13 November 2026, Quezon City. The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition reminded those seeking fairer, flawless skin to reject six unauthorized Pakistan-made cosmetics, which it recently purchased and analyzed for mercury content.
In its latest toxic exposé, the group revealed mercury levels up to 33,680 parts per million (ppm) in Pakistani beauty products, mostly produced in 2026, well past the global phase-out deadlines for the manufacture, import, and export of mercury-added cosmetics under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
“Even though the mercury treaty’s original 2020 deadline—and its 2025 extension—have come and gone, dangerous skin lightening products laced with mercury are still widely traded as if no ban exists,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
XRF screening uncovers toxic mercury in these unauthorized products at levels that will qualify them as waste contaminated with mercury.
During the last two weeks, the group uncovered high mercury levels in the following products, particularly in the facial cream, as detected through X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) screening:
–Gold Swan 24K Gold Beauty Cream, 33,680 ppm;
–Arena Gold Premium HD+ PRO Beauty Set 4 in 1 (with cream, serum, facial wash, and soap), 31, 310 ppm
–Loviza Beauty Cream, 29,660 ppm
–Arena Gold Beauty Cream 4 in 1 (with cream, serum, soap and sunblock), 28,170 ppm
–Shivanya Beauty Cream, 898 ppm
–Super White Beauty Cream Combo Pack (with serum), 689 ppm
To date, the EcoWaste Coalition has identified 55 “beauty creams” from Pakistan containing mercury, a toxic chemical not permitted in cosmetics such as skin lightening creams and soaps.
The EcoWaste Coalition advises consumers to exercise extreme caution when buying skin-lightening products from unknown sources and with hidden toxins.
“Mercury-laced skin lighteners pose a serious health threat to you and everyone in your household,” said Lucero. “Children can also absorb mercury from these products by breathing in the fumes, touching or kissing someone who uses them, or coming into contact with tainted clothes, towels, and bedding. Mercury from toxic skin lighteners can transfer from mothers to babies during pregnancy or through breast milk.”
As pointed out by the World Health Organization (WHO): “Adverse health effects of the inorganic mercury contained in skin lightening creams and soaps include: kidney damage, skin rashes, skin discolouration and scarring, reduction in the skin’s resistance to bacterial and fungal infections, anxiety, depression, psychosis and peripheral neuropathy.”
To protect yourself from mercury poisoning caused by tainted skin whitening products, the EcoWaste Coalition advises the public to keep the following guidelines in mind:
Be proud of your natural skin tone. Stand against colorism—the unfair bias favoring lighter skin—by completely avoiding chemical whiteners and celebrating your natural complexion.
Inspect labels closely. Watch out for warning signs on packaging, such as missing or vague ingredient details and unrealistic claims.
Shop cautiously online. Remember, banned and unregistered beauty products are still widely sold on e-commerce sites and social media.
Verify before you buy. Check the FDA portal at https://verification.fda.gov.ph/ to ensure a product is authorized before checking out.
See a doctor if reactions occur. Seek medical help right away if you develop rashes, uneven skin tone, or other adverse effects after using unverified cosmetics.
The EcoWaste Coalition urges Pakistan to halt the domestic manufacturing of mercury-laced cosmetics to eliminate the illicit global trade at its source.
The EcoWaste Coalition has already reported its most recent findings of toxic products to the FDA.
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Reference:
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-CED-PHE-EPE-19.13
https://www.unep.org/globalmercurypartnership/our-work/mercury-products/eliminating-mercury-skin-lightening-products
