Carcinogens Found in 'Ali Direct Purchase' Body Paint... Lead Levels 92.8 Times Above Standard

"Products That Come Into Direct Contact with Skin... Exercise Extra Caution"

Harmful substances exceeding the standard limits were detected in body painting and body glitter products purchased overseas from AliExpress and SHEIN. Since these cosmetics come into direct contact with the skin, consumer caution is necessary.

On the 12th, Seoul City announced that safety inspections conducted on 146 products sold on overseas direct purchase online platforms in the second week of September found lead and nickel exceeding domestic standards in 11 products.

Body painting from Ali direct purchase detected with lead content exceeding the standard./Photo by Seoul City

First, harmful substances detected in two body painting products sold on AliExpress and SHEIN exceeded domestic standards. Body painting is used for body makeup purposes and is utilized in performances, events, festivals, and advertisements. The product sold on AliExpress contained lead at 1856㎍/g, which is 92.8 times the domestic standard (20㎍/g). The SHEIN product exceeded the domestic standard for lead and nickel by 3.8 times and 1.4 times, respectively.

Lead is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization (WHO). Exposure above safety standards can affect the nervous system, and long-term exposure may lead to central nervous system damage. Nickel is a representative metal that causes allergic contact dermatitis.

Additionally, some body painting products were found to contain the pigment 'CI45410,' which is prohibited for use in Korea. CI45410 is restricted for use in cosmetics applied around the eyes in Korea, considering eye mucous membrane irritation test results and regulatory trends in the United States.

Harmful substances exceeding the standard limits were also confirmed in nine body glitter products sold on AliExpress. Body glitter is used to make the skin look radiant and is commonly used in weddings, parties, and daily life. Methanol was detected at 8.635%, which is 43.2 times the domestic standard, and antimony was detected at 50.6㎍/g, about five times the standard. Methanol can irritate the eyes and respiratory tract, and antimony can cause rashes or contact allergies upon skin contact.

Seoul City plans to request the suspension of sales from related agencies such as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and overseas online platform companies for the 11 products exceeding domestic standards based on this inspection result.