More than 20 skin-lightening products already associated with illegal levels of mercury remained available on Amazon, Temu and TikTok Shop, according to an investigation published this Wednesday (16) by Reuters. The listings were found in the United States and, in Amazon's case, also in France, India, the United Arab Emirates and Belgium.
The products appear on lists from health authorities and regulators, but none of the listings analyzed declared mercury among the ingredients. Reuters did not conduct new laboratory tests on the units currently offered.
Mercury is used illegally in some lighteners because it reduces melanin production. Exposure can cause kidney and nervous system damage, as well as dermatological problems, according to the FDA, the U.S. regulatory agency.
Amazon, Temu and TikTok said that the identified items violate their policies and said they are taking steps to remove them and take action against the sellers.
Sellers dodge blocks with different names and packaging
The investigation found cases in which products reappeared with different names, packaging or images. In India, a cream sold on Amazon as “Beauty Brightening Cream” concealed the name Chandni in the image, a product previously identified by the FDA.
In France, a cream recalled by authorities on August 28 was still available three days later on Amazon's Belgian operation.
The problem had already led Amazon to sign an agreement with California authorities in January 2025. In the investigation that led to the case, creams sold by the platform showed concentrations between 121 and 16,000 parts per million of mercury.
Tests released by the FDA in 2026 also found products with more than 27,000 parts per million, while cosmetics with added mercury are banned by the Minamata Convention.
