EcoWaste Coalition to Consumers: Heed FDA’s Warnings vs. Unauthorized Skin Whitening Creams

27 August 2025, Quezon City. The EcoWaste Coalition urged consumers to pay attention to the string of advisories published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against the purchase and use of unauthorized health products such as skin whitening cosmetics.

The group particularly drew attention to FDA Advisory No. 2025-0628 issued on June 20 and FDA Advisory No. 2025-0660 issued on June 25 flagging S88 Total White Underarm Cream and Light & Natural Carotone DSP10 Brightening Cream, respectively, for being sold with no Certificate of Product Notification (CPN).

Republic Act No. 9711, or the FDA Act of 2009, prohibits the manufacture, importation, sale, and related acts, including promotion and advertising, of any health products, including cosmetics, without the proper authorization from the agency.

“Unauthorized cosmetic products,” according to the FDA, “have not gone through the evaluation process (and that) the agency cannot guarantee their safety, quality and efficacy.” It warned “violative products may contain harmful ingredients or impurities that may pose health risks to consumers, such as adverse health reactions, allergies, skin problems, or other health issues."

To recall, the EcoWaste Coalition last April 21 alerted the FDA regarding the unauthorized sale of S88 Total White Underarm Cream, which bears a close resemblance to the 88 Total White Underarm Cream that the FDA flagged way back in 2021 for lacking the required CPN. While the former screened negative for mercury, the latter contains mercury as per analyses conducted by the group. The ASEAN Cosmetic Directive limits mercury as a heavy metal contaminant in cosmetics to not more than one part per million (ppm) limit. Both products are labeled made in Thailand.

Last May 20, the group also alerted the FDA about Ghana-made Carotene Clarifying Cream that the UK’s Office of Product Safety and Standards banned for containing restricted substances such as hydroquinone and clobetasol propionate. The product is not adulterated with mercury as per sampling conducted by the EcoWaste Coalition. However, Carotene Clarifying Cream looks similar to the Carotone Brightening Cream flagged by the FDA.

“Consumers should pay close attention to the public health warnings issued by the FDA as flagged products may not conform with quality and safety standards and may be contaminated with hazardous chemicals like mercury and harmful microorganisms like pathogenic bacteria and fungi,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.

“It’s better to err on the side of caution rather than to take risks and suffer later,” she emphasized.

References:

https://www.fda.gov.ph/fda-advisory-no-2025-0628-public-health-warning-against-the-purchase-and-use-of-the-unauthorized-cosmetic-product-s88-total-white-underarm-cream/
https://www.fda.gov.ph/fda-advisory-no-2025-0660-public-health-warning-against-the-purchase-and-use-of-the-unauthorized-cosmetic-product-light-natural-carotone-dsp10-brightening-cream/