Toxic Herb Found in Chinese Skincare Giant's Products
A whistleblower revealed that Pechoin, a major Chinese skincare company, allegedly added a toxic traditional herb called ‘Typhonium’ to its bestselling ‘Red Scene Sky’ product line, affecting sales of 14 million units worth 600 million yuan.
The Chinese beauty industry faces intense scrutiny after allegations emerged about Pechoin (Shanghai Pechoin), one of China’s oldest and most respected skincare brands, deliberately adding a toxic traditional herb to its flagship products. This revelation has sent shockwaves through the beauty community and raised serious questions about product safety and corporate ethics.
The whistleblower’s report details how Pechoin allegedly incorporated Typhonium, a poisonous herb from the Araceae family, into their “Red Scene Sky” product line. This herb, traditionally used in Chinese medicine for external applications only, contains dangerous compounds including calcium oxalate crystals and toxic alkaloids that can cause severe irritation and poisoning if misused.
What makes this case particularly troubling is the apparent deliberate nature of the addition. According to internal documents, Pechoin’s research and development team explicitly warned company executives about Typhonium’s toxicity and its absence from the approved cosmetic ingredients list. Despite these warnings, the company allegedly proceeded with using the ingredient through an elaborate scheme of procurement and processing.
The company reportedly went to extraordinary lengths to obscure their use of Typhonium. They established a complex supply chain involving multiple intermediaries across different provinces, disguised the ingredient under various names in documentation, and processed it through different facilities to make detection more difficult. Between 2020 and 2024, an estimated 8,000 kilograms of the processed herb was incorporated into products.
PCR testing of the “Red Scene Sky” products confirmed the presence of Typhonium DNA sequences. While some experts question whether trace amounts pose significant health risks, others emphasize that any intentional addition of an unapproved toxic substance to cosmetic products represents a serious regulatory violation.
Adding to the gravity of the situation is the massive scale of affected products. Over four years, Pechoin sold approximately 14 million units containing the controversial ingredient, generating revenue of around 600 million yuan. The potential health impact on such a large consumer base remains unclear, with medical experts warning about possible long-term effects from prolonged exposure to the toxic compounds.
This incident reflects broader challenges in China’s cosmetics industry, where intense market competition sometimes leads companies to take dangerous shortcuts. It also highlights the critical importance of ingredient transparency and regulatory oversight in ensuring consumer safety in the beauty sector.
The beauty community anxiously awaits Pechoin’s official response to these serious allegations, while industry experts call for stricter monitoring of cosmetic ingredients and supply chain practices to prevent similar incidents in the future.