Korean massage cream pulled from Vietnam shelves over formula violations

By Le Nga July 2, 2025 | 03:10 pm PT

A person uses massage cream. Photo by Unsplash

Vietnam's Ministry of Health has ordered a nationwide recall of Désembre Derma Science High Frequency Cream Professional after inspectors found its formula and advertised uses did not match its registered documents.

The Drug Administration said on Tuesday that violations were discovered during a May 19 inspection of Hyunjin C&T International Co., Ltd. in Hanoi, the product's distributor in Vietnam. The cream is manufactured by Hyunjin C&T Co., Ltd. in South Korea.

Health authorities have told businesses to stop selling or using the cream and return it to suppliers. All units must recall the entire batch.

Officials have also revoked the cream's cosmetic declaration certificate and banned the distributor from registering new products for six months starting June 30. All pending applications have been invalidated, and the company must submit fresh applications after the suspension to resume sales.

Marketed as a high-frequency massage cream that claims to break down fat, relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, balance moisture, and prevent aging, Désembre Derma Science sells online for over VND1 million ($40) per 1-kg jar.

Experts warn that products with incorrect formulas may contain unsafe ingredients, risking side effects, irritation, allergies, long-term skin damage or toxicity from chemical absorption.

Vietnamese health authorities have recently uncovered multiple violations at cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies, resulting in recalls and destruction of counterfeit or substandard products.