Cosmetic serums in eye-drop packaging spark safety warnings after accidental use

Serum and ampoule cosmetics packaged in single-use vials that closely resemble artificial tears have been circulating in the market, prompting a string of safety incidents in which consumers mistakenly applied the products to their eyes. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, working with the Korea Consumer Agency, has issued a cosmetics safety advisory to prevent eye injuries, conjunctivitis and other adverse effects.

The ministry said the warning follows a rise in the retail distribution of cosmetics whose containers are nearly indistinguishable from single-use artificial tear eye drops. Cosmetics are designed to be applied to the outside of the body, and direct contact with the eyes can cause severe irritation, conjunctivitis and eye damage.

The scale of the problem is more serious than it may appear. According to the Korea Consumer Agency, the Consumer Injury Surveillance System recorded 21 cases between January 2021 and June 2026 in which consumers mistakenly instilled a non-eye-drop product into their eyes.

Cosmetics such as serums and ampoules accounted for 19.0 percent of those cases, or four incidents, with the remainder involving products such as athlete's foot medication, air freshener and instant adhesive. Eye pain — including a foreign-body sensation, stinging and burning — was the most common symptom, reported in 76.2 percent of cases (16 incidents), while actual eye damage such as vision loss was recorded in 14.3 percent (three cases).

A Korea Consumer Agency investigation of four major domestic online platforms — Naver, Coupang Inc, Gmarket and 11st — found that four serum and ampoule products from four companies used containers so similar to single-use artificial tears that consumers could easily confuse them.

The four products identified were the Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum by The Founders, the Lir PDRN Glutathione 2X Ampoule by IW Company, the Jejun Cosmetic PDRN Porcelain Ampoule by Cha AI Healthcare, and the Medicube PDRN Pink One Day Whitening Serum by APR.

The companies had printed "cosmetic product, not a medicine" notices on product boxes and online sales pages, but the individual single-use vials themselves carried no such warning — making it easy to mistake them for eye drops when used in dim light or without close attention. Experts warn that surfactants and antimicrobial preservatives in cosmetics can cause toxic conjunctivitis or corneal epithelial damage on direct contact with the eye.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea Consumer Agency jointly recommended that the four companies redesign their containers and packaging to prevent consumer confusion, and corrective measures are underway.

In addition, the ministry plans to pursue an amendment to the Cosmetics Act that would legally prohibit cosmetic containers or packaging that mimics the form or packaging of pharmaceutical products in ways that could pose a risk to public health.

"We will continue to strengthen quality and safety management of cosmetics based on regulatory science so that the public can use cosmetics with confidence in their daily lives," a ministry official said.

Anyone who accidentally instills a cosmetic product into their eyes should immediately rinse thoroughly with saline solution or clean water. If pain, a foreign-body sensation or other symptoms persist after rinsing, they should seek prompt medical attention from an ophthalmologist.