A regularly updated list of toxic skin lightening creams, lotions and soaps reported to contain dangerous levels of mercury.

Skin lightening products with dangerous levels of mercury

Some skin lightening ingredients work extremely well in the short-term, but are dangerous to our well-being and the long-term health of our skin. Mercury is one of them.

While the use of mercury in skin lightening creams have been banned for some time now, they are still produced and sold.

Below is a list of known skin lightening creams that contain dangerous levels of mercury (more than 1 ppm or one part per million).

The list of creams, lotions and soaps below are only the ones I’ve found, so it’s not an inclusive list. In other words — just because a cream is not listed here, it doesn’t mean they’re safe and that they are free of mercury.

I update this list regularly. If you know of a cream, lotion or soap that has tested positive for mercury, let me know in the comments section below.

List of skin products reported to contain mercury (updated regularly, with newest additions at the top)

  • Deeja Cosmetic Yulai Cream (link to article / download pdf)
  • Deeja Cosmetic Laila Cream
  • Deluxe Beauty – Ultra Lightening Cream Pearl Perfect Fairness
  • FS Turmeric Cream (link to article)
  • Gold Face Compound Cream For Man (link to article in Mandarin and Myanmar FDA warning)
  • Gold Face Compound Cream For Lady
  • Gold Face Compound Cream For Ladies Night Cream
  • O White Whitening Cream (download Myanmar FDA warning)
  • O White Whitening Cream Premium Package (included on the last page of this EEB report which lists creams containing mercury)
  • Unnamed/undisclosed brand of Day and Night creams in red jars (link to article; see Hong Kong advisory with clearer photos of jars / download pdf)
  • Parley Beauty Cream (link to article)
  • Morning Face Beauty Cream
  • Glow Skin White Brightening Cream (link to article)
  • Glow Skin White Sun Care
  • Rzac Beauty Creme 2 (link to a government advisory page in Malay; Note: “merkuri” means “mercury” in Malay)
  • SSII Day Cream (link to article)
  • SSII Herbal Cream
  • Sifu Kunyit Day Cream (link to article)
  • Sifu Kunyit Night Cream
  • JJ Skincare Glowhite Night Cream
  • SM Enterprise Chadni Cream (link to article)
  • QC International New Face Cream
  • Creative Cosmetics Due Cream
  • Golden Pearl Cosmetics Golden Perl Cream
  • Punia Brothers Faiza Cream
  • Noor Gold Cosmetics Noor Cream
  • White Pearl Plus White Plus Pearl Cream
  • Fair & White Ultra Moisturising Body Cream (download multi-page pdf of RAPEX alerts)
  • Fair & White Creme Power C Exclusive Whitenizer / Fair & White Vitamin C Cream
  • Fair & White Savon Gomnant Exfoliating Soap
  • Fair & White Lait aha-2
  • Nature Secrete Lightening Serum Anti-Ageing A l’huille d’argan
  • Daggett & Ramsdell Knee & Elbow Lightening Cream Extra Strength Formula
  • Perfect White Lightening Beauty Cream
  • O’Tentika Fade Out Cream Dry Skin
  • Fair & Lovely Advanced Multi Vitamin (RAPEX alert link)
  • GC / Golden Care Extra Whitening Cream with Fruit Extracts
  • V.I.P Face Beauty Cream Multi Vitamin UV Protector
  • New Face Whitening Cream (25,400 mg/kg of mercury detected; RAPEX alert link)
  • Fair One Natural Fairness Cream Plus
  • Seven Herbal Ubtan
  • Diana Creme C.T.R. (13,600 mg/kg of mercury detected; RAPEX alert link)
  • So Clair Skin Whitening & Lightening Soap
  • Golden Pearl Beauty Cream
  • Carotone Black Spot Corrector Maxi effect Concentrated Formula DSP 10 Concentré en Beta-Carotène
  • Diamond Gold Day Cream (link to a government health advisory in Malay or download pdf; Note: “merkuri” means “mercury” in Malay.)
  • Diamond Gold Night Cream
  • Karisma Nightcream Kunyit
  • Karisma Daycream
  • Seputih Melati Night Cream Whitening
  • Seputih Melati Night Cream Glowing
  • Majaja Serum Channtiq
  • Syma Magical Serum
