Warning: BPOM Flags 14 Cosmetics Containing Hazardous Ingredients

The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has taken action against 14 cosmetic products found to contain dangerous or prohibited substances during its monitoring period in the second quarter of 2026. BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar stated that of the 14 products, 11 were locally made under contract manufacturing, one was an imported product, and two were unlicensed. “The dangerous and prohibited substances in these products include retinoic acid, hydroquinone, mercury, red dye, clobetasol propionate, and mometasone furoate,” Taruna said. The 14 products are as follows: 1. AF AYUFASKIN.ID Night Cream Booster With DNA Salmon; 2. AL-LATIF Henna Kutek Ravishing Red; 3. FALLIN BEAUTY Bright & Glow Daily Sunscreen; 4. FALLIN BEAUTY Bright & Glow Night Repair Cream; 5. MALLVIRA SKIN Luxury White Body Serum; 6. RNC WBEAUTY Bodylotion Whitening Booster 10x Niacinamide; 7. SR SARASKIN COSMETIC Ultimate Whitening Night Cream; 8. STK COSMETIC BY SARTIKA DEASY Night Cream; 9. STK COSMETIC BY SARTIKA DEASY Premium Night Cream; 10. STK COSMETIC BY SARTIKA DEASY Premium Face Toner; 11. YANTIYNK BEAUTY Night Cream Whitening Acne; 12. MARSHWILLOW Sugar Dust Eyeshadow Palette 803; 13. CLARIDERM Astringent AHA + Licorice; 14. GLOWING BEAUTY SKINCARE BY GLOWING BEAUTY Glowing Night Treatment (in the GLOWING BEAUTY SKINCARE BY GLOWING BEAUTY package). Taruna explained that these substances can impact health. He cited mercury as causing skin discolouration with black spots (ochronosis), allergic reactions, skin irritation, headaches, diarrhoea, and vomiting. “Secondly, retinoic acid can cause dry skin, a burning sensation, and changes to the shape of foetal organs in pregnant women; it can be teratogenic. And this retinoic acid can actually accelerate wrinkling,” he said. Furthermore, he noted that hydroquinone causes hyperpigmentation, ochronosis, and discolouration of the cornea and nails. Meanwhile, clobetasol propionate causes skin atrophy and potentially permanent skin atrophy and pustular psoriasis. The BPOM Head reminded that mometasone furoate causes skin atrophy, while red dye K10 causes cancer, liver damage, and damage to the nervous system and brain. “The follow-up actions taken regarding these findings of prohibited products include, firstly, revoking their marketing authorisation numbers, issuing stern warnings including orders for recall and destruction, temporary suspension of activities, and market control of cosmetics containing prohibited or hazardous substances,” he stated.