Handmade cosmetics of unknown origin are being increasingly sold on the Vietnamese market, posing a threat to customers.

The majority of these untested make-up products have no label or registration for their legal distribution from the appropriate authorities.

The handmade cosmetics include lipsticks, facial masks, soaps, skin care creams and body lotions.

Sellers of the products often claim that they are made from natural ingredients such as coconut oil, rice bran, green tea or honey.

The supposed skin care goods can be bought on the Internet, while many online forums provide do-it-yourself guides on how to make them, with a number of non-verified recipes available.

According to H., a seller from the southern province of Dong Nai, she bought the raw materials from a friend and mixed them up to create different products.

“I also bought the bottles and designed the label myself,” H. added.

Assistant Professor Nguyen Huu Duc, from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, advised against the use of these types of make-up, pointing to their lack of scientific foundation and certification from competent authorities.

Without legal verification, sellers can easily add their own materials, namely corticoid or antibiotics, without the knowledge of their customers.

Corticoid can deliver rapid improvement to skin tone within a week, Duc said, but warned that the chemical will have serious side effects once users stop applying the product.

Le Ngoc Diep, head of the dermatology department at the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, added that nobody could guarantee that these cosmetics were produced in a sanitary environment.

Ingredients like honey, rice bran, and olive oil are perfect environments for bacteria and fungi to grow, Diep elaborated.

According to Dr. Huynh Huy Hoang, a dermatology specialist, the effectiveness of handmade cosmetics is not guaranteed, and they can even cause skin infections and allergic reactions.

In some cases, patients have suffered severe skin peels and required admission to hospital.

“Buyers should be made aware of the products’ ingredients, expiration date, circulation license, and integrity. Users are advised to visit a dermatologist immediately if they experience any negative reactions,” Hoang said.