  • Syma Facial Cleanser
  • Khumaera Moistskin Cleanser
  • Chandni Whitening Cream (11,928 ppm of mercury; link to article)
  • Golden Pearl Whitening Beauty Cream
  • 3rd Series Yanko Fade Out Cream Day Cream (link to article)
  • 5th series Yanko Fade Out Cream Day Cream
  • 7th Series Yanko Whitening Cream Day
  • Fjura Face Polish Treatment
  • Dnars Golden Cream
  • Glow Glowing N Glowing
  • Apple Diamond Day Loose
  • Glow Skin White French Technology Smart Pack — Whitening Cleanser, Whitening Cream and SPF 50 Cream (link to article or download Philippine FDA advisory)
  • Ahoofs Foundation Body Cream (link to article or download Ghana FDA press release)
  • Zoe Peau Sublime Beauty Lotion
  • Zoe Peau Sublime Face Corrective Cream
  • Body Fashion Body Milk
  • Beauty Clinic Whitening Lotion
  • Dodo Beauty Lightening Lotion
  • Marie France Skin Care
  • Bravia Lotion
  • Abana Facial Creme
  • G&G Body Cream
  • RA Foundation Body Cream
  • B-Plus Miracle Gold Cream (link to article or download Philippine FDA advisory)
  • Madame Organic Whitening Arbutin
  • Herbal Turmeric Herbal Cream
  • BeQuala Beauty Quality Lab
  • O-Ping Wink Winner Ping Whitening Cream
  • Myrina Night Cream
  • Beauty 3 Night Cream
  • Polla Gold Super White Perfects
  • Melusma Melasma Brightening Cream
  • Ozzy Mask
  • Dolly Glow Luminous Night Cream (link to article)
  • Niuma Lemon Medicated Germicidal Soap (link to article)
  • Deluxe Nadinola Bleaching Cream (Note: likely counterfeit and not manufactured by J. Strickland in the US)
  • Ailke Boost Luster Superior Whitening (link to article)
  • Ailke Perfection Salvation Rosy Whitening A + B Set
  • Aneeza Gold Beauty Cream
  • Parley Herbal Beauty Cream (link to article)
  • Glow Glowing 5 in 1 Beauty Skin (link to article)
  • Feique Herbal Extract Whitening Anti-Freckle Set
  • Temulawak Day & Night Beauty Whitening Cream
  • Deeja Cosmetic Sun cream (link to article)
  • Deeja Cosmetic Wrinkle cream
  • Deeja Cosmetic Vogue Cream (link to a Malaysian government health advisory or download pdf)
  • Deeja Krim Nano (Night)
  • Deeja Cosmetic Keayuan Semula Jadi – Krim Nano (Night)
  • Miracle White – Brightening Cream
  • Deluxe Beauty – Ultra Lightening Cream
  • RDL Babyface Babyface Whitening Cream Night Cream 5 in 1
  • RDL Face Off Fade-Out Cream Day Cream 5 in 1
  • La Tía Mána (link to article)
  • Karisma Cosmetic – Night Cream (link to article)
  • Karisma Cosmetic – Day Cream
  • Tati Skincare Night Cream (link to a government health advisory in Malay or download pdf; Note: “merkuri” means “mercury” in Malay.)
  • Tati Skin Care 5 in 1 cosmetic set (link to article)
  • Magic cream (link to a government health advisory in Malay or download pdf)
  • Night Cream Dollys Pinky
  • Nuriz Shoppe – UV Pearl Cream (link to public health warning or download pdf)
  • Nuriz- D’solve
  • Aura Gorgeous Night Cream
  • Renow-D Facial Cream Formula-One (link to public health warning or download pdf)
  • Collagen Plus Vit E Day & Night Cream (link to article)
  • Glow Skin White or Glow Skin White French Technology (link to advisory from Brunei’s Ministry of Health with photos or download pdf)
  • Moleek Skincare Anti Pigmentation Cream Plus (link to a government health advisory in Malay; “merkuri” means “mercury” in Malay)
  • Dnars Yellow Gold Collagen (link to article)
  • Dnars Honey Cream
  • Dnars Sunny Cream – Sensitif
  • Dnars Sunny Cream
  • Luffiya Night Cream 1 & 2
  • Glow Glowing Skincare 4 in 1 (contains >25,000 times permissible amount of mercury; link to article)
  • Night Glowing (link to article and a government health advisory in Malay)
  • Glowing Speed Gold Day Cream and Glowing Speed Gold Night Cream
  • Nour Ain Night Cream
  • Royal Expert Whitening Cream
  • Royal Expert Whitening Cream (link to article with photo)
