Consumer Alert: Banned Mercury-Containing Skin Lightening Products Still Sold in Public Markets and Online Stores

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

  

As we celebrate International Women’s Month, toxics watchdog BAN Toxics has issued a consumer alert on the illegal sale of prohibited beauty products containing mercury—a highly toxic heavy metal that poses serious risks to the nervous, digestive, and immune systems.

Among the cosmetic skin lightening products banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene and Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream, priced at ₱180–₱200 each, and sold in beauty shops in Malabon, Pasay and Valenzuela, as well as through online shopping platforms. Using a Vanta C Series Handheld XRF Analyzer, the group tested the products and detected mercury at concentrations as high as 28,800 parts per million (ppm)—far exceeding the 1 ppm limit set by the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive. 

“The illegal selling of banned skin lightening products is alarming and dangerous to public health, especially to women and children,” said Thony Dizon, Advocacy and Campaign Officer of BAN Toxics.

Citing the World Health Organization, mercury exposure in women primarily causes severe neurological, reproductive, and developmental damage, with particularly high risks for pregnant women and developing fetuses. It can lead to infertility, birth defects, developmental delays in children, and chronic symptoms in women, including tremors, memory loss, depression, and numbness.

BAN Toxics, through the Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG), has been investigating mercury-added skin lightening products (SLPs) for several years primarily due to their health risks, their illegality under many national laws, and the Minamata Convention on Mercury’s prohibition on the manufacture and trade of mercury-added SLPs, which generally became effective in 2021.

In 2025, the ZMWG published a report exposing the ongoing illegal manufacture of mercury-added skin whiteners. With its partners from Pakistan, Kenya, the Philippines, and the United States, the group purchased and tested samples from six widely available brands of skin whitening creams (SWCs) made in Pakistan, as indicated on their packaging: Faiza, Golden Pearl, Goree, Aneeza, Parley, and Face Fresh. The results are alarming: 35 of the 37 creams contained mercury levels up to thousands of times higher than the legal limit of 1 ppm, with one product reaching 24,000 ppm. The products were tested in accredited laboratories in the EU and the US.

“The illegal sale of banned skin lightening products is occurring not only in the Philippines but also in other countries, including on online shopping platforms.”

The group’s continuous monitoring online showed the widespread marketing of banned skin lightening creams, including Goree Products, on e-commerce platforms such as Lazada and Shopee, which put the public at risk and requires immediate action from Philippine regulatory agencies.

“We call on both the FDA and the DTI to expedite their regulatory and enforcement functions to prevent the further sale and use of prohibited skin lightening products, ensure consumer protection, and prevent exposure to toxic mercury,” the group added.

BAN Toxics, a leading advocate for safe cosmetics regulation in the country, urges legislators to pass a law that will protect public health and the environment from hazardous chemicals in cosmetics.

“We will continue to be vigilant in monitoring and documenting prohibited skin lightening products offered for sale in the market and push for stricter product standards and enhanced consumer safety and protection.”

The Fifteen-Year Wait: Why the Age of "Easy Oil" Is Over

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

The era of rapid-fire energy strikes is vanishing into the geological rearview mirror. What was once a sprint from discovery to production has slowed to a grueling marathon, with new analysis revealing that oil and gas projects now take an average of 15.1 years to come online. This represents a staggering threefold increase since the industry’s mid-century peak, fundamentally altering the math of global energy.

A Legacy in Slow Motion

To understand the gravity of this shift, one must look back at the "boom decades" of 1960–1980. During this prolific era, a discovery could be tapped and flowing to market in a mere 4.9 years. Massive reservoirs like Mexico’s Cantarell field were discovered and operational within three years, eventually supplying 3% of the world's total production.

Today, those "easy" reservoirs are largely depleted. The industry has moved from the low-hanging fruit to the "white elephants"—projects so technically daunting they were once considered off-limits.

The Complexity Trap: Why the Stall?

The march toward fifteen-year lead times isn't just a matter of bureaucracy; it is driven by a descent into increasingly hostile environments:

Extreme Frontiers: Companies are now targeting "20K technology" fields, pushing into ultra-high-pressure zones (exceeding 20,000 psi) that require entirely new engineering innovations.

The Offshore Tax: Deepwater developments are notoriously slow, typically taking three years longer to reach production than onshore projects.

Toxic Chemistry: The industry is now forced to "scrape the bottom of the barrel," developing "sour gas" reservoirs with high concentrations of toxic hydrogen sulfide and CO2—projects previously deemed uneconomic and dangerous.

Geopolitical and Ecological Quagmires: Projects like Lake Albert in Uganda have faced two decades of delays due to intense scrutiny over habitat destruction and impacts on local communities.

The "Stranded Asset" Gamble

The most dramatic consequence of these prolonged timelines is the collision with global climate goals. Under the International Energy Agency's (IEA) Net Zero Emissions scenario, investment in upstream oil and gas must decline sharply.

Projects discovered today may not generate a single dollar of revenue until the late 2030s or beyond. By the time these "long-dated bets" finally come online, they may emerge into a world that has moved on to cleaner energy systems, leaving billions of dollars in "stranded assets".

