GIYANI police confiscated various illegal cosmetic products including soaps and lotions on Friday.
According to Thelma Mlambo, district environmental health officer, these products were available under various names, but all confiscated items contained a skin-lightening chemical called hydroquinone.
This highly dangerous chemical was banned worldwide in 2006 for its negative effects on the skin.
Hydroquinone had been scientifically linked to several health issues, the most dangerous being cancer. When used, the substance is said to lighten the skin tone by removing the upper layers of the skin.
It was this risk that compelled several European countries and South Africa to ban the use of skin creams or any skin product containing hydroquinone.
“However, with the demand from uninformed consumers rising, the product always finds its way to the street. People don’t realise what the product could do to their skins in the long run, until it is too late,” Mlambo said.
“The names of the products that are currently on the streets include Movate, Motivate, Top Cream and Lemonvate Complexion Soap” she said.
“The challenge we’re facing is that these products keep on appearing under different names and people keep on buying them, not knowing that they’re buying the same products that contain these dangerous chemicals.”
Some people shouted, “let our women beautify themselves,” as police carried out their raids throughout Giyani. The women on the other hand, joked that women that use these products steal their men, since men arguably prefer women with lighter skin.
The operation was carried out by female police officials from four police stations in the Mopani and Vhembe districts as part of celebrating the end of August as Women’s Month.
