28 August 2026, Quezon City. The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition urged consumers not to buy Pakistan-made beauty kits containing items contaminated with high levels of mercury, a health-damaging chemical illegally added to skin-lightening products.
Despite the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) flagging them on October 2, 2025—following a September 1 report that year by the EcoWaste Coalition—unscrupulous vendors continue to sell those same beauty kits to Filipinos pursuing lighter skin, prompting the watchdog group to reissue its warning.
Despite the public health warnings issued by the FDA on October 2, 2025, these unauthorized beauty kits from Pakistan are still sold, posing public health risks.
These vendors brazenly market illegal skin lighteners online and in physical stores in Manila and Pasay, for example, the group observed.
The FDA, through Advisory No. 2025-1362, warned the public against buying and using the unauthorized Goree Gold 24K 3 in 1 Beauty Kit, consisting of facial cream, soap, and serum. FDA Advisory No. 2025-1356 also flagged Goree 4 in 1 Beauty Kit, comprising facial cream, soap, serum, and a niacinamide capsule.
Based on the chemical screening conducted by the EcoWaste Coalition, Goree Gold 24K Beauty Cream and Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene contained 28,570 and 26,840 parts per million (ppm) of mercury, respectively. The other components screened negative for mercury.
The facial cream component of the Goree Gold 24K 3 in 1 Beauty Kit is contaminated with 2.857 percent or 28,570 ppm of mercury.
The beauty kits, particularly their facial cream components, are described in the packaging as “the best skin lightener with an optimal skin-penetrating base.”
The FDA had previously flagged Goree Gold 24K Beauty Cream through Advisory No. 2023-2392. It has issued multiple public health warnings, the first one in 2017, against Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene.
Health professionals state that using mercury-infused skin-bleaching creams over time can harm your skin, kidneys, and nervous system. Early warning signs include rashes, vision or hearing problems, sleep issues, depression, and memory loss. Exposed individuals might also experience mood changes, numbness, tingling, or shaking hands. In the worst cases, kidney failure may occur.
To avoid mercury poisoning, the EcoWaste Coalition advises Filipinos to love their natural skin tone. They urge the public to stop using skin lighteners, especially unauthorized or toxic products flagged by the FDA.
Additionally, consumers are urged to avoid health products from unverified sources or with undisclosed ingredients. High caution is recommended for online purchases. Furthermore, the public should skeptically evaluate exaggerated or “side-effect-free” claims and seek immediate medical attention if adverse reactions happen.
The group also encouraged consumers to visit the FDA verification portal at https://verification.fda.gov.ph/Home.php before purchasing health products to check if the establishment has a license to operate or if the item is duly notified or registered with the FDA.
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