  • Maxi Claire (this entry and the following up to “Elegance Soap” are listed as containing mercury in the Uganda government’s pre-export standards data sheet on page 8)
  • Shiny Beauty cream
  • Top Claire Plus
  • Tamarin
  • Charms
  • Caro derm
  • Skin Light
  • Carro 7
  • L’abidjainaise
  • Rapid Clair
  • Beauty Lotion Shinny
  • Djarabi
  • Yes To / Yes To lotion
  • Bio 21 Jours
  • Bio liss
  • Caro Top lotion
  • New Shirley Medicated
  • Top lemon
  • Pimplex Medicated
  • Top Claire Plus
  • Uniderm Soap
  • Djarabi Soap
  • Jaribu Soap
  • Skin Light Soap
  • Super Family Soap
  • Binti Jambo Soap
  • Baby and Maman Soap
  • Movate Soap
  • Amira Soap
  • La Bamakoise Savon Tamarin Soap
  • Miki Soap
  • Mekako Soap
  • Rico Soap
  • Tura Soap
  • Jaribu Soap
  • Acura Soap
  • Fair Lady Soap
  • Elegance Soap
  • Mireya and Nene Gardoqui (potentially linked to mercury poisoning in a child)
  • Jiachuntang Ban Gan Jing Qu Ban Shuang (link to article with photos)
  • Lan Mei Rou 12-Day Whitening and Speckle Removing Suit
  • Yangqian Fashion Care Skin Strong Whitening & Spot Removing Package
  • Crema Piel De Seda (Silky Skin Cream) by Viansilk (link to FDA warning)
  • Qu Puteh Whitening Pro 9 or Qu Puteh Kosmetik Whitening Pro 9 cream (link to article with photos)
  • Qu Puteh Whitening UV Block or Qu Puteh Kosmetik Whitening UV Block
  • Meiyong Super Whitening (link to article with photos)
  • Meiyong (Seaweed) Super Whitening
  • Yunxi New skin whitening 4 in 1 Suit (link to press release)
    • Yunxi New skin whitening Pearl Cream (9,200 mg/kg of mercury detected)
    • Yunxi New skin whitening Night Cream (16,000 mg/kg of mercury detected)
  • Collagen Night Cream  (link to article)
  • Xuefujiaolan Herbal Whitening and Embellish Classic Set (link to article)
  • Mifton 7 Days Beauty  Freckle Whitening Repair Set  (link to article)
  • BG Sea Pearl and Papaya Natural Essence 6 days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Sun Block Cream (link to article)
  • BG Ginseng and Ganoderma Lucidum 6 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Sun Block Cream
  • Yinni Green Tea Quickacting Whitener and Speckle Remover Package
  • Yin Ni Whitener Repair Cream (link to article)
  • Santen cosmetic cream (link to article)
  • LiLiki Whitening Day Cream / Cream 911  (link to article)
  • Erna Whitening Cream (link to article)
  • Aroma Magic Fairy Lotion (link to article)
  • Olay Natural White (made by Procter and Gamble India, link to article)
  • Ponds White Beauty (made by Hindustan Unilever, link to article)
  • Monsepa Bleaching Express Peeling (link to article)
  • Top Shirley Nourishing Cream (link to article)
  • LMSER Cream
  • Angela Placenta Whitening Cream (Tender Skin & Whitening)
  • Youngrace Age Defying Essence (link to article)
  • Angel Placenta Whitening Cream (link to article)
  • Angel Placenta Day & Night Cream
  • Sanli Eliminating Freckle Cream
  • Sanli Eliminating Freckle Cream Plus Complex Vitamin C & E
  • LMSER Whitening Cream
  • Care Skin Strong Whitening and Spot Removing pack
  • Huayuenong 12 Days Whitening and Speckle Removing set
  • White Advance Hydroxytyrosol L-Glutathione Whitening and Antiaging Cream
  • Zhjren 7-Day beauty elegant moisturizing and whitening day cream
  • Zhjren Whitening Ruddy Combination Suit
  • White Magnolia Intensive Repair Essence Powerful Spot Remover
  • Roopamrit (link to article)
  • Seven Herbal Ubtan (link to UK product recalls + alternative pdf download, OAS alert with pictureslink to article)
  • Melati UV – Whitening Vit. E Cream (link to article with photos)
  • Esther Bleaching Cream (A) and (B) (link to article with photos)
  • Gakadi freckle removing cream
  • Natural Orange Whitening and Anti-Aging Package
  • Hengxueqian Whitening Set
  • Cellnex Anti-Sensitive Essence Treatment (contains betamethasone and mercury; link to article)
  • SF Beauty Night Cream (Facial) and SF Beauty Day Cream (Facial) (contains betamethasone and mercury)
