The Consumer Protection Committee yesterday said that of 25 types of facial mask it has examined, 14 were found to be mislabeled and eight exaggerated the effect of the product.
The committee examined 25 facial masks purchased at 14 different cosmetic stores and retail stores in the greater Taipei area in August. The results showed that all the products passed inspections for fluorescent agents, microorganisms and preservatives, but 56 percent of the products were mislabeled or exaggerated the effect of the mask.
“For example, a product claimed that it could help improve eczema, which is claiming it is a medical treatment,” senior consumer ombudsman Wang Te-ming (王德明) said. “Another even claimed to boost collagen formation.”
Wang said the eight products that claimed exaggerated effects were all manufactured by local companies.
Beauty Idea Diary’s (玩美日記) pure sodium hyaluronate moisturizing mask claimed that it is suitable for sensitive skin, while OTAKU’s (禦宅女) chamomile soothing anti-redness mask claimed to diminish inflammation, and help to heal eczema and pimples.
OGUMA’s (水美媒) aquakey super mask claimed to make the use “younger and younger after it is applied,” to “awaken young skin in 15 minutes” and other effects.
Hey Pinkgogirl’s (Hey!蘋果肌女孩) extract herbal lotion mask claimed to be especially good for sensitive skin, have miracle organic herbal essence, as well as producing an anti-aging effect.
Valentino Rudy’s (范倫鐵諾) obsidian intense moisturizing skin whitening black mask claimed to inhibit melanin production, while Beautymate’s (美肌?誌) whitening smooth mask claimed to boost collagen formation.
FACE Q’s (絕世愛美肌) “it’s ocean” marine double DNA repairing mask claimed to have DNA repairing ingredients for moisturizing the skin, while Dr Morita’s (森田藥粧) hyaluronic acid essence mask claimed to keep the skin moisturized for 24 hours.
Consumer Protection Committee Director-General Liu Chin-fang (劉清芳) said that “if a product claims it can keep the face moisturized for 24 hours, then it has to prove such an effect, but the problem is that the company cannot.”
“Cosmetic products are not allowed to claim they are a medical treatment,” Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Division of Medical Devices and Cosmetics head Yeh Meng-yi (葉孟宜) said. “If they do, the company faces a fine of up to NT$100,000 according to the Code of Cosmetic Hygiene Management (化妝品衛生管理條例).”
Yeh said the FDA has asked the brands to improve their labeling within a given period of time and some of the companies claiming exaggerated effects have been fined between NT$5,000 and NT$10,000.
“People should avoid applying facial masks for more than 15 minutes three times a week,” Yeh said.
A group of Taiwanese-American and Tibetan-American students at Harvard University on Saturday disrupted Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng’s (謝鋒) speech at the school, accusing him of being responsible for numerous human rights violations. Four students — two Taiwanese Americans and two from Tibet — held up banners inside a conference hall where Xie was delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the Harvard Kennedy School China Conference 2024. In a video clip provided by the Coalition of Students Resisting the CCP (Chinese Communist Party), Taiwanese-American Cosette Wu (吳亭樺) and Tibetan-American Tsering Yangchen are seen holding banners that together read:
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