Watch out for harmful skin creams, says Kebs

The Kenya Bureau of Standards has asked consumers to be vigilant when buying make-up and other cosmetic products to avoid harmful goods.

Kebs regulates cosmetics among other things, and in particular does have a brief to satisfy itself that ingredients used in such products by manufacturers are safe for human use.

In a statement, the standards organisation said that it prohibits sale of a number of cosmetics and soaps because they contain heavy metals such as mercury.

“We do regular checks in shops to ensure banned cosmetic products are not on sale; but we ask Kenyans to check with us to ensure they buy right products,” the statement said in response to questions by Nation.

Kebs has banned sale of more than 100 cosmetic products that contain hydroquinone, steroids, mercury and hydrogen peroxide.

They are skin lightening lotions containing hydroquinone, skin lightening gels containing hydroquinone, soaps containing mercury and its compounds, skin lightening creams containing mercury and its compounds and skin lightening creams containing hydroquinone.

Consultant cosmetologist Saroop Bansil on Wednesday said the fight against banned cosmetics has been complicated by poor border checks especially between Kenya and Uganda.

He said that banned creams are coming into the country and laser technology, which should only be used by trained doctors, is being used by beauticians.

“I confirm that there are creams which are being circulated to lighten skin but they are a disaster,” Dr Bansil, a degree in aesthetic medicine holder from American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, told Nation. “We want people to know and be aware of what is going on and how harmful some cosmetic products are.”