  • Wiana Whitening Beauty Cream (source for this and the next 11 creams: Buckinghamshire County Council — opens a pdf with photos of the creams and their mercury levels / alternate link)
  • Pai Mei whitening spot cream (30,167 ppm of mercury! link to article 1 / 2)
  • Caike Red Ginseng (link to article)
  • Goree Whitening Cream (contains 9,870mg/kg of a mercury compound; link to RAPEX notification)
  • Goree Beauty Cream (link to article)
  • Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene with SPF 30 Avocado & Aloe Vera (link to article)
  • Goree Day & Night Whitening Cream Oil Free
  • Faiza Beauty Cream / Faiza No 1 Beauty Cream
  • Golden Pearl Beauty Cream (4,750 mg/kg of mercury; link to RAPEX notification)
  • Face Fresh Beauty Cream (4,620 mg/kg mg/kg of mercury; link to RAPEX notification)
  • Fresh Look Ultra Whitening Fairness Cream (3,500mg/kg mg/kg of mercury;  link to RAPEX notification)
  • Raj Beauty Cream (470 mg/kg of mercury;  link to RAPEX notification)
  • Seven Herbal Ubtan (620 mg/kg of mercury; link to RAPEX notification)
  • Formula AA Arched Pearl Crème
  • Fair and Lovely Forever Glow / Fair and Lovely Anti Marks Cream
  • Gipsey Amazing Cream
  • Olivia Crème for Unwanted Hair
  • Seven Herbal Wrinkle de Crease
  • Brite Face Cream (link to article)
  • Due Whitening Cream
  • Wiana Whitening Cream
  • Feique Whitening Anti-Freckle Cream (link to article)
  • Feique Golden Aloe Whitening Anti-Scar, Anti-Freckle Set
  • Feique Green Tea Vital Whitening Freckle Removing Cream
  • Bai Li Tou Hong (has 46,700 ppm of mercury!)
  • Maidaifu Herbal Moisturizing and Whitening Cream (60,800 ppm of mercury!)
  • Yu Dan Tang Green Cucumber and Ginseng 6 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Set
  • Loreial Paris Anti-Freckle Cream
  • Yu Dan Tang / Yudantang Ginseng and Ganoderma Lucidum 6 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Sun Block Cream
  • Yu Dan Tang / Yudantang Ginseng and Green Cucumber 10 Days Whitening Speckles Removed Essence
  • Yu Dan Tang / Yudantang 10 Specific Eliminating Freckle Spot  and Double Whitening Sun Block Cream
  • Yu Dan Tang / Yudantang Aloe Pearl 10-Day Whitening Speckles Removed Essence Cream
  • Yu Dan Tang / Yudantang 10 Days Sheep Essence & Ginseng
  • Aichun Beauty Green Tea Whitening Speckle Removing Series (3-in-1)
  • Aichun Beauty Strongly Whitening Freckle Series (3-in-1)
  • Aichun Beauty Pawpaw Whitening and Freckle Remover Series (3-in-1)
  • Aichun Beauty Aloe Vera Whitening and Speckle Removing Series
  • Yuchun Hanfang (link to article)
  • Tongrentang Yisheng Whitening and Freckle Removal Cream (link to article)
  • Hua Ma ABC – Hua Ma Day Cream and Hua Ma Night Cream (link to article)
  • Jiaoli (link with more information and pictures and 2007 FDA import alert on Jiaoli from www.PetitpriZes.com)
    • Other names
      • Jiaoli 7-Day Specific Eliminating Freckle AB Set Cream
      • Jiaoli Miraculous Cream
      • Jiao Li 10-Days Eliminating Freckle Day & Night Set
      • Jiaoli Huichunsu Whitening Speckles Removal Cream
      • Jiaoli Huichunsu Special Cut Genuine Cream
      • Xin Jiao Li 7-Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Cream
      • Jiaoli Rejuvenation Essence 10 days speckle removing
      • Jiaoli Speckle Dispelling and Whitening Cream
      • Jiaoli Huichunsu Specific Eliminating Freckle Cream
      • Jiaoli Herbs Essence Whitening AB Set
    • Similar products with possibly different packaging (appears to be from the same company, Harbin Gelidai Jiaobao Cosmetics)
      • Jiao Liang Miraculous Cream
      • Xin Jiao Liang 7-Days Miracle Package for Spots Refining
      • Jiao Mei Miraculous Cream
      • Jiao Yan Specific Miraculous Cream
      • Jiao Li Extra Pearl Facial Cream
  • Mui Lee Hiang – Cream for Acne & Blemishes (link with picture)
  • Natural 99 yellow cream – day cream, Natural 99 white cream – night cream (link with pictures)
