7 Skincare Products Banned by NAFDAC You Must Avoid

NAFDAC has flagged and recalled several popular skincare products over the past two years due to unsafe ingredients, including fragrances that harm reproductive health, heavy metals, and endocrine disruptors. 

In this article, I’ll highlight seven products you should avoid, why they were banned, and their potential health risks. I will also recommend healthier alternatives that nourish rather than compromise your skin’s health.

Read Also: 7 Nigerian Beauty Products That Deserve More Hype in 2025.

Why NAFDAC Bans Harmful Skincare Products?

NAFDAC’s mandate is to protect public health by ensuring regulated products meet safety standards. Cosmetic products can be recalled or banned if they:

• It contains prohibited chemicals like butylphenyl methylpropional (BMHCA), which can impair reproduction and irritate the skin.

• Exceed safe concentrations of active agents such as kojic acid, which are linked to endocrine disruption.

• Include heavy metals (e.g., mercury) that accumulate in the body, damaging the kidneys and nervous system, and harming unborn children.

• Use potent actives without supervision, like hydroquinone or steroids, which cause thinning skin, pigmentation changes, and systemic toxicity.

7 Banned Products to Avoid

1. Nivea BLACK & WHITE Invisible Roll‑On Deodorant 

NAFDAC recalled the Nivea Black & White Invisible Roll-on Deodorant due to BMHCA, a fragrance allergen banned in cosmetics because it can disrupt reproductive function, harm foetal development, and cause skin irritation and burns. According to NAFDAC’s recent investigation, the Black and White Nivea Roll-on deodorant manufactured in Nigeria contains no non-compliant ingredient (BMHCA).

Healthy Deodorant Alternative You Can Try: Wild Natural Deodorant Fresh Cotton & Sea Salt

Wild Natural Deodorant Fresh Cotton & Sea Salt combines tapioca starch to absorb moisture, baking soda and zinc ricinoleate to neutralise odour, and magnesium hydroxide to inhibit bacteria. It also moisturises with coconut oil, cocoa seed butter, shea butter, and sunflower seed wax for 24‑hour freshness without irritation. Apply two swipes on clean, dry skin and wait a while for it to absorb before dressing. Formulated free of parabens, aluminium, and animal‑derived ingredients, it’s safe for all skin types aged 12 and up.

Price: ₦19,208.51. Where to Buy: Shop Care to Beauty

Read Also: Best Long-Lasting Stick Deodorants For Men Under ₦10,000

2. Dove Beauty Cream Bar Soap

Dove Beauty Bar Soap was recalled after EU authorities detected Butylphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA) in this bar soap, violating cosmetic regulations. BMHCA exposure increases the risk of reproductive toxicity and skin sensitisation and may harm an unborn child.

3. Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No. 6 Mystic Flower)

NAFDAC imposed a ban on this Turkish-made soap after it was found to contain BMHCA, with the same reproductive and dermatological hazards as above.

Gentle Cleansing Soaps You Can Try: Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar

Hypoallergenic and soap‑free, Cetaphil’s bar uses mild surfactants and glycerin to cleanse without stripping lipids or harming sensitive skin. Dermatologist‑recommended, it preserves the skin barrier and never contains harsh allergens.

Price: ₦4,500. Where to Buy: Shop Mama Tega

4. Caro White Skin Lightening Beauty Lotion

Caro White Skin Lightening Beauty Lotion was recalled for containing kojic acid above the EU’s 1% limit. High concentrations of kojic acid carry endocrine‑disrupting potential and can irritate sensitive skin.

5. Dona White Extra Whitening Lotion

Photo Credit: Adeyefa Peters. 

This Italian-made lotion was also banned for mercury (1.33 mg/kg), sufficient to cause cumulative toxicity and neurodevelopmental harm in children.

Healthy Skin Brightening Serum: The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%

The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% is a potent water‑free blend of 23% pure L‑ascorbic acid with hyaluronic acid microspheres. It has been clinically shown to even skin tone, boost collagen, and provide antioxidant protection without hormone‑disrupting risks.

Price: ₦17,900. Where to Buy: Shop BuyBetter

Read Also: The Truth About Vitamin C and Glutathione According to an Aesthetician

6. Sheesha Beauty Cream

NAFDAC banned Sheesha Beauty Cream for an alarmingly high mercury content (17,400 mg/kg). Chronic mercury exposure damages the kidneys, the brain, and the nervous system and poses serious risks to pregnant women and their foetuses. 

Nourishing Moisturiser: CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion

Lightweight and fragrance‑free, this lotion features three essential ceramides plus hyaluronic acid to restore and maintain the skin’s protective barrier without irritants or hormones.

Price: ₦25,650. Where to Buy: ShopTOS Nigeria

Read Also: The Right Cleansers for Oily, Dry. Sensitive and Acne-Prone Skin

7. Radox Care + Moisturise Liquid Hand Wash

Recalled due to BMHCA in its formula, risking reproductive health and triggering skin sensitisation in frequent handwashers.

Gentle Hand Washes: Cerave Hydrating Cleanser Bar

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar can be used on the body and works well as a moisturising hand soap. Users praise it for its fragrance-free and hydrating qualities. It uses mild surfactants to remove dirt from the skin and contains active hydrating ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid that keep the skin hydrated. If you do not like bar soaps, you can also opt for the liquid version.

Price: ₦6,650. Where to Buy: Shop TOS Nigeria

It is crucial to understand which skincare products are safe. Some of the products listed above pose serious health risks, including reproductive toxicity, neurological damage, and endocrine disruption.

Review product labels and cross-reference with NAFDAC's alerts to avoid buying these banned products. It's advisable to choose safer alternatives with transparent ingredient lists and certifications. Consulting a dermatologist can provide personalised guidance for selecting products that meet your skincare needs without compromising your health.