PRO-ENVIRONMENT advocates are calling the public once again against unsafe whitening products being distributed in the market.

Thony Dizon, chemical safety campaigner of EcoWaste Coalition asked everyone, specifically women and girls, to embrace and take pride in their natural Filipino skin tone stressing that cosmetics containing banned skin whitening agents will have ill effects on their health in the long run.

“The group’s renewed pitch for brown is beautiful came on the heels of successive advisories issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning consumers against the purchase and use of cosmetics containing mercury, hydroquinone and/or tretinoin, which are not allowed to be part of a cosmetic product as per Annex II Part 1 of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive,” Dizon said.

EcoWaste added the proliferation of cosmetics containing banned skin whitening agents pushed them to ask Filipinos, especially women to embrace and take pride in their natural skin tone.

“We need not poison our bodies and the environment with mercury and other harmful pigment inhibiting agents in our desire to have a lighter skin complexion, instead of altering your natural skin color, why not accept, love and be proud of what you have?” Dizon added emphasizing “there is no shame in brown or black skin.”

In Baguio City, the EcoWaste Coalition has alerted Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong of the continued sale of toxic cosmetics at outlets in the city.

Products found to exceeding safety levels were Goree Day & Night Whitening Cream Pakistan, Night Beauty Cream Pakistan, Jiaoli 7-Day Specific Eliminating Freckle Cream China, Jiaoli Miraculous Cream China and S’Zitang 10-Day Eliminating Freckle Day & Night Cream found at the following stores Jerry & Hayden Herbal and General Merchandise Store at Rajah Soliman St., Fashion Boutique and Prince Silver and Fashion Boutique both the Maharlika Livelihood Complex.

The FDA has warned the public about the side effects of using injectable lightening agents such as glutathione, which can have toxic effects on the liver, kidneys and the nervous system.

“If whitening one’s skin is really desired, please be careful on how you will do it. Better seek the advice of licensed dermatologists on proper skincare and on skin disease prevention, detection and treatment,” Dizon said.