  • Rose Super White Whitening Essence (link with picture)
  • Whitening Sunblock Cream – Day Cream (link with picture)
  • EMEL SKIN CARE CO. No. 8 (link with picture)
  • Dermaline (link to 2009 FDA Import Alert for creams containing mercury)
  • Miss Key Whitening Cream / Crema Bianqueadora Miss Key (link to 2009 FDA Import Alert for creams containing mercury)
  • Santa Cream / Crema Santa (link to 2009 FDA Import Alert for creams containing mercury)
  • Mannig Beauty Cream / Manning Cream De Belleza
    • 8% mercury by weight
  • Bioactive Facial Enlightening Activator
  • Day and Night UV Expert
  • Jin Sheng Mei (link with picture)
  • Ginseng (Extra Pearl Cream)
  • Orrefor (Extra Pearl Cream)
  • Pally (Nourishing Cream)
  • Bivong
  • Butae (Pearl Cream)
  • Silvana cream
  • Ly-NA (Nourish face cream)
  • ALFA (Extra Pearl cream)
  • Yin Fong (Extra Pearl cream)
  • Diana Cream
  • Civic (Nourishing cream)
  • Ideal cream (listed as having contained mercury in this report by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute; page 53)
  • Melanax
  • Cing-Cing (Roon Petch)
  • Daifu (Herbal formula/pearl cream)
  • Cream Minerva
  • Stillmann’s Freckle Cream
  • Fasco Herbal Cream
  • TOP-GEL MCA Cream
  • Shabright Clear and Bright Skin Formula
  • LuLanJina (white and yellow cream)
  • Ling Ji Su (white and yellow cream)
  • St. Dalfour Cream
  • Miss Beauty Magic Cream
    • Has 28,600 ppm of mercury!
  • JJJ Magic Spots Removing Cream
  • Flower Woman 7-Day Whitening and Spot and Night Set Cream
  • Sara Glutathione Sheep Placenta Whitening and Anti-Spot Cream
  • Beauty Girl Natural Olive and Sheep Essence 10-Day Double Whitening Cream
    • Other products from the same company Yudantang International, Taiwan (also contains mercury)
      • Beauty Girl Papaya & Hawthorne Essence
      • Beauty Girl Ginseng & Green Cucumber
      • Beauty Girl Essence Aloe Pearl
      • Beauty Girl Double White SPF17AP Whitening Cream
      • Beauty Girl Egg White and Tomato 6 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Cream
  • Miss Beauty Excellent Therapy Whitening Cream (violet and old rose packaging)
  • Aichun Beauty Green Tea Whitening Speckle Removing Series Cream
  • Aichun Beauty Whitening Freckle Day and Night Cream
  • Shengli Day & Night Cream
  • Doctor Bai Skin Revitalizing Skin Brightening
  • Qiang Li Zeng Bai Qu Ban Wang whitening cream
  • S’zitang 7-Day Specific Whitening and Spot AB Set Cream
  • S’zitang Cream
  • S’zitang 10 Days Eliminating Freckle Day and Night Set
  • S’zitang 7 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle AB Set
  • S’Zitang Yangbaisu
  • Yoko Gentleman Cream for men
  • Jonathan clearing facial spots 12-day cream
  • Gemli Glutathione Hydrolyzed Collagen whitening & anti-aging
  • Gemli Glutathione Grapeseed Extract Whitening and Anti-Aging
  • Gemli Freckles Cream
  • Gemli Beauty Series Freckles Cream Plus Placenta Extract
  • Qian Mei – white cream and yellow cream
  • Cream Aghader
  • Savon pour L’acné Diana soap
  • Lemon Herbal Whiting Cream
    • 33,000 ppm of mercury!
  • Sensual Whitening Cream (link to article
  • Crema Aguamary face cream and eye cream
  • Crema Antiedad y Desmanchadora
    • Nearly identical to “Crema Aguamary” above. Has 130,000 times the FDA limit for mercury (link to article)
  • Long Dian Tu Glutathione Pearl Natural Whitening Essence Cream
  • Feique Rose Refining Nourishing Set Cream
  • Feique Herbal Extract Whitening Antifreckle Set
  • Lianglibai Qingbanxuejizuhetaozhuang Cream
  • Pretty Model Whitening and Freckle Removing Cream
  • Women of Flower Whitening and Speckle Removing AB Series Cream
  • Lamb Placenta Whitening and Anti-Aging Cream
  • Forever Beauty 10-Day Special Cream
  • New Baijiasi Whitening Night Cream
  • Medicam Bleach Cream  (38,800 mg/kg of mercurylink to RAPEX notification)

