Fake Or Fabulous - How To Tell Your Product Is The Real Thing.
The Skinsmith | 3rd June 2024
Fake Is Certainly NOT Fabulous
(Photo Credit: CGTrader)
We’ve all heard that we need to be careful of fake items with designer names, and we are well aware fake scams are on the rise, but did you know the cosmetic industry is also a victim of forgery! Fake products, fake websites and skincare product scams are all on the increase, making it more important than ever to be a vigilant shopper when buying your favourite skincare and cosmetic products online, check out our tips to make sure you purchase fabulous products only!
Does It Matter If It Isn’t Real or Fabulous But Fake?
(Photo Credit: NLDA)
The short answer is yes it does, for a few reasons, not just the lost cost, it also won't feel fabulous or be real!
Let’s take a look at those reasons –
Ingredients That Are Not Effective
Buying fake cosmetic or personal care products will most likely turn out to be an ineffective product choice. You may find that you have purchased products past their best before prime time, which could mean the ingredients have lost their potency. Alternatively, you may purchase a cheap, low-grade imitation that is just pretending to be the real thing. Often imitation products use what we call filler ingredients, they are cheap and do very little, if anything to improve your skin. You may also find that although you thought you were purchasing a natural, organic product you will in fact have bought a product with chemically-based ingredients instead.
Possible Health Issues
Unlike authentic cosmetics and personal care products, the fake ones are not regulated, they do not abide by any safety regulations or sanitation guidelines, meaning they could be manufactured in an unsafe, unclean environment and you have no way of knowing what is really included in them. Ingredients may be used from unsustainable sources or exploitive manufacturing processes. This can pose a safety concern to consumers as hazardous or banned ingredients may be used in their formulations. In some past cases cosmetic and personal care products that have been seized have been found to contain high levels of bacteria as well as toxic ingredients such as lead, mercury or arsenic.
Confidence In What You Use
When you buy fake products, you won’t have any confidence in what they are, are they safe and will they work. Companies can only endorse their products when they are purchased from authorised sellers. Counterfeit manufacturers don’t have a chain of custody that informs you when a product was made, where it has been or how it was stored, most of the time they don’t have a conscience either!
Candice Li, VP for Global Public Affairs and Membership of the International Anticounterfeiting Coalition tells Refinery29: “Counterfeits are dangerous because the people who are making the products are taking shortcuts in how they’re made … At the end of the day, all counterfeiters really care about is your money. They don’t care if they give consumers a bad product - or no product whatsoever.”
Will You Actually Receive A Product At All?
This will mainly concern online purchases, but the truth is, will you actually receive a product at all? Or will the fraudulent suppliers just take your money and run. In this day and age many of us have been the victim of, or know of someone who has been “scammed” online in some way and in this instance, you pay for your items and receive nothing in return.
How Do You Make Sure It's Real, Fabulous and Not Fake
How Do You Purchase Wisely?
We’ve learnt why we need to be careful of where and what we purchase, now let’s help you to purchase authentic fabulous products, not fake ones:
As this problem is so common, how on earth do you tell the difference between real and fake?
A general rule of thumb is to check where the product is coming from. Make sure you purchase from the manufacturer directly or an authorised reseller. You should be able to find this information on their website. Be especially careful if you are purchasing from a giant retailer such as Amazon or eBay. Eminence does not sell any of their products on Amazon or eBay. To ensure you purchase a genuine Eminence Organic Skincare product either purchase from one of our spa and salon partners, listed here https://www.theskinsmith.co.uk/salon-spa-locator/, or from one of our authorised skincare shops also on our locator, or from our website.
Here Are Some Guidelines To Help Keep Your Purchase Real... and Fabulous
Look At The Label
A really good indicator as to the authenticity of your product is the label, look at it carefully as fraudulent manufacturers will often miss important details. Some of the more common things to look for are tags, typos, misspelt words, and poor printing. Genuine packaging will include all the retail requirements such as instructions, booklets, UPC barcodes, full ingredients listing. If you are unsure cross reference the product label with the brands official website to make sure everything matches.
Common Sense Can Be A Great Asset
Think about it, if an offer is too good to be true, it probably is! This simple fact is effective, and we should remember it when purchasing anything!
Sonia Batra MD says: “Pay close attention to the prices, packing and quality of the product. If the price is too good to be true, if the packaging is discolored or missing a barcode, or if the consistency or texture of the product seems different than the original, you are most likely looking at a counterfeit product.”
If you are suspicious in any way, if it is a crazy cheap deal or they have large, bulk offers then it is most likely a fake item.
Finally, Don’t Be Shy and Ask Questions
Your gut instinct is generally on the right track and if it doesn’t feel right, then ask questions. Contact the brand directly to see if they know of the retailer you are thinking of buying from. If it is not authentic then you will have notified them so they can follow up. We are always very happy to answer any questions you have and to help guide you through your Eminence purchase. Remember our spa and salon partners are highly trained and can provide you with experience and expert advice. Visiting an authorised spa or salon ensures the products you purchase are fresh and real and don’t forget they are the experts and can recommend the best award-winning products and routine for your skin type and concerns.
In Summary – Remember the ABC’s when you are buying anything online or in person:
A – Ask Questions
B – Be Careful
C – Check Everything
We hope this guide has been helpful in providing some tips and guides to help make sure your future cosmetic and personal care purchases give you the genuine article.
Original Written by Eminence Organics: Alisha Whitley September 22, 2020
For more advice and help speak to a member of our experienced and friendly team today on 01305 300950 or by emailing [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.
