Beauty product counterfeiting is a lucrative business that doesn’t seem to have a near end and has the potential to impact your skin’s health. Read on to reveal the ugly side of the beauty business.
Nowadays, there are counterfeit versions of almost every product in the market. You can find counterfeits in luxury clothes, accessories, expensive bags, hair extensions, shoes, and of course, makeup.
Strict importing policies make it harder for counterfeit products to reach customers and buyers. However, even though it is illegal and punishable to sell them, fake makeup still finds a way to our store shelves.
Some people may believe that the fake product is the real deal, but others buy a phony version to save money. But is it worth it when it comes to makeup? Let’s find out how counterfeit makeup can damage your skin and harm your health.
The Dangerous Ingredients Found in Counterfeit Cosmetics
Counterfeit cosmetic products rarely test the final products since they do not have to get certification procedures or abide by product testing and health regulations.
They have no reason to ensure safety. Some of the most dangerous and harmful ingredients that are in counterfeit cosmetic products include:
- Lead
- Arsenic
- Copper
- Mercury
- Beryllium
- Cadmium
- Aluminum
- Bacteria
- Animal Feces
- Urine
- Cyanide
- Paint Stripper
The Adverse Effects of Fake Makeup
The main danger in buying counterfeit makeup is that no one is regulating it. That means that you can never know what is in it, so it is often considered dangerous.
When you apply fake makeup to your eyes, lips, or cheeks, you have no idea what you are applying to your skin.
Remember that the labels are not trusted since they are not consistent with the product’s information.
Once the damage is present in your skin, it is easy to spot, and it isn’t easy to reverse.
Here are some of the most common adverse effects of using counterfeit makeup:
Eye infections
Eye infections can appear when you apply counterfeit makeup around or near your eyes. Since they are entirely unregulated, some of the ingredients can cause irritation and inflammation of the eyes.
Allergic reactions
As mentioned above, some ingredients are skip from the counterfeit makeup label, which can be problematic for people prone to allergies.
Swollen lips
This effect is common for those who want Kylie’s lips but don’t want to pay the price for it.
Suppose you notice your lips become swollen or puffy after applying the counterfeit lipstick or lipliner. In that case, it is very likely a reaction to a harmful chemical or ingredient in the formula.
Skin rashes
This problem is one of the most common adverse effects of fake makeup. Reactive skin inflammation is a widespread phenomenon that everyone should take seriously.
Some of the signs may include reddened skin, discomfort in the area where makeup is applied, dry or peeling skin, as well as lumpy and itchy rashes.
Chemical burns
One of the more severe risks of using counterfeit makeup is chemical burns.
Toxic and harsh ingredients in fake makeup can burn your skin and leave long-lasting or even permanent damage to your skin surface and barrier. Chemical burns are as severe as they sound, and they should be taken care of by the dermatologist.
Long-term health problems
Some studies have shown that exposure to harmful ingredients such as toxic chemicals can cause long-term health problems.
The hazardous materials of counterfeit makeup may increase the chances of infertility, high blood pressure, and other serious health issues and complications. This information is something that you should not take lightly.
Tips On How to Detect If You Are Buying a Counterfeit Product
Detecting the fakeness in one product can be tricky, as the schemers are getting more skilled. However, here are some signs that clearly show the makeup you are interested in buying is counterfeit.
Compare the prices
The first clue that the makeup product is counterfeit should be its suspiciously low price.
Buyers love getting their high-quality products for the best deals, and sadly, this is how fake makeup companies tend to lure and trick consumers.
Counterfeit makeup products are made with lower quality ingredients, allowing the companies to sell them for bargain prices.
Check for a ferial or batch number
The serial or batch number is above the packaging’s bar code.
If the product is legit, the serial number on the packaging should match the serial number on the product.
You can tell if the makeup product is fake because the serial numbers will be missing or mismatched.
Pay close attention to the packaging
Some sophisticated counterfeits are very difficult to spot. Still, the best approach is to go to the original manufacturer’s website and see if the product you are looking to purchase ultimately matches the advertising online.
Look for even the slightest mismatch like the shade of the packaging, font, colors, or the packaging size, as these are red flags of a counterfeit product.
Be aware of the weight of the product
One particular and rather specific clue is the product’s weight. If the item feels light as a feather while holding it in your hand, you probably got a replica of the real deal.
In addition, the original products’ packaging is usually high-quality, which counterfeits cannot imitate.
Is counterfeit makeup worth using?
The risk you are taking when buying counterfeit makeup does not pay off.
Fake makeup comes with too many potential adverse effects that do not justify the luring low price.
Suppose you cannot afford the luxury, expensive makeup brands that sell for hundreds of dollars.
In that case, it is better to go for cheaper but not-as-popular brands.
These brands are generally regulated and safer than buying fake makeup that counterfeits high-quality brands.
Another important note to mention when purchasing makeup is that every buyer needs to be proactive in product research.
We should all educate ourselves on the materials we consume and make sure they are not toxic or harmful to our health.
An excellent example of this is oxybenzone, the ingredient often present in many sunscreens. Some studies have confirmed its endocrine-disrupting effects in recent years.
Your skin is the only one you have, and you should take good care of it to the best of your means.
Think of your makeup as an essential factor in the equation that equals lovely, healthy, and glowing skin.
Make sure that all your makeup comes from a reputable and trusted source.
