The skin care mafia, the ugly face of Indonesia’s beauty industry – Academia

What started as a few whistleblower posts and disturbing reports of harmful skin care products has now turned into a nationwide movement, forcing authorities, companies and consumers to confront the ugly truth behind the booming cosmetics market.

As the dust begins to settle, one thing is clear: Indonesia’s beauty industry will never be the same.

The term “skin care mafia” refers to a secret network of unethical skin care product manufacturers and distributors in Indonesia that are said to be involved in the production and sale of harmful beauty products or falsified These products are often marketed with promises of quick results, such as skin whitening, acne reduction, or wrinkle removal, while containing illegal ingredients that pose serious health risks.

Since the term first captured public attention across the country, investigations have revealed a dark web of unethical manufacturers and distributors exploiting regulatory loopholes. These unscrupulous actors took advantage of the ease of registering cosmetics in Indonesia, flooding the market with unsafe products containing dangerous ingredients such as mercury and hydroquinone.

The scandal gained viral attention after several whistleblowers, including former employees of skin care companies, came forward with shocking revelations. Using the label #MafiaSkincarethey shared stories about how these manufacturers cut corners, used dangerous chemicals and repackaged rejected products. Some posts even accused popular local celebrities and influencers of endorsing or promoting these unsafe products for lucrative deals.

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The revelations have sparked outrage online, with consumers sharing their own experiences of skin damage after using certain products. The rise of personal testimonies, photos of chemical burns and legal threats from beauty companies have only fueled public curiosity, making the scandal one of the most talked about topics in the beauty industry this year.