It’s no secret that high-end cosmetic brands are often counterfeited. But buying fake copies of popular items can not only make you feel tricked and upset, it can also pose a very real danger to your health.
To avoid such scams, we here at Bright Side have put together some of the best tips that will help you keep your cosmetics collection free of counterfeits.
Buy cosmetics from authorized retailers only
© ultima.com.ru © LiftLaughLipstick / pixabay.com
Although this advice may seem obvious, it’s actually worth considering. It may surprise you, but even large stores can sell knock-offs. To avoid unpleasant surprises, don’t hesitate to visit the manufacturer’s website to check the list of retailers where you can purchase authentic products.
We all know that designer beauty products are quite expensive. Fortunately, sometimes official retailers do sell their cosmetics at reduced prices. However, extremely high discounts may be signs that the makeup items are fakes. Authentic beauty products can’t be sold at a discount of, say, 80%. Unfortunately, a high price is also not always a guarantee of high quality. Before you make a purchase, ask an assistant to show you a quality certificate. If they refuse to do this, simply don’t buy this product.
Pay attention to the packaging
Some knock-offs are so bad that no one would mistake them for the real deal. But there are also lots of highly sophisticated counterfeits out there that are much more difficult to spot. One way to ensure you are getting the real thing is to visit the manufacturer’s website and see if the product you’re looking at is exactly the same as the picture online.
Even the smallest mismatch like the font, the color or size of the packaging, or even the weight of the product is a sign of a counterfeit. Of course, weighing the product in the shop is not a good idea, but you can spot a fake even by just holding it in your hand. If the item feels light as a feather, then you can be sure you’re holding a replica in your hands.
Check the bar code, serial number, and manufacturing information
If the product is a counterfeit, then the first 2 or 3 digits of the bar code may not match the country of origin listed either on the packaging or product itself. Also, the serial number is most often missing. Before you buy something, make sure that the serial number on the product itself matches the number on the box. Also, authentic products always have their ingredients indicated on them. Genuine high-end cosmetic brands often provide their customers with additional information in several languages. If the packaging has very little information about the product, then it isn’t authentic.
Check the shades of the product
Fake eye shadows, blushes, lipsticks, and powders are often produced in shades that are not used in authentic products. To avoid buying a fake, visit the manufacturer’s website to see which colors of each makeup product are real.
Pay attention to the smell and consistency
Authentic cosmetics shouldn’t have any kind of strange substances or inappropriate sparkles in them, especially when the product is matte. Creamy cosmetics should not separate or contain any impurities. Fake lipsticks typically look less attractive and have some imperfections. A genuine designer mascara always has a very light pleasant smell to it. If the product has a bad odor or is heavily perfumed, then it’s not authentic. Also, the wand of the fake mascara may look different from its authentic counterpart.
Check brushes and sponges
Even if the packaging of a counterfeit product looks very similar to the real thing, you can probably spot a knock-off by inspecting the brushes and sponges. They may differ in size, shape, or color, and the overall quality of them may be not satisfactory.
Test makeup products before buying
Don’t hesitate to try the cosmetic testers in the stores. Remember: high-quality eye shadows and blushes should not smear or slide off during the day. A genuine lipstick should always apply smoothly and evenly, and authentic designer mascara will never crumble.
