Fake beauty products seized across the UK contained mercury, lead and methanol, the consumer watchdog Trading Standards said, according to The Guardian.

Trading Standards tested 50 seized fake cosmetics, The Guardian reports. One skincare product had 13,200 parts per million of mercury, and fake lipstick, eyeshadow and contour products had high levels of lead, the outlet reports. Tests also found nicotine in perfume and one fake fragrance made of about 80% methanol, a toxic alcohol.

Mercury can damage the kidneys and nervous system through repeated skin contact, and lead can harm the brain, The Guardian reports. Lead poses special risks for children and during pregnancy, the outlet reports. Fakes are riskier because they skip safety tests and often have false ingredient lists. Trading Standards surveys found nearly three in four people who bought fake cosmetics did so online.

About 20% of 18- to 24-year-olds who bought beauty products last year knowingly bought fakes, The Guardian reports, citing the Intellectual Property Office. That is up from 6% in 2023. "Counterfeit beauty products can look incredibly convincing," toxicologist Rani Ghosh said. "You cannot tell from the packaging what chemicals are inside."

Police in Greater Manchester seized 1,666 fake hair products in July, and a raid in Bolton found £2 million worth of fake goods, The Guardian reports. The Intellectual Property Office is launching a campaign called Face the Fakes, the outlet reports.

What we know: Tests on seized fake cosmetics found mercury, lead and methanol.
What we don't: Which brands were copied and where the fakes were made. Only The Guardian has reported this so far. NewsHabit hasn't seen independent confirmation.