Counterfeit Beauty Products: Makeup has been a fun hobby. The rise of YouTube beauty vloggers and Instagram influencers have taken the obsession with precisely applying the perfect product to new heights.
Also included are celebrity makeup lines, from Kylie Jenner Lip Kits to Rihanna’s newly launched Fenty Beauty.
Makeup-obsessed but cash-strapped teens and young adults sometimes turn to street vendors, eBay, and other outlets to get these coveted brands at a lower price.
They don’t know that these products may be counterfeit and can cause significant harm, from eye infections to allergic reactions.
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How to spot counterfeit beauty products?
Buy from a trusted seller :
- You know what you’re getting when you buy products directly from an authorized brand or retailer (like Sephora, Dermstore, Ulta, etc.).
- In other places on the Internet, it is not so clear. Third-party websites, which many people use to buy their beauty products, are hotbeds for knock-offs.
- And if you think you’re making a lot of money on something that’s often very expensive or sold elsewhere, you’re probably right.
- And what’s more, think about it. Good to be true. And if you come across a wanted palette through a street vendor, you’ll want to stay away.
Check the reviews:
- If you’re considering buying skin care on Amazon, which has many third-party sellers, it’s essential to do your research by reading seller reviews.
- If a seller has frequent negative reviews, or reviews that your gut tells you are ‘fake’ or ‘fake’ because they all contain pretty much the same language, don’t buy from that seller, even if the price is so compelling and attractive,” says Dr. Bowe.
- One way to stay on the safe path is to buy products sold and shipped by Amazon.com, rather than third parties.
- He also suggests checking out sites like Reviewmeta and Fakespot, which can help you spot fake reviews.
Don’t trust the packaging:
- Back then, you could spot a fake based solely on poor-quality packaging. Now it is much more challenging to do.
- When I started investigating counterfeit products years ago, there were obvious red flags: print rubbed off easily, the packaging looked messy, security seals were missing,” says Dr. Bowe.
- Here and now, the packaging can look almost identical.
- In different words, just because something looks legit doesn’t mean it is, so trying the actual product or checking with the retailer before slathering it all over your face is essential.
Spot Test:
- It’s always essential to test new products on your arm or hand, but it’s necessary for counterfeits.
- If a product you’ve been using forever suddenly gives you contact dermatitis when you try it on your wrist, that’s a good sign it’s fake.
