There’s Toxic Mercury in These Lipsticks!

Ladies, beware. That lipstick you buy could have hidden mercury, a potent neurotoxin banned in cosmetics. Previously found in skin lighteners, mercury has now been detected in some lipsticks too.

A safety alert has been issued in the Philippines by toxics watchdog group Ecowaste Coalition, whose latest test found mercury up to 209 parts per million (ppm) in a brand of China-made lipsticks. This heavy metal was detected in 8 Chanlanya lipsticks sold there.

The cheap lipsticks had not undergone quality and safety assessment before being placed in the market, the group said. Because these products are applied to the lips, users face a direct ingestion, and safety risk.

Based on Ecowaste Coalition’s X-Ray Fluorescence screening results, the 8 lipsticks contained mercury at levels exceeding 1 ppm, the trace-amount limit for mercury as a heavy metal contaminant in cosmetics under the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive.

Mercury impurities measured at 19, 20, 21, 60, 62, 64, 208, and 209 ppm were detected in the red-coloured lipsticks, the EcoWaste Coalition said in a press release on 29 July 2026.

“It is alarming that some lip cosmetics contain mercury, as applying them regularly allows harmful toxins to accumulate in your system over time,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.

According to the World Health Organization, “exposure to mercury – even small amounts – may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life”.

According to the Philippines Food and Drug Administration, “Potential hazards may come from ingredients that are not allowed to be part of a cosmetic product or from the contamination of heavy metals. The use of substandard and possibly adulterated cosmetic products may result in adverse reactions including, but not limited to, skin irritation, itchiness, anaphylactic shock and organ failure.”

In the implicated lipstick samples, while the box identifies China as the country of manufacture, the manufacturer, importer, or distributor of Chanlanya Lipstick is not provided.

CAP’s check finds that Chanlanya Lipstick is available online in Malaysia. Consumers are advised to avoid buying and using them. The Malaysian authorities should conduct similar investigations here and withdraw mercury-containing personal care products from the market.

Prioritise health and safety over beauty. To prevent and reduce health risks associated with adulterated lipsticks:

● Avoid lipsticks completely, or use less lipstick if you are uncertain if it is safe from lead, mercury, and other contaminants.

● Don’t buy lipsticks with no labelling information.

● Be wary if the price is incredibly low; it might be a counterfeit product of dubious quality.

● Don’t let children play with lipstick.