The Cancer Risk of Counterfeit Cosmetics: atv News Report

This atv Ana Haber report looks at the harm counterfeit cosmetics do to health. Its starting point is simple: as prices of foreign cosmetics brands rose, market stalls and some websites filled up with backstreet make-up products. The video is in Turkish.

What does the report cover?

The experts in the report list the signs and risks of fake products. According to them, counterfeit cosmetics can cause redness, allergic reactions and even burns on the skin within minutes of use. Moreover, the harm does not stop there. According to dermatologist Prof. Dr. Zekayi Kutlubay, who speaks in the report, the harmful substances in these products can lead to cancer of the skin or other organs over the years.

The report also gives tips for spotting a fake. For example, fake products often have a bad smell. As the report explains, the smell comes from petrochemicals that counterfeiters use to extend shelf life. In addition, counterfeiters mostly copy liquid products such as lipstick and foundation and sell them mainly online or at street markets.

The link between counterfeit cosmetics and disposal

In cosmetics, packaging is the most recognisable face of the product. For this reason, the original bottle, box and label are as valuable to a counterfeiter as the product itself. Throwing away an expired batch or one rejected by quality control, or handing it to a scrap dealer without separating the packaging, supplies ready material for counterfeit cosmetics. Someone with bad intentions can even change the label of an expired product and put it back on sale.

What should cosmetics brands do?

To keep counterfeit cosmetics away from your brand’s name, plan disposal for the packaging as well as the product:

• Right after the count, wrap the pallet in stretch film and close it with a dedicated security tape.
• Seal the transport vehicle with a serial-numbered seal that reveals any tampering.
• Have bottles, boxes and labels destroyed together with the product, at a licensed facility and under supervision.
• Record the moment of disposal with photos and video; that record also helps you during inspections.

Scrap has run these controls in cosmetics disposal for years and opens each process to its client on an online tracking portal. For more, see our article on protecting brand value during disposal and our cosmetics waste disposal page.

Source: atv Haber, “Sahte kozmetik ürünü kanser yapıyor” (Counterfeit cosmetic product causes cancer), 13 December 2022. We embed the video from the publisher’s YouTube channel. All rights belong to atv Haber. Watch the original video on YouTube.