London Police Lab Tests Reveal Rat Droppings And Urine In Imitation Beauty Products

London Police are warning consumers of beauty products to be wary of imitations, and particularly of fakes of luxury brands so easily available online, following the seizure and testing of counterfeit goods uncovered by the London Police.

The City of London Police uncovered some startling facts, upon testing confiscated beauty products such as perfume, sun creams, and make-up. Among the contaminants, London Police labs found that rodent feces, human urine, and arsenic were commonly found in many of the fake beauty products. It was additionally found that some brand-name imitation beauty products contain poisonous chemicals, such as cyanide, as well.

The report filed by London Police, following the receipt of lab tests, found that many eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss products tested high for toxic levels of mercury and lead, as well as arsenic.

The City of London Police reports that the popularity of counterfeit beauty products has been on the rise, especially with the increased availability of such beauty products through websites and online purchases. London police estimate that at least £90 million ($140,832,000 in U.S. dollars) is spent on imitation beauty products each year, with that number steadily rising.

Det. Supt. Maria Woodall, who is in charge of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit at City of London Police, has overseen the suspension of 5,500 websites for selling fake beauty products. The unit has seized more than £3.5 million worth of fake beauty products, as well.

“Beauty products are meant to enhance your features. However, the fakes can in fact do quite the opposite,” Woodall said. “Our general rule is — if it seems too good to be true then it probably is.”

Using fake beauty products, which attract consumers due to their discounted prices, can result in severe health risks, the London Police warned. Even moderate use of fake beauty products can result in skin irritation, swelling, rashes, and burns, and can cause long-term health problems. Imitation sun cream products generally offer little to no protection from the sun’s harmful rays, as well.

The City of London Police are issuing these warnings along with a slogan “wake up – don’t fake up!” in the hopes that their campaign will educate the public and help consumers make more knowledgeable choices.

“Criminals are exploiting every opportunity to fool customers into buying counterfeits in order for them to make some quick cash – putting people’s health, homes and lives at risk.”

It is better to spend the extra money on high-end beauty products, such as Christie Brinkley’s vegan skin care line, than to risk one’s health on suspiciously discounted items found in online ads.

[Featured image courtesy of Paula Bronstein / Getty Images]