Counterfeit beauty products containing mercury, lead and methanol are putting consumers at risk, following testing of hauls seized by Trading Standards.
The toxic chemicals were found in fake cosmetics, skincare and perfumes seized during recent investigations, with four in 10 seized cosmetics found to contain potentially harmful substances.
Among the most alarming discoveries was a skincare product containing 13,200 parts per million of mercury, as well as high levels of lead in lipsticks, eyeshadows and contour products.
Nicotine was also found in some counterfeit perfumes, and one fake fragrance was made up of approximately 80 per cent methanol.
Rani Ghosh, an independent toxicologist, said: "When you hear that mercury has been found in face cream, lead in make-up or nicotine in perfume, it raises serious questions about what is going into these products and how they are being made.
"Some reactions to unsafe cosmetics may be visible, such as irritation, swelling or changes to the skin.
"But what concerns me as a toxicologist is what you might not see.
"Substances such as mercury and lead can affect the body internally, and those effects may not be immediately obvious.
"Counterfeit beauty products can look incredibly convincing.
"You cannot tell from the packaging what chemicals are inside, how the product has been made, or what risk it might pose.
"That is why knowing where your beauty products come from matters."
The Intellectual Property Office’s (IPO) latest Counterfeit Goods Tracker revealed that one in five 18 to 24-year-olds who bought beauty products last year knowingly bought counterfeits, up from six per cent in 2023.
In July, the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit and Greater Manchester Police seized 1,666 counterfeit hair products, including extensions, shampoos and conditioners, from a warehouse in Manchester.
A separate raid in Bolton uncovered £2 million worth of fake goods.
This included perfume, cosmetics, clothing and vapes.
The IPO’s Face the Fakes campaign is working with content creators and the beauty industry to raise awareness of the potential harms of counterfeit beauty products.
Helen Barnham, head of enforcement engagement at the IPO, said: "These findings show why counterfeit beauty products can pose such serious risks to consumers.
"Products can look remarkably convincing, but behind the packaging they can contain dangerous substances that have no place in the cosmetics people use every day, and can be made in appalling, unhygienic conditions.
"Counterfeiters exploit the names and reputations of brands that consumers know and trust, while bypassing the rigorous safety standards that legitimate businesses work hard to meet.
"With our latest research showing a sharp rise in counterfeit beauty buying among young adults, we want to make sure people understand the potential risks and know how to protect themselves.
"Our Face the Fakes campaign is giving consumers practical advice to shop more safely, including checking who is actually selling a product and choosing trusted sources."
Dr Emma Meredith, director-general of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association, said: "There is a rigorous safety framework behind every legitimate cosmetic product sold in the UK.
"Ingredients are carefully controlled, products have to be made in clean and hygienic conditions, and they must undergo a safety assessment.
"Companies have clear legal responsibilities for the products they place on the market."
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