"Gravel and excrement" found in creams and cosmetics sold on Temu and AliExpress

It's summer, time to buy your sunscreen. On online shopping platforms like Temu or AliExpress , counterfeit cosmetics are plentiful and can be dangerous to your health.

"We're facing a huge risk, especially with these counterfeit sunscreens. We can imagine they don't offer any sun protection at all. You can imagine the disaster," warns Dr. Stéphane Pirnay, a toxicology expert.

The packaging and labeling look a little, if not a lot, like those of big-name brands sold in stores. Except their price rarely exceeds 5 euros. This is the case for the vast majority of items offered for sale on these platforms. This is a way for them to attract as many customers as possible. However, their composition is likely to scare buyers away.

"In some cases, we can find incredible but true things: gravel, excrement, sand," says the doctor, who has analyzed these products.

According to him, the platforms' goal is to make as much profit as possible, even if it means endangering users' health. Alessia and her mother often buy beauty products on the Temu platform. "They make several things that they copy from major brands, like blushes. I tried them once. They cost around €1 or €2. At Sephora, they're probably €15 or €20," she explains.

Except that after using the product, red patches appeared on her cheeks. Which is "not surprising" according to Doctor Stéphane Pirnay.

According to a C-Ways study conducted for the Federation of Beauty Companies, by March 2025, 31% of French people had purchased counterfeit cosmetics in the previous twelve months. To protect consumers, Dr. Stéphane Pirnay calls for strengthening the legal framework and controls over these platforms.