'Get Cosmetic Confident'

12 November 2025

Trading Standards Wales (TSW) is issuing a strong warning to consumers about the growing threat posed by illegal and counterfeit cosmetic products being both on high street shops and online.

These products are often marketed as high-end or professional-grade beauty solutions, but they can contain toxic and banned substances that pose serious health risks.

Counterfeit or unauthorised cosmetics imported from abroad or purchased from online marketplaces have been found to contain arsenic, lead, mercury, and even animal waste, which can cause severe skin irritation, infections, chemical burns, and long-term health complications for consumers.   Examples of recent concerns include:

1. Illegal skin lightening creams often contain hydroquinone, mercury, and corticosteroids, which can lead to skin damage, pregnancy complications, and even osteoporosis.

• Teeth whitening kits sold online have been seized with hydrogen peroxide levels up to 300 times the legal limit, risking burns and permanent gum damage.
• UV gel nail systems marketed for home use contain acrylates that can trigger allergic reactions and permanent skin damage.
• "At-home" lash lift and tint kits have become popular, but they come with serious risks. These products should only be applied by salon professionals, and they should not be used at home
• Nasal tanning sprays, or nasal tanners, promise an all-over tan without sun exposure. However, they are unregulated, can be unsafe, and contain potentially risky substances like Melanotan 2

Highlighting these risks recent investigations by several Trading Standards Teams across Wales have led to retailers being prosecuted for selling products not fit for sale in the UK market.

In 2024 Shared Regulatory Services (SRS) prosecuted at retailer in Cardiff who was selling cosmetic products from his Cardiff premises, that were not intended for the UK market, and which failed to comply with product safety law. Officers initially visited the premises and provided detailed advice on what needed to be done to comply with the law and trade safely.

Nevertheless, the advice was ignored and non-compliant product lines continued to be stocked.  Officers seized a number of products which contained hydroquinone - a substance which is prohibited in cosmetic products. Other products on sale were medicinal products which can only be legally sold or supplied to the public through a registered pharmacy premises or by/ under the supervision of a pharmacist. In addition, some product lines had no labelling or ingredients list on the packaging.  In this case the owner pleaded guilty to the offences.

This is just the first of a string of cases relating to cosmetics that Welsh Trading Standard Authorities are bringing to court.

Following the Chartered Training Standards Institute (CTSI) recent #CostofBeauty campaigns and recent issues identified in Wales, TSW would remind consumers of the following advice when buying cosmetics:  

• Buy cosmetics only from reputable suppliers.
• Avoid products labelled "for professional use only" unless applied by a trained professional.
• Products bought from online marketplaces can be counterfeit or contaminated. Avoid products without regulatory approval.
• Report unsafe or suspicious products to your local Trading Standards team

TSW would also remind consumers that certain cosmetic beauty treatments—such as tattooing, semi-permanent makeup, body piercing, acupuncture, and electrolysis—are now regulated under the Special Procedures Licensing Scheme, introduced in Wales on 29 November 2024.

This scheme ensures practitioners meet strict hygiene and infection control standards, reducing the risk of harm. In Wales anyone offering these services musthold a Special Procedure Licence and operate from an approved premises or vehicle.  

TSW would advise consumers that before booking a treatment:

• Check that the practitioner is licensed under the new scheme using the Special Procedures Wales Public Register,
• Verify that the premises or mobile unit has an approval certificate.
• Avoid unlicensed operators, as they may not meet essential safety standards.

For more information on the Special Procedures Licensing Scheme, contact your local Licensing or Environmental Health Teams.

For further information, please go to: www.tradingstandards.gov.wales/en/tswweek