- Testing on counterfeit beauty products seized by Trading Standards has revealed potentially deadly chemicals, including mercury, lead, nicotine and methanol.
- Skincare items contained up to 13,200 parts per million of mercury, while some fake fragrances were found to consist of approximately 80 per cent methanol.
- Data from the Intellectual Property Office reveals a sharp rise in fake beauty purchases, with 20 per cent of 18-to-24-year-olds knowingly buying counterfeits in 2025.
- Police and Trading Standards recently carried out major raids across Greater Manchester, seizing millions of pounds worth of counterfeit beauty products and vapes.
- Experts and the Intellectual Property Office's Face the Fakes campaign have warned that dangerous illegal cosmetics bypass UK safety standards and pose severe health risks.
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