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Mercury

Mercury and mercury compounds

AvoidOtherskin lighteningpreservative

Banned in EU cosmetics or credibly linked to serious harm.

Also written as: Mercurous Chloride · Calomel · Ammoniated Mercury · Mercuric Chloride · Thiomersal · Thimerosal · Phenyl Mercuric Acetate

What it is

Mercury and its compounds were historically used in cosmetics for two purposes: as skin-lightening agents, because mercury blocks pigment formation, and as preservatives in eye products. Mercury is a cumulative toxin that damages the kidneys and nervous system and crosses the placenta. It is banned from EU cosmetics with two narrow legacy preservative exceptions, and it is one of the most important adulterants to be aware of in illegally imported skin-lightening creams.

Worth knowing

  • Banned in EU cosmetics as a toxic heavy metal

    Mercury and its compounds are listed among the substances prohibited in cosmetic products. The only surviving exceptions are the preservatives thiomersal and phenylmercuric salts in eye products at 0.007% expressed as mercury, which must be declared on the label.

    Matters most toEveryone; no legitimate EU face mask contains mercury.

  • Causes real poisoning through skin-lightening creams

    Documented cases include kidney damage and nephrotic syndrome, tremor, memory loss and skin rashes in people using mercury-containing lightening creams, often bought abroad or online. Household members, including children, can be exposed second-hand.

    Matters most toAnyone using imported or unlabelled skin-lightening creams, and pregnant or breastfeeding women in particular.

  • Also banned from manufacture, import and export under EU mercury law

    Separately from cosmetics law, the EU Mercury Regulation has prohibited mercury-added cosmetics from manufacture, import and export since 31 December 2020, implementing the Minamata Convention.

    Matters most toAnyone importing cosmetics into the EU.

Where the EU stands

Banned in EU cosmetics

Mercury and its compounds are prohibited in cosmetic products, with the sole exceptions of thiomersal and phenylmercuric salts as preservatives in eye products at 0.007% as mercury. EU mercury law separately bans mercury-added cosmetics from manufacture, import and export.

Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex II entry 221 (exceptions at Annex V entries 16 and 17); Regulation (EU) 2017/852, Annex II point 7 · source ↗

Sources (3)

Every link goes to the original: a journal, a PubMed record or an EU document.

  1. [1]
    Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, consolidated text, Annex II entry 221 and Annex V entries 16 and 17

    EUR-Lex, European Union · 2025

    Mercury and its compounds are prohibited in cosmetic products except for thiomersal and phenylmercuric salts as preservatives in eye products at 0.007% as mercury.

  2. [2]
    Inorganic mercury poisoning associated with skin-lightening cosmetic products

    Clinical Toxicology · 2011 · doi:10.3109/15563650.2011.626425

    Reviews confirmed cases of inorganic mercury poisoning, including kidney injury and neurological effects, traced to the use of mercury-containing skin-lightening creams.

  3. [3]
    Mercury in skin lightening products

    World Health Organization · 2019

    WHO documents the continued global sale of mercury-containing skin-lightening products and the resulting kidney, neurological and dermatological harms, including second-hand exposure within households.