Beware: Kanebo Cosmetics Japan recalls 54 skincare products (17 products affected in Malaysia) after customers complained white patches on their skin after using the products!

One of the biggest news in the last few days is that Kanebo Cosmetics Japan recalls 54 skin whitening products from all over Asia after complaints they caused discolouring that does not clear up even after use was discontinued.

I read that those Kanebo products that being recalled contain e quasi-drug ingredient rhododenol 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanol (in short it's called 4HPB), which is contained in products manufactured by Kanebo and its affiliates Lissage and E’quipe, reported the appearance of white blotches on their skin. All of the brightening products in question contained rhododenol. Kanebo said they have received 39 complaints from customers in Japan. Of those, 15 had shown no improvement in their conditions even after they stopped using the products. 

Despite the recent finding, the ingredient has been approved by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in accordance with the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act. It had also passed “extensive safety tests”, according to Kanebo, although the company decided to voluntarily recall all of its products containing the ingredient due to the possibility of other customers experiencing the same side effects. 

 Masum Natsusaka, the President of Japan's cosmetics maker Kanebo, and other executives bow to apologise in Tokyo to the public. 

Kanebo should be given credit for openly apologizing and voluntarily recalling all the products that has the said 4HPB ingredient because this move would definitely affected their image and business in the future. It is not an easy step for a cosmetic company like Kanebo to recall products when they have actually shipped a total of 4.36 million products in Japan and 370,000 items out to overseas. Besides Japan, there are 10 Asian countries which are affected which includes Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam. And Taiwan is the largest overseas market for the Kanebo products.

Out of the 54 products recalled in Japan, only 17 products are that are sold in Malaysia and being recalled are:-

Kanebo Blanchir Superior

(1) White Deep Clear Conditioner I 

(2) White Deep Clear Conditioner II 

(3) White Deep Clear Conditioner III 

(4) White Deep Milky Conditioner I 

(5) White Deep Milky Conditioner II 

(6) White Deep Night Conditioner I 

(7) White Deep Night Conditioner II 

(8) White Deep Mask 

(9) White Deep UV Day Protector 

 (not all products shown in the picture are affected)

Impress IC range

(1) Impress IC White Lotion I 

(2) IC White Lotion II 

(3) IC White Emulsion I 

(4) IC White Emulsion II

 (not all products shown in the picture are affected)

Also the Impress Granmula Lotion which I reviewed before! OMG.. lucky that time I did not develop white patches on my skin!

 RMK Skincare

(1) Skintuner Brightening Light 

(2) Skintuner Brightening Moist 

(3) Intensive Brightening Essence

  

At the moment,  Kanebo Malaysia has only make an announcement via their facebook page here only and not through any printed media.  They mentioned that to those customers who have bought those affected skincare, they are encourage to visit the Kanebo counter where they purchased the products, and not sure if there is a refund or products or anything. 

Honestly I am still in shock because I have tried most of the Kanebo & RMK skincare products and I am lucky that I did not develop any white patches on my face when I tried them. It is no secret that I am a big fan of their facial and in fact I still have Impress facial with them! I'm concern what about facial customers like myself as those products are being used during facial and waiting reply from them about the next step of action.

If any of you (your family or friends) are using the above mentioned products, it is advised to stop using them immediately! You can bring back the products (even without receipts) back to the counters that you have purchased to see what they can do.

For more information, you can contact Kanebo Cosmetics Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

Tel : +603-79549170
Fax : +603-79549172
Email : info@kanebocos.com.my

 Note : Above information are extracted from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/japan-s-kanebo-recalls/734174.html and http://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/news/article_page/Kanebo_issues_product_recall/89724