New York Attorney General Letitia James has directed three companies—Aleena Cosmetics, Axabee Skincare, and Singhcart, LLC—to stop selling skin-lightening creams and cosmetics containing illegal levels of mercury. According to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), an investigation revealed that these companies offered products with mercury concentrations up to 30,000 times higher than the legal limit under state law.
Attorney General James stated, “Mercury is poison, not a beauty treatment, and no company has any business selling it to consumers. Products with mercury levels this high are dangerous and illegal. My office is shutting down these unlawful sales to protect consumers throughout New York. We will not let companies profit by endangering New Yorkers’ health.”
The OAG began investigating after receiving reports from public health advocates and community organizations. Investigators bought and tested a variety of products from Aleena Cosmetics and Axabee Skincare, both located in Malverne, Nassau County. All tested products contained mercury above the legal limit of one part per million. The OAG also bought illegal products from Singhcart, LLC, based in Valley Stream.
Cease-and-desist letters have been sent to all three companies, requiring them to confirm compliance within five business days. If they fail to comply, they could face legal action and civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation per day.
Skin-lightening products are often marketed to women of color and are sold in immigrant and minority communities. Mercury is sometimes added to these products, which may also be called “beauty creams” or “pearl creams.” These items are available in small stores, bodegas, and online. Mercury exposure is not limited to users; it can spread through contaminated household items or as vapor, potentially affecting others, including infants.
The OAG advises New Yorkers to avoid products that do not list ingredients, list mercury or related terms as ingredients, or are labeled in languages other than English. People who have used non-prescription skin-lightening products should talk to their healthcare provider about mercury testing if they experience symptoms such as irritability, tremors, memory issues, vision or hearing changes, depression, or numbness.
The OAG’s investigation identified specific products with illegal mercury levels. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has also published a list of skin-lightening products containing high mercury content. Consumers in New York City can report sales of these products by calling 311; outside the city, reports can be made to the OAG’s Environmental Protection Bureau or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Mercury-containing products should be disposed of at approved sites as outlined by the New York City Department of Sanitation or DEC.
The OAG is working with organizations such as WE ACT for Environmental Justice, the Zero Mercury Working Group, DOHMH, and DEC to protect vulnerable communities.
Peggy Shepard, Co-Founder and Executive Director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, said, “WE ACT for Environmental Justice is committed to seeing the proper enforcement of New York State’s Mercury Out of Cosmetics law that we helped pass in 2022, so we highly commend and sincerely thank Attorney General Letitia James and her team for conducting their own testing and taking action against the companies violating this law. It is egregious to see these products being marketed to people of color, especially women and girls, taking advantage of racist, eurocentric beauty standards that encourage them to lighten their skin. Because toxic chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products disproportionately burden women of color, WE ACT and our fellow advocates are working to ban many of these dangerous chemicals and promote the right of all New Yorkers to healthy lives.”
Michael T. Bender, Co-coordinator of the Zero Mercury Working Group, stated, “We greatly appreciate Attorney General James’ leadership in tackling this global mercury cosmetic crisis. Our research indicates that despite health risks, a vast criminal enterprise of unscrupulous manufacturers outside the U.S. is supplying—in plain view worldwide via online platforms like those in New York—illegal mercury-laced cosmetics to millions. This poisoning for profit must stop and Attorney General James is leading the way.”
Sophia Longsworth, Toxics Policy Director for Clean+Healthy and Co-leader of the JustGreen Partnership said, “It is shameful that despite both federal and state laws banning the presence of mercury in skin lightening creams, companies continue to make these toxic products and New York businesses continue to sell them. These products are regularly marketed towards women of color to achieve eurocentric beauty standards and can cause irreparable neurological damage. It’s a toxic beauty standard that relies on toxic ingredients. Thank you, Attorney General James, for pursuing this action and holding violators accountable. We call on all businesses selling personal care products to ensure they are not putting their customers and themselves at risk by breaking this law.”
