Speculation Arises Over Possible Cosmetic Poisoning
A Taiwanese female influencer in her 20s, who gained fame through so-called "cosmetic mukbang" (broadcasts of eating cosmetics), has died suddenly. While the exact cause of death has not been revealed, there is speculation that it may have been due to "cosmetic poisoning."
On June 3 (local time), the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that a 24-year-old Taiwanese female influencer, known online as "Guava Beauty," had died suddenly on May 24, with the news surfacing belatedly. Guava Beauty had more than 12,000 followers on social networking services (SNS), thanks to her unique content of eating cosmetics such as lipstick and blush.
In videos posted by Guava Beauty, she is seen eating various beauty products, including lipstick, blush, essence, mask packs, and even toner pads. In one video, after applying blush to her cheeks and lips, she puts it in her mouth and chews, commenting, "It has a crunchy texture like agar jelly. The taste is absolutely terrible."
The majority of viewers who watched the videos criticized Guava Beauty, expressing concerns such as, "I'm worried this might give the impression that eating cosmetics is safe," "Please stop this behavior. Promoting the consumption of cosmetics should not be allowed. Cosmetics are chemical products," and "If someone watches your video and imitates you, leading to a problem, will you take responsibility?"
On May 24, Guava Beauty's SNS profile was changed to state, "Logging out from the world. Embarking on a new journey. All business collaborations are suspended." Her family announced, "With deep sorrow, we share that our beloved cosmetic mukbang girl, Guava Beauty, put down her brush and flew away on May 24 to start a new channel in heaven."
Since then, there has been a flood of speculation online in the Chinese-speaking community regarding the cause of Guava Beauty's death. Some have questioned whether her death was related to cosmetic poisoning. At the same time, there are calls for self-reflection on the excessive competition for content on SNS. In particular, critics point out that content creators must exercise caution, as children and teenagers can easily access and imitate such content.
Meanwhile, cosmetics are products designed for external use. The National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, under the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, defines cosmetics as "items used by applying, rubbing, or spraying on the human body, or by similar methods, to cleanse or beautify the body, enhance attractiveness, brighten appearance, or maintain or improve the health of the skin or hair." Cosmetics contain various chemical substances, including preservatives, fragrances, colorants, and heavy metals, and if ingested orally, they can cause toxicity to the digestive system, liver, and kidneys, posing serious health risks.
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