Popular Fairness Cream In India Contains Mercury- Dermatocare’s ingredients guide
Written By Dr Surbhi, MD Skin
Last updated: 19/09/18Written By Dr Surbhi, MD Skin
Last updated: 19/09/18Mercury is linked to nervous system toxicity, as well as reproductive, immune and respiratory toxicity. Mercury is found in thimerosal, which is a mercury-based preservative, and it is readily absorbed by the skin. However, you might not find mercury or thimerosal on the ingredient list of your favourite cream. A study conducted by a reputed NGO released a list of fairness creams that contain mercury, to our surprise it has many popular fairness creams of India.
A study conducted by Center for Science and Environment, India’s leading NGO shows that mercury is present in 44% of popular Fairness creams brands in India. This is despite the fact that Cosmetic and Drug Act prohibits the presence of mercury in skin care products.
KINDLY NOTE: Mercury is not mentioned in the ingredients list, thus scanning the list would be futile. You can try homemade skin lightening solutions for your skin.
Name |
Total Mercury (ppm) |
Percentage of Average Daily Intake if you use 2g/day of cream |
Aroma Magic Fair Lotion |
1.97 |
36.4 |
Olay Natural White |
1.79 |
33.1 |
Ponds White Beauty |
1.36 |
25.2 |
Lotus Cocofair Cream |
0.81 |
15 |
Fair & Lovely Anti Marks |
0.73 |
13.5 |
L'Oreal Pearl Effect |
0.7 |
12.9 |
Revlon Touch and Glow |
0.25 |
4.6 |
Biotique Bio Coconut |
0.24 |
4.4 |
Garnier Men Power Light |
0.24 |
4.4 |
Vivel Active Fair |
0.23 |
4.3 |
Emami Malai Keshar Cold Cream |
0.22 |
4.1 |
Lakme Perfect Radiance |
0.19 |
3.5 |
VLCC Enbrighten (Sun Defence) |
0.11 |
2 |
Fair & Lovely Ayurvedic Care |
0.1 |
1.8 |
Fair & Lovely multi Vitamin daily fairness cream |
Not Detected |
0 |
Fairever |
Not Detected |
0 |
Garnier Skin Naturals, Light |
Not Detected |
0 |
Fair & Lovely Winter Fairness |
Not Detected |
0 |
Fair One Shahnaz Husain |
Not Detected |
0 |
Neutrogena Fine Fairness |
Not Detected |
0 |
Lotus White Glow |
Not Detected |
0 |
Nivea Sparkling Glow |
Not Detected |
0 |
Lakme |
Not Detected |
0 |
Lotus Micro emulsion |
Not Detected |
0 |
Lotus Fair Gel |
Not Detected |
0 |
Himalaya Herbals Fairness Cream |
Not Detected |
0 |
Jovees Pearl Whitening Face Cream |
Not Detected |
0 |
Fair & Lovely Max Fairness |
Not Detected |
0 |
Emami Fair and Handsome |
Not Detected |
0 |
L'Oreal Men Expert |
Not Detected |
0 |
Vaseline Men Face |
Not Detected |
0 |
Calculation of Average Daily Intake is based on USEPA oral Reference Dose (RfD) of 0.0003 mg/kg-day of HgCl2 which translates into an ADI for a 50 kg person as 0.015 mg.
Source: https://www.cseindia.org/userfiles/Heavy_Metals_in_Cosmetics_Report.pd