We all love a bargain, but is the bargain price worth the risks to your health?
As a skin care clinic blog, this post is not about law suits and copyright issues, we are writing about this because counterfeit cosmetics (we call it fake-up) can often contain high levels of chemicals and other ingredients that reputable manufacturers of cosmetics would never allow for health reasons.
Because a counterfeiting operation is illegal and takes advantage of ways to lower costs to maximise profits in the smallest time possible (before they are shut down), they often pay little regard to the effects and quality of ingredients used. As long a product looks similar, at least as long as the packaging does, counterfeit make up operations can make money and then disappear.
This lack of care in production or control can be a danger to your health in both the short and long term. For example, fake MAC eyeliner that was purchased from online was found to contain 46 times the acceptable levels of copper. Other fake products have been found to contain everything from lead to mercury or even arsenic! These are the same products that you put on your eyes, skin and lips and can cause swelling, redness and irritation as well as long term health dangers. To us, that just doesn’t seem worth it for a few dollars!
Sounds too good to be true? Maybe it is!
Now, that is not to say that buying your cosmetics online guarantees you will get a dangerous and low quality fake. We have no doubt that there are many reputable and reliable online stores. Some fakes can be quickly identified when shopping online, for example, different packaging, spelling or translation errors on the product etc. However, some packaging is so good it can fool experienced buyers.
So how do you spot a fake?
The old saying ‘if it’s too good to be true, it probably is’ rings very true here. If the packaging looks great but the pricing is dirt cheap, if there is no batch number on the packaging or you can’t find any information or feedback on an online retailer then make up may be fake up! We take a cautious approach when it comes to skin care products and cosmeceuticals too, so our clinic only buys from licensed agents and approved re-sellers to ensure all the products on our shelves are authentic and safe.
Have you got a counterfeit make up story? Have you ever bought fake make up? Tell us about here or on Facebook!
Sources: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2210884/The-toxic-trade-fake-make-How-counterfeit-cosmetics-containing-dangerous-levels-arsenic-sold-online-unsuspecting-bargain-hunters.html, http://www.havocscope.com/counterfeit-eyeliner-found-on-amazon-com/