Check overseas cosmetics against the MFDS non-compliance list before use

Where can you find the MFDS non-compliance list?

On the MFDS website, follow Policy information → Hazard information → Cosmetic hazard information → Safety information for direct overseas purchases. The October 16 notice includes a PDF titled 'Non-compliant findings from quality testing of overseas cosmetics (2026, 131 entries)'. Download the file and zoom in if the table is too small on your phone.

The attachment lists product photos, names, sellers and product types. Test findings are split into the test item, standard and result. A note above the table says it applies the safety management standards for cosmetics distributed in Korea. Read the product name and variant beside each photo to distinguish the items.

In what order should you compare your purchase?

Keep the delivered container and box beside you and open your order record. A sales page may change, so check the information recorded when you bought it as well.

1. Search the PDF for the brand or a distinctive word in the product name. If nothing appears, also inspect the photos on pages for the relevant product type.
2. Match the size, shade and variant in the listed name against your order. Record the variant where several options share a name.
3. Compare the container and box with the photo in the official list. Similar packaging alone does not confirm an exact match.
4. If you find a match or cannot tell, save the relevant list page alongside product and order photos. Ask the seller whether the product pictured is the same as the variant you ordered.

The official list sometimes uses long product names translated into Korean. If a search finds nothing, try shorter terms such as the brand spelling or variant code.

How should you read the test items and results?

Read the standard and result on the same row together. The attachment includes different test items, such as arsenic, nickel, benzene, pH and microbial counts. Their units and assessment standards differ, so the size of a result alone cannot rank products by risk.

A product may have several rows of test findings. Capture the product name through to the results so you do not lose the item that failed the standard. Read non-numerical standards such as 'not detected' as written. Checking a product's smell or color at home cannot replace the test results.

Is a product safe to buy if you cannot find it?

This is a list of non-compliant findings, so absence does not certify a product as safe. An entry for a brand also does not mean every product from that brand has the same result. Keep your judgment within the specific product and variant you have checked.

Even if a product is absent, check its ingredients, expiry information and use precautions on the sales page and packaging. MFDS also urged consumers to check these details in its March 31 press release. If photos are missing or descriptions conflict, ask the seller for photos of the labeling before paying. For unclear date markings, see the guide to cosmetic expiry information and opening dates.

What should you do first if a delivered product matches?

Stop using it and keep the container, box and order record. Transferring the contents or discarding packaging first can make it harder to explain which product you have. Check the retailer's instructions for refund eligibility and returns. This notice does not set refund terms for every buyer.

If you develop a skin reaction, consult a healthcare professional and give them the product name and when you used it. When contacting the seller, include the order number, photos showing the product and variant, the MFDS notice address and the relevant PDF page to explain which entry needs checking.