Some gullible women spend a lot on physical and mental health only to regret their decision.

Sixty-three-year-old Cameroonian Jeanne used skin-lightening products for 40 years to make herself desirable to men but now regrets the costly vanity. A lesion grew on her face that turned out to be skin cancer, Agence France-Presse reported.

A local lawmaker engaged in selling beauty products believed to contain dangerous chemicals, like the banned hydroquinone, caused an uproar on social media prompting the Cameroon government to crack down on cosmetics traders. Despite it and the dangers of skin-lightening products containing harmful ingredients, Cameroonian women still buy skin whiteners even on the black market, hoping to make their complexions lighter and more appealing.

Meanwhile, an overseas Filipino worker preferred healing products that she used to buy from an online dealer who advertised herself as a sorceress, the TV news show 24 Oras reported.

Faye (not her real name) said the sorceress told her that stones, amulets, potions and dolls she sells can protect against a witch's spell or poison, according to 24 Oras.

The sorceress' promise to help Faye solve her family problems prompted Faye to buy her charms and try the rituals she offered.

Instead of solving her family troubles, however, the talismans and rituals gave Faye another problem. She spent her entire P1 million savings from buying the sorceress' amulets.

With the charms not helping Faye get a refund, she has sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation to track down the sorceress so she can get back her money.

WJG WITH AFP @tribunephl_wjg