Published reports of mercury found in skin creams

Many government websites also contain lists of banned cosmetics and soaps that contain mercury. For example, The Kenya Bureau of Standards has a list of banned products containing mercury (see pdf). The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) also has a list of skin creams that exceeded the FDA limit for mercury upon testing.

In 2004, New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene conducted an investigation and had the mercury content of several store-bought skin-lightening products analysed (see page 3 of this pdf for the product list and their mercury content).

In May 2010, the Chicago Tribune had 50 skin-lightening creams tested at a lab (most of the creams were bought in stores, a few were ordered online). Six were found to contain illegal amounts of mercury. You can check the Chicago Tribune’s findings in this detailed list containing the names of these creams and the levels of mercury they contained (download pdf).

In August 2011, Philippine watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition conducted a test of 12 brands of whitening creams. 11 tested positive for high levels of mercury (download pdf). Later in October 2011, the same group screened 25 brands and found that 19 contained 1,395 ppm to 52,100 ppm of mercury (none listed mercury as an ingredient).

In 2016, a study by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) analysed skin whitening creams for mercury content and investigated the health threats and use of such creams among consumers.

Appearance and packaging

Most skin lightening creams containing mercury are either white or yellow in color.

Unscrupulous manufacturers can also easily change their product names and packaging to evade the authorities. The packaging for skin whitening creams containing mercury would also usually not list mercury as one of its ingredients, although sometimes ‘calomel’ is listed (calomel is mercurous chloride, a type of mercury).

Unlabeled or homemade products are also suspect

In one case, skin lightening creams sold in white plastic jars with no labels were found to contain 5.6% or 56,000 ppm of mercury (2010/11 Health Alert from California’s Department of Public Health, with picture).

In another case, sellers of the banned St. Dalfour whitening cream not only stole a jam company’s brand name for themselves, but also reused the jam jars.

Photos of some creams that contain mercury

Like the bulleted text list above, the below table is not an inclusive list.

Cream name Photo
Yunxi New skin whitening 4 in 1 Suit Creams Containing Mercury-Yunxi New skin whitening 4 in 1 Suit
Yin Ni Whitener Repair Cream Creams Containing Mercury-Yin Ni Whitener Repair Cream
Collagen Night Cream (Chinese name) Creams Containing Mercury-Collagen Night Cream
Jiaoli Day and Night Cream Creams Containing Mercury-Jiaoli day and night creamCreams Containing Mercury-Jiaoli day and night cream 2
Mui Lee Hiang – Cream for Acne & Blemishes Creams Containing Mercury-Mui Lee Hiang - Cream for Acne & Blemishes
Natural 99 yellow cream – Day cream

