Japanese skincare brand Bioré has said its products are currently unavailable in Nigeria, raising concerns about the authenticity and regulation of skincare products being sold through third-party vendors in the country.
The development followed questions from social media users about Bioré UV sunscreen products being sold in Nigeria and whether the brand has authorised distributors in the country.
Responding to a user who asked whether a Bioré product being sold in Nigeria was genuine, the brand said, “Unfortunately, our products are not available in Nigeria at this time.”
Bioré gave a similar response to another user who asked whether its products were available in Ghana, saying, “Unfortunately, our products are not available in Ghana at this time.”
The company also responded to a user who asked how to identify original Bioré UV sunscreen, explaining that products sold in major US retailers such as Walmart, Target, CVS and Walgreens are authentic.
“We cannot evaluate the authenticity of products that individuals are buying from Asia and reselling in the US,” the company said, adding that consumers with uncertainties could contact its customer support team.
In another response, Bioré said a product shown by a user was not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for sale in the country and advised caution when purchasing through third-party sellers.
“Please use caution when buying Bioré products through third party sellers. We cannot guarantee that they are regulated and genuine,” the company said.
While Bioré’s comments do not establish that products being sold in Nigeria are counterfeit, they highlight the difficulty consumers can face in verifying imported skincare products sold outside official distribution channels.
The issue also draws attention to the wider problem of counterfeit and substandard products in Nigeria, where consumers regularly encounter concerns involving medicines, cosmetics, food products and electronics.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has continued to seize unregistered and suspected counterfeit products across the country, including cosmetics sold through major commercial markets.
In February 2026, NAFDAC uncovered a warehouse at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos containing banned, counterfeit and unregistered cosmetic products reportedly worth more than ₦3 billion.
The agency has also carried out enforcement operations against shops suspected of dealing in unregistered cosmetic products, underscoring the challenges regulators face in monitoring products moving through Nigeria’s large informal and retail markets.
Counterfeit products can pose financial and safety risks to consumers, particularly when buyers are unable to determine whether products contain the ingredients, quantities or quality claimed on their packaging.
For Nigerian consumers purchasing imported skincare and other products online or through third-party vendors, the Bioré exchange serves as a reminder to pay attention to the source of products and verify their authenticity where possible.
Ademide Adebayo
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