Resources

Under the project Eliminating Mercury Skin Lightening Products training activities and materials were developed to support Customs and enforcement authorities in the three project countries to understand needs and obligations for eliminating the trade of mercury-added skin lightening products (SLPs).

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During the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury in November 2025, UNEP outreach events under the theme “Detoxifying Cosmetics and Beauty Ideals – Where Policy Meets Art” brought together artists, filmmakers, and voices from the cosmetics sector to explore the issue through creative and policy perspectives. This video captures behind‑the‑scenes moments.

Skin lightening cosmetics containing mercury hurt you and the planet. Want to know more? Watch the full video here:    The color of beauty   Check the settings to select your preferred language.

“I Want To Shine”  (Official Music Video | Dr. Ajith Kannangara) is more than a song. It’s a reflection of a reality many don’t talk about — the pressure, the illusion, and the truth behind beauty.

This infographic presents the key achievements of the GEF-funded, UNEP-led project aimed at removing mercury-added skin lightening products (SLPs) implemented between 2022 and 2026 in collaboration with the Governments of Gabon, Jamaica, and Sri Lanka.

The global skin‑lightening industry exceeded US$10 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach US$18 billion by 20341. Products are widely used across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, many containing harmful chemicals such as steroids, hydroquinone and mercury.

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This protocol was developed by Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) to share recommended guidelines for market surveillance activities related to the sampling of suspected mercury-added skin lightening products available on the market. Best practices and recommendations for the analysis of samples are also provided.

This toolkit offers practical guidance and ready‑to‑use tools to support the collection of behavioural data and insights on the use of skin lightening products. Its purpose is to inform effective public health interventions and regulatory action.

The National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health (NPCSH) provides Nigeria with that coherent framework. It establishes a unified direction for regulation, coordination, and vigilance across the cosmetics value chain, from formulation and manufacturing to distribution, marketing, use, and disposal.

The infographic shows the harmful health and environmental impacts of these products, and the need for the Minamata Convention's implementation through regulation, enforcement and awareness-raising.  

The first annual skin-lightening cream stakeholder meeting was held on Dec. 10, 2025. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) staff, along with business and community stakeholders, shared updates and engaged in a rich discussion about ways to protect human health and the environment from contaminated skin-lightening creams. Watch the video.

Fairness at a Cost is a powerful documentary that explores the growing obsession with lighter skin tones and the widespread use of skin-lightening products—many of which contain dangerous substances like mercury, hydroquinone, and steroids.

This Tool was developed by the Health Promotion Bureau, Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Sri Lanka, during their ToT programs.

The Quiz Game is an educational resource that teachers or session moderators can use to engage with students or participants.

Level: Easy - 10 questions (multiple choices)

Mercury found in some beauty products can enter the bloodstream, the brain and breastmilk.

This video and article from CNN explains it all and presents findings from a new report analysing cosmetics in USA and Canada.

This report documents the ongoing availability of mercury added skin lightening products (SLPs) on Amazon websites around the world, despite a recent legal settlement with Amazon.com in the United States. The legal settlement in the U.S.—negotiated by the U.S.

Hundreds of millions of users globally use skin lightening products which are rooted in systemic colorism and cultural norms and pressures that promote certain beauty standards.

Dr Ruediger Krech highlights the urgent public health concerns posed by mercury exposure, especially to vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children. He outlines WHO’s role in supporting countries through policy guidance, awareness campaigns, and implementation of the Minamata Convention health articles.

In this short video, the National Poisons Information Centre of Sri Lanka is raising awareness about hidden toxic risks in skin-lightening products.

The video was released on youtube during the Poisoning Prevention week organised on 11-17 August 2025. 

Skin lightening cosmetics are one of the fastest-growing products that address the people’s desire to lighter skin. The active ingredients to the skin lightening cosmetic products have the function to inhibit melanogenesis process under skin resulting less melanin content. Among them, inorganic mercury salts inhibit melanin formation by competing with copper in tyrosinase enzyme.

The Minamata Convention on Mercury prohibits the manufacture, import, and export of listed mercury-added products, including batteries, switches, certain lamps, cosmetics and measuring devices, with limited exemptions. It also requires Parties to phase down the use of dental amalgam.

The Minamata Convention bans the use of mercury in cosmetics, including skin-lightening products. Although manufacture, import and export of mercury-containing cosmetics is prohibited, Parties face challenges in addressing informal manufacturing and sales.

Explore Insights, Resources and Intersessional Work gathered in the Minamata Convention on Mercury Topic: Mercury in cosmetics

Public health laboratories play a leading role in the ongoing, successful responses to these threats. While limited resources restrict a laboratory’s ability to address every threat, mercury is a global health crisis that merits attention not only due to its toxicity and prevalence, but also because of environmental concerns affecting communities disproportionately.

These infographics have been designed for the project “Eliminating Mercury Skin Lightening Products”.

Ces publications pour les réseaux sociaux sont conçues pour partager la campagne #MercuryFreeCosmetics, en particulier pour la Journée internationale pour l'élimination de la discrimination raciale le 21 mars.