BPOM Recalls 11 Cosmetics Containing Dangerous Ingredients, Including Madam Gie and Selsun
KOMPAS.com - The National Agency of Drug and Food Control of the Republic of Indonesia (BPOM RI) has once again uncovered serious violations regarding the circulation of cosmetics in Indonesia. In the first quarter supervision of 2026, BPOM identified 11 beauty products that use banned ingredients and endanger health. The findings include four contract-manufactured brands, two local brands, two imported cosmetics, and three brands without distribution permits (TIE). All cosmetics failed to meet safety standards after laboratory testing. BPOM detected various chemical compounds strictly prohibited for use in beauty products. The substances found include retinoic acid, dexamethasone, hydroquinone, mercury, Red K10 dye, and the chemical compound 1,4-dioxane. Exposure to these chemicals poses potentially fatal health risks. The use of retinoic acid can trigger severe skin irritation and harm foetal development. Meanwhile, the use of dexamethasone risks causing skin inflammation, acne, and hormonal system disorders. On the other hand, the use of hydroquinone and mercury can result in permanent skin discolouration and acute irritation. Even mercury has effects that damage internal organs such as the kidneys. Additionally, Red K10 dye damages liver function, and the compound 1,4-dioxane is known to trigger cancer. As mentioned earlier, there are 11 cosmetic products subject to action by BPOM. Three of them come from the brands Madam Gie, Selsun, and Tzuyu Skincare. For Madam Gie, the dangerous product is the mini eyeshadow Madam Gie Take5 01. This product contains Red K10 dye. Meanwhile, the dangerous products from Selsun are Selsun 7 Herbal and Selsun 7 Flowers. Both are marketed as anti-dandruff shampoos, but they are hazardous due to contamination with the compound 1,4-dioxane. Then there are the products Tzuyu Skincare Day Cream Protection and Tzuyu Skincare Glow Expert Night Cream from Tzuyu Skincare. These two products contain dexamethasone.