Do Not Be Tempted by Low Prices: Dangerous Cosmetics Still Widely Sold Online

The widespread sale of cosmetics on online marketplaces has prompted calls for increased public vigilance when purchasing beauty products. Amidst a surge in cheap products promising instant results, a lecturer from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) has warned that dangerous cosmetics are still frequently found circulating online.

This warning follows the discovery by the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) of 11 cosmetic products containing the red dye K10, also known as Rhodamin B, throughout 2026. These findings span various products, including face creams, toners, nail polish, and shampoos. In addition to Rhodamin B, BPOM also identified other hazardous substances such as mercury, hydroquinone, retinoic acid, dexamethasone, and 1,4-dioxane contamination, all of which pose significant health risks.

apt. RR. Sabtanti Harimurti, M.Sc., Ph.D., a lecturer in the Pharmacy Study Programme at UMY’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, stated that the public must be more critical before purchasing cosmetics, particularly those sold freely on marketplaces at extremely low prices. “Cosmetics are now very easy to find on marketplaces. Therefore, the public must be more thorough before buying. Do not just look at the promised results or the low price, but ensure whether the product is truly safe to use,” Sabtanti said, as quoted from the official UMY website on Friday (15/5/2026).

Cosmetics containing dangerous dyes typically feature excessively bright colours and appear highly glossy when exposed to light. Furthermore, the texture may sometimes be poorly mixed, resulting in visible colour clumps within the product. She explained that Rhodamin B is actually a synthetic dye used for the textile, paint, and paper industries, and is not intended for human use. However, due to its bright colour and low cost, the substance is frequently misused in decorative cosmetics such as lipsticks, blushes, and eyeshadows. “Because the colour is bright and the price is cheap, some parties misuse it in cosmetics to make them look attractive while keeping production costs low,” said Sabtanti.

Sabtanti added that safe products generally list their ingredients clearly and possess a BPOM registration number. “If a cosmetic product does not list clear ingredients or lacks a BPOM registration number, the public should exercise caution,” she emphasised.