A quarter of households report issues with cosmetics: survey

“With so many concerns reported over a period of 36 months on LocalCircles, the platform undertook a pan-India survey to understand the problems faced by Indian consumers with cosmetics purchased from physical stores or online over the past three years. Took a decision,” said the results of the survey released on Monday.

India’s beauty and cosmetics industry is booming, with a rise in online commerce as well as a greater appetite among consumers to buy such products. This also means that many new products are being launched in the market.

The survey received over 37,000 responses from consumers across 305 districts in India. Of these, 48% respondents were from Tier 1 cities, 27% respondents were from Tier 2 cities and towns and 25% respondents were from Tier 3 and 4 cities and rural districts.

Meanwhile, 15% of those surveyed reported having had an allergic or severe reaction to cosmetics they had purchased in the past three years. During the same period, 34% of households bought cosmetics that turned out to be fake or counterfeit. Of those who received a counterfeit cosmetic through an online platform, 55% were able to return it, while 45% failed to do so. Similarly, only 35 per cent of those who bought counterfeit cosmetics from shops or markets in the last three years were able to return it, while 65 per cent of them could not do so, the survey findings showed.

Overall, 56% have never had any problems with the products they purchased. On an overall basis, 25% of households had problems with the cosmetics they purchased in the past three years, with 15% experiencing an allergic reaction or serious illness.

LocalCircles said findings like these make it important to have an inclusive framework that includes medical experts and consumer representatives to better understand the effects of using unsafe cosmetics.

“LocalCircles will share the findings of this survey with key stakeholders within the government to help improve the quality of cosmetics to make them aware of some of the adverse experiences cosmetic users have had and how they are sold to protect interests Is. consumers,” it added.

In 2020, following recommendations from an eight-member panel headed by the Drug Control General of India to frame new laws for drugs, cosmetics and medical devices, the central government notified new cosmetic regulations.

The new rules mandate sharing of all information about the manufacturer and the country where the product was manufactured, ingredients used, instructions for safe use, among other details, to be placed in the label of cosmetics so that To enable consumers to make an informed choice. The government also decided to set up the first Central Cosmetic Laboratory and appoint inspectors in the states.