MPS WARN COSMETIC PRODUCTS FACE LESS REGULATION THAN BALLPOINT PENS

The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee has said hair and beauty products and treatments such as Brazilian butt lifts, Botox and dermal fillers face less regulation than ballpoint pens. Its report, published on 4 November 2026, warned that "dangerous gaps" in cosmetics regulation are causing unnecessary harm. It said people have reported chemical burns, scarring, infections, allergic reactions, migraines and hives after using cosmetic products or undergoing procedures. Some described poor outcomes linked to body image distress and mental health issues. One person told the committee: "My hair should not have melted and burnt my head."

The committee's report describes existing regulation as a "confusing mess" that has "failed to keep pace" with the sector. MPs said the government "has been far too slow to act, and people are suffering as a result." It found that regulated products containing powerful chemicals are increasingly promoted to and used by children, with parents unknowingly buying items that could cause long-term harm. Product safety laws have not kept pace with online marketplaces, the committee said, letting "illegal and dangerous" products reach UK consumers faster and in greater volumes than regulators can police.

MPs said hair and beauty products have "traditionally been the domain of women," and that complacency in regulating the sector "has clear roots in sexism and racism." The committee said people should be able to trust that products sold on the high street are safe and properly regulated. One contributor told the committee that boils from a reaction "were the size of a £2 coin" at their worst. The committee called for government action to close the regulatory gaps it identified across both products and procedures.