Amaha Kassa, Executive Director of African Communities Together commented, “African Communities Together applauds this decisive action by Attorney General James to stop skin lightening products from poisoning our communities. Skin lightening products like the ones ordered off the market by Attorney General James are not just based on toxic beauty standards— they are literally toxic to our health. As an organization dedicated to empowering immigrants from Africa, including hundreds of our African immigrant members who work as traditional African hair braiders, ACT has long been concerned with making the beauty industry healthier, safer, and more fair. This investigation and order are an important step in that direction.”
Diya Basu-Sen, Executive Director of Sapna NYC, Inc., added, “It is abhorrent that companies are knowingly targeting our communities of color with skin lightening products that contain toxic chemicals. These products prey on the colorism in our communities, a last vestige of colonialism, that tells women of color that they are not enough as they are and forces them to aspire to Western standards of beauty. Sapna NYC is proud to have worked on community education campaigns in this area and strongly supports Attorney General Letitia James and her office in their efforts to hold these dangerous companies accountable and protect the women of color they are targeting.”
Rana Abdelhamid, Executive Director of Malikah said, “Malikah applauds the Attorney General’s action against skin whitening products that are not only harmful but often contain dangerous chemicals posing serious health risks. These products exploit insecurities while putting individuals’ physical safety at risk. As a grassroots organization committed to self-defense, healing, and empowerment, Malikah stands against practices that profit from both discrimination and harm. We support this initiative as part of our mission to build safe, healthy, and inclusive communities. We urge policymakers and allies to act to protect public health and ensure everyone can feel safe and confident in their own skin.”
Dr. Jean Joseph, President of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI), stated “CACCI robustly supports the ingenuity of Attorney General James in the eradication of skin lightening products with high levels of mercury. Medical and scientific evidence shows that these products contain harmful compounds that not only comprise of high levels of mercury but are now allied to health issues. CACCI is committed to raising awareness about the dangers of skin lightening products, and to advocating for the safety and wellbeing of the African American community.”
Shahana Masum, General Secretary of the Bangladesh American Advocacy Group (BAAG), said “The Bangladesh American Advocacy Group (BAAG) strongly supports Attorney General Letitia James’ decisive action to protect New Yorkers from toxic mercury found in illegal skin-lightening products. For far too long, these dangerous creams have disproportionately targeted men, women of color, and immigrant communities, including some members of our own. We applaud the Attorney General’s leadership in safeguarding public health, raising awareness about these harmful practices, and holding companies accountable for prioritizing profits over people.”
Erum Hanif, CEO of APNA Brooklyn Community Center commented “I have observed many women and girls in the South Asian community using these products without being aware of their actual ingredients or understanding how harmful they can be. Some of these creams contain toxic substances such as mercury beyond the approved legal limits, which can cause serious health problems. There is an urgent need for stronger measures to prevent the sale of harmful skin-lightening products, and I am grateful to Attorney General James for taking action to protect communities and inform them about the dangers of these products.”
Ali Rashid, President of the American Pakistani Advocacy Group stated “The American Pakistani Advocacy Group (APAG) stands in strong support of the Attorney General’s initiative to eliminate skin whitening products that pose significant health risks. These products often contain hazardous chemicals, including high levels of mercury, which have been linked to serious health issues such as kidney damage, neurological disorders, and skin discoloration. Particularly within the Pakistani-American community, there has been a concerning prevalence of these products, leading to increased health complications among users. APAG is committed to raising awareness about these dangers and advocating for the safety and well-being of our community members. We urge all individuals to discontinue the use of such products and seek medical advice if they have been exposed. APAG remains dedicated to empowering the Pakistani-American community through education, advocacy, and support, ensuring a healthier future for all.”
Japneet Singh, Executive Director of the New York Sikh Council added “The New York Sikh Council strongly supports Attorney General Letitia James’ action to protect New Yorkers from dangerous mercury-laced skin-lightening products. These toxic creams have been sold for years in immigrant neighborhoods, including within Punjabi and Sikh communities, where harmful colorism pressures have too often been exploited by unethical companies. We commend the Attorney General for standing up for public health and for communities of color, and for holding companies accountable for endangering lives. This action reaffirms that every New Yorker—regardless of background—deserves safety, dignity, and confidence in their natural beauty.”
The case is being managed by staff from OAG’s Environmental Protection Bureau under its Division for Social Justice.
