Rise in complaints about cosmetic treatments and beauty products
Complaints about cosmetic treatments and beauty products in Hampshire increased between 2023 and 2024, according to figures released in a Freedom of Information request.
Hampshire County Council received 79 complaints in 2023, rising to 122 in 2024. A further 29 complaints were recorded in 2025. The complaints cover a range of treatments and products, including skin creams, eyelash services, laser treatments and microblading.
Common concerns from consumers include misleading claims, unclear descriptions and worries about how effective treatments are.
Despite the rise in complaints, trading standards confirmed that no enforcement action was taken and no products were seized during the period.
The council said there is no evidence of a single local issue behind the complaints. It added that the rise is more likely linked to the growing popularity and availability of non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
A Hampshire County Council spokesperson said the sector is largely unregulated but added the Government is now bringing in a licensing scheme.
Under the plans, treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers will come under a local authority licensing system. Practitioners will need to meet safety, training and insurance standards.
A council spokesperson said: “The government has also set out plans to further restrict higher-risk procedures for under-18s, unless approved by a doctor and carried out by a qualified healthcare professional.”
The council said trading standards has limited power to take enforcement action in many cases because there is no specific national framework for these procedures.
The new rules are expected to set clearer standards for practitioners and improve protection for consumers in a growing industry.
The figures do not include the Portsmouth or Southampton areas with Trading Standards falling to the respective city councils.