Fake beauty products seized in Bolton and Manchester raids are found to contain mercury, lead and methanol linked to blindness

Almost half of all counterfeit beauty goods examined after Trading Standards raids have tested positive for harmful substances, including one skincare item that registered 13,200 parts per million of mercury. A Bolton operation uncovered £2 million worth of fake perfume, cosmetics and vapes from a commercial production facility, while Greater Manchester Police made a separate seizure of 1,666 counterfeit hair products from a Manchester warehouse in July.

An estimated 20% of 18-24-year-olds knowingly bought fake beauty products in 2025, up from just 6% in 2023.

Fake fragrances were found to be around 80% methanol, with nicotine also detected in counterfeit perfumes.

Independent toxicologist Rani Ghosh warned that mercury and lead 'can affect the body internally' in ways that 'may not be immediately obvious.'