"Fifteen-year development cycles mean companies are making long-dated bets on a very uncertain future," warns Scott Zimmerman, GOGET project manager. "Chasing expensive white elephants seems destined to fail." 

The Bottom Line

While some outliers like ExxonMobil in Guyana have managed to "fast-track" production in under five years, these are the rare exceptions to a hardening rule. For the rest of the industry, the path to extraction is longer, costlier, and riskier than ever before. The data suggests that instead of doubling down on harder-to-reach fossils, the safer bet for energy security lies in demand reduction and renewables.

Regent Hong Kong Named One of China’s Top 100 Hotels

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

In 2025 T+L China Travel Awards

2 March 2026 (Hong Kong SAR) – Regent Hong Kong has been named one of China’s Top 100 Hotels in the 2025 Travel + Leisure (T+L) China Travel Awards, a recognition that highlights the hotel’s position among the region’s leading luxury properties. 

The accolade, determined through Travel + Leisure China’s expert evaluation and data-driven insights, recognizes hotels that exemplify timeless elegance, elevated personal service, and thoughtfully crafted private havens, many with some of the destination’s most sought-after views. 

“We are deeply honoured to be conferred this distinguished recognition by T+L China. It is a graceful affirmation of Regent Hong Kong’s pursuit of modern luxury—expressed through serene, contemporary design, intuitive and personalized service, and experiences crafted with deliberate artistry,” said Michel Chertouh, managing director, Regent Hong Kong. “As Hong Kong’s cultural and travel landscape continues to flourish, this accolade underscores our role in cultivating meaningful connections: between guests and the city, across generations, and with Hong Kong’s enduring heritage of craftsmanship.”

“Through the thoughtful curation of immersive experiences and the unwavering dedication of our exceptional team, we strive to create stays that are both timeless and exquisitely attuned to the present,” Chertouh added. “This recognition further strengthens our vision to craft moments that resonate deeply and leave a lasting impression on today’s most discerning travelers.” 

Regarded as one of the region’s most respected travel benchmarks, the T+L China Travel Awards employ a multidimensional selection methodology that combines expert assessment, public sentiment, and data-led market insights. The resulting list showcases hotels and destinations that demonstrate excellence in design, service, guest experience and innovation. Inclusion in China’s Top 100 Hotels underscores Regent Hong Kong’s achievement of these standards. 

A Haven of Tranquil Luxury on Victoria Harbour 

Overlooking Victoria Harbour from its prominent Kowloon waterfront setting, Regent Hong Kong embodies a modern interpretation of classic luxury. Visionary designer Chi Wing Lo has reimagined the hotel with serene, understated interiors that celebrate craftsmanship, proportion, and the interplay of light and space. 

Guestrooms and suites are conceived as Personal Havens, where cinematic harbour vistas are balanced by intimate, quietly detailed interiors. Soft tones, tactile materials and custom furnishings create a sense of calm, while signature windowfront daybeds invite guests to pause and contemplate the shifting harbour and skyline. Oasis Bathrooms, with deep-soaking bathtubs and picture windows, offer a retreat-like experience at the heart of the city. 

Regent Experience Agents are central to the hotel’s service philosophy. Acting as discreet hosts and curators, they orchestrate personalized stays that unfold with a sense of ease—from arranging bespoke in-city discoveries and private celebrations to tailoring in-room rituals and moments of quiet reflection. The focus is on anticipating needs and preferences so that experiences feel considered, individual, and unhurried. 

The hotel’s Signature Suites, including the CEO Suite and Presidential Suite, feature private terraces, outdoor whirlpools, and expansive harbour views. Designed for milestone occasions, multigenerational travel or extended stays, these suites blend residential-style comfort with elevated privacy and exclusive access to the Regent Club. 

Situated steps from the Avenue of Stars and within easy reach of the West Kowloon Cultural District and the emerging Kai Tak Sports Park, Regent Hong Kong occupies a central position within the city’s cultural and leisure landscape. Within the hotel, guests discover an evolving art journey that brings together works by emerging local talents and reinterpreted pieces from the property’s original collection, creating a quiet dialogue between past and present. 

Regent Hong Kong’s Dining Destination, comprising a curated selection of restaurants and lounges, pairs acclaimed culinary talent with harbourfront settings. Each venue is designed as an experience in itself, where atmosphere, service, and cuisine work in concert to create memorable occasions, from refined Cantonese dining to relaxed gatherings overlooking the water. 

The T+L China recognition adds to a series of accolades for Regent Hong Kong. The hotel was named No. 1 Hotel in Hong Kong for the second consecutive year in the 2025 Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific, and was recognized as the No. 1 City Hotel in Asia and No. 1 City Hotel in Hong Kong in the 2025 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards readers’ survey. It was also ranked No. 14 among the Top 100 Hotels in the World and featured in Travel + Leisure’s list of the 500 Best Hotels in the World. 

Room reservations are available via our hotel's website https://hongkong.regenthotels.com/ or via the IHG One Rewards App and WeChat Mini-programme. For more information or to make reservations, please contact us at +852 2313 2333 or email reservations.regenthk@ihg.com.