Over 40 Malaysians and Singaporeans got together in a press conference to share the horrifying side effects they experienced after using a skincare product sold by a Malaysian internet celebrity.
Mercury was said to have been found in the skincare product, causing users to experience varying degrees of side effects, and there were even reports claiming that 10 pregnant women suffered from miscarriages.
Based on the official website of the Ministry of Health (MOH), the night cream and other skincare products from the same company were officially banned for containing mercury.
A victim, Ms. Lu from Johor Bahru, said that she was attracted by the internet celebrity’s posts on Instagram in 2021 and bought her first set of skin care products, intending to lighten the melasma that appeared on her face after childbirth.
After trying it for a period of time, she saw significant results and insisted on using it every day.
However, after she stopped using the product, obvious side effects such as redness, swelling, and itching appeared on her face. She had no choice but to continue buying the product and used it intermittently from 2021 to 2023.
Another user, Ms Fu from Rawang, Selangor, revealed that she spent RM450 to buy a bottle of only 30 grams of skin care products to try after seeing the post on Instagram.
“My sister stopped using the skincare product for a period of time in 2022 because it was out of stock. Unexpectedly, serious side effects immediately appeared on her face during the period of discontinuation.”
Ms. Fu also said her skin condition improved when she continued using the product again before finding out about the mercury content inside. She spent over RM14,000 in purchasing 38 sets of the skincare products.
Another user who wanted to remain anonymous said she suffered a miscarriage 12 weeks after pregnancy.
“I cannot be 100% sure that the fetus in my womb had stopped growing due to the mercury component. But I believed that the toxic component of mercury was enough to affect the development and health of the fetus in the mother’s womb.”
MCA Public Service and Complaints Department Director Datuk Seri Chong Sin Chew also attended the press conference and said that more than 14 newborns faced skin problems as soon as they were born. He has called for the government to intervene and investigate the matter.
