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By Natasha Choo

Looking beautiful is everyone’s dream. Makeup helps enhance the beauty of a person and nearly every woman would use at least one type of cosmetic product. However, there are some products in the market that might cause harm to our health and skin. 

If you are not careful, you might end up purchasing a product that is hazardous. When purchasing any type of cosmetic product, it is wise to check if there is a notification number on it. If you can’t find it on the product, the product might be adulterated and would be risky because it might contain dangerous ingredients such as mercury. 

You should be extra cautious especially when you are purchasing cosmetics online. All cosmetic products sold in Malaysia must first be notified to the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency and Ministry of Health Malaysia before being manufactured, imported and sold. Only products that comply with the guidelines and requirements are given a notification number. 

Before purchasing cosmetics, it would also be wise to take note if this information would be stated. Do check if the product name, instruction of use, list of ingredients, country of manufacture, name and address of manufacturer, measurement of contents of the product, batch number, expiry date or even warnings are stated on the product. Besides, it is also wise to not purchase cosmetics from random street sellers as the products might be duplicated and prohibited ingredients could have been used. 

Customers should also avoid purchasing slimming creams or whitening creams that guarantee instant results. These products too might contain harmful substances and allergic reactions might occur after usage. 

** The views expressed on this opinion are of the writer and not the publisher.