India, July 9 -- The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (MFDA) warned people on Sunday against using three cosmetic products after finding that they contained mercury and lead levels far above the permissible limits.

The MFDA declared the following products as substandard: Goree Beauty Cream, Face Fresh Gold (Beauty Cream + Beauty Serum), and Golden Star Beauty Cream. The MFDA conducted tests on these products and found they are not safe for us to use, warning that prolonged application could damage the kidneys, nervous system, and skin.

While a disclaimer has been issued about these products, the news raises much bigger concerns and underscores the importance of knowing what we are putting on our skin. In an interview with HT Lif...