substances, including hydroquinone and mercury — a neurotoxin that these manufacturers use as a skin-whitening agent.
Most of the products, including facemask, whitening night cream, whitening moisturiser and sunblock, lipstick, mascara, eye shadow, compact powder and foundation, only listed safe and permissible ingredients on their labels.

To the unlucky ones, use of these products may cause severe complications, including severe swelling, redness and thinning of the skin from using these products, have gone on social media to register their frustration. Some also suffer from Ochronosis — a condition which leaves a permanent blue hue on their faces. 
Users are also at risk of dermatitis, severe kidney damage, and in many cases, anxiety, depression, psychosis and peripheral neuropathy.

Public complaints about the products, however, are often quickly erased by the website administrators, and soon none would be the wiser.

Based on an exclusive exposé by NST Online.