It’s no secret that high-quality cosmetic brands are often faked. But buying fake copies of popular items can not only make you feel cheated and upset, but it can also pose a real danger to your health.
To avoid such scams, we have put together some of the best tips to help you keep your cosmetics collection free from counterfeits.
7. Buy cosmetics from authorized retailers only
While this advice may seem obvious, it is worth considering. It might surprise you, but even big box stores can sell fake copies. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, feel free to visit the manufacturer’s website for the list of retailers where you can buy authentic products.
We all know that designer beauty products are very expensive. Fortunately, official retailers sometimes sell their cosmetics at discounted prices. However, extremely high discounts can indicate that makeup item are fake.
Authentic beauty products cannot be sold at, say, 80% off. Unfortunately, a high price is not always a guarantee of high quality. Before making a purchase, ask an assistant to show you a quality certificate. If they refuse to do this, just don’t buy this product.
6. Pay attention to the packaging
Some copies are so bad that no one would mistake them for the real thing. But there are also many highly sophisticated fakes that are much harder to spot. One way to ensure that you are getting the actual product is to visit the manufacturer’s website and verify that the product you are viewing is exactly the same as the image online.
Even the smallest difference, such as the font, the color or the size of the packaging, or even the weight of the product, is a sign of counterfeiting. Obviously, weighing the product at the store is not a good idea, but you can identify a fake just by holding it in your hand. If the item looks light as a feather, you can be sure you have a replica in your hands.
5. Check the bar code, serial number, and manufacturing information
If the product is counterfeit, the first 2 or 3 digits of the barcode may not correspond to the country of origin that appears on the packaging or on the product itself. Also, the serial number is often missing. Before buying anything, make sure the serial number on the product matches the number on the box.
In addition, authentic products always have their ingredients listed. Genuine and sophisticated cosmetic brands often provide customers with additional information in multiple languages. If the package contains little information about the product, it is not authentic.
4. Check the shades of the product
Fake eyeshadows, blushes, lipsticks, and powders are often produced in shades 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.
3. Pay attention to the smell and consistency
Authentic cosmetics should not contain any kind of foreign substance or inappropriate shine, especially when the product is matte. Creamy cosmetics must not separate or contain impurities.
Fake lipsticks tend to look less attractive and have some blemishes. Genuine mascara always smells very light and pleasant. If the product has a bad odor or is very fragrant, it is not authentic. Also, the fake mascara wand may look different than its real counterpart.
2. Check brushes and sponges
Although the packaging of a counterfeit product is very similar to the real one, you can probably detect the counterfeit by inspecting the brushes and sponges. They may differ in size, shape, or color, and their overall quality may not be satisfactory.
1. 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. Genuine lipstick should always apply smoothly and evenly, and authentic designer mascara will never crumble.
Preview photo credit lolalovessparkles.blogspot.com