Natural 99 white cream – Night cream

Creams Containing Mercury-Natural 99 yellow cream - day and Natural 99 white cream - night cream
Rose Super White Whitening Essence Creams Containing Mercury-Rose Super White Whitening Essence
Whitening Sunblock Cream – Day Cream Creams Containing Mercury-Whitening Sunblock Cream (Day Cream)
EMEL SKIN CARE CO. No. 8 Creams Containing Mercury-EMEL SKIN CARE CO. No. 8
Jin Sheng Mei Creams Containing Mercury-JinShengMei
Stillmann’s Freckle cream creams containing mercury-Stillmann's Freckle cream
Fasco Herbal cream creams containing mercury-Fasco Herbal cream
TOP-GEL MCA

– Top Gel MCA Medicated Cream
– Top Gel MCA Extra Pearl Cream
– Top Gel MCA Skin Creme

Shabright Clear and Bright Skin Formula
LuLanJina Anti Black Spot and Whitening Set (yellow + white cream)
St. Dalfour Cream

Packaging is repurposed jam jars.

 

JJJ Magic Spots Removing Cream
Miss Beauty Magic Cream
Qian Mei – white cream and yellow cream
Crema Aguamary face cream and eye cream
Crema Antiedad y Desmanchadora
(nearly identical to Crema Aguamary above)
Brite Face Cream  
Due Whitening Cream  
Wiana Whitening Cream  
Monsepa Bleaching Express Peeling

Questions about the safety of specific creams

Many have asked about the safety of specific creams in the comments section below – i.e. whether this or that cream is safe or if it contains mercury.

I’m quite unable to answer most of these queries since I’m not an independent testing agency, nor do I have the funds or backing to source for these creams and get them tested on my own at third-party labs.

If you look through the long list of banned products on this page, you’ll find that the information was largely gathered from various countries’ government agencies and customs departments. They are publicly available information. All I can do is try to put the scattered pieces in one place.

So there’s not much I can tell you about the safety of a specific cream if you’ve already done a Google search and came up with little to nothing reliable on it (although I think finding little good information is already an answer in and of itself — no matter what, you’ll be taking a risk with it).

If you have questions or are doubtful about the safety of any cream, I would advise that you err on the side of caution for the following reasons.

  • Long waits to identifying dangerous creams. There can be a long time lag between a cream with mercury first being sold and consumers being made aware that it is actually dangerous. Many creams that were found to contain mercury were only discovered to be harmful after many months (and sometimes years) of being sold.
  • Lax or non-existent government monitoring. Most creams that use banned substances like mercury are manufactured in markets where there is little or no reliable government monitoring and control. Sometimes there can also be the appearance of oversight, but no real protection. Low-wage public officials that are responsible for monitoring the use of banned substances in manufacturing can be easily paid off to sweep things under the rug. 
  • Most creams pass through borders without being tested. Many product warnings on creams with banned substances actually originate from other countries’ customs departments during the import/export process. However, even this system is plagued with holes since only a small percentage of products that enter a country are actually chemically tested.  So for importers/exporters, it’s really a game of numbers. It makes financial sense for them to continue shipping banned/harmful creams because they know that even if some will be seized, most will pass through trade borders undetected.
  • E-commerce has made it easy for anyone to package and sell creams without certification or licensing. Little-heard-of creams that are sold in small shops and markets may be made in homes, basements, garages, etc. It is very easy for anyone to mix, package, label and sell their own creams. Do a search on ebay or alibaba and you’ll find all the chemical ingredients and packaging needed for anyone to start selling their own “magic cream”, complete with shiny packaging and too-good-to-be-true promises. There are no guarantees with these creams except that the people selling them will make some money. All the risk is borne by the users who might end up with irreparable skin damage, be hospitalised, or worse.

Laws and systems do work to protect consumers to some extent, but they cannot guarantee 100% safety. 

Just look at how long the product list on this page has gotten over time. I’ve been adding products to the list month after month. This reflects our broken system.

So the best protection is really ourselves and our own good judgement.

Two rules of thumb

  • Use creams that are manufactured by large, reputable companies with a global presence. Do an online search before you buy. If you need more information, visit the company’s website. A good manufacturer will have a way for you send questions such as a working telephone number or email address.
  • Only buy creams that are sold in reputable retail stores. Your best bet is large pharmacy and supermarket chains (e.g. Boots, Guardian, Watsons) as their retail buyers have to adhere to certain safety and quality standards. They also have a reputation to maintain.

And if you want to save some money, create your own skin lightening methods using natural ingredients such as turmeric, lemon juice and vinegar.

They’ll cost pennies compared to expensive creams and you’ll know exactly what you’re putting on your skin.