Cosmetics

Some of the chemicals found in these copycat products could cause chemical burns and skin rashes. The LGA also warned that exposure to mercury in fake Cosmetics Brand could have “toxic effects on the nervous system, digestive and immune systems, lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.”

A woman in Nottingham, UK, made more than £48,000 from the sales of fake make-up in Nottingham and was found to have sold almost 350 fake Benefit mascaras alongside another woman, with an eBay sales value of £1,69. The British police also raided a tanning salon owner in Cheshire who sold more than £100,000 worth of fake designer products, including MAC and Chanel make-up. The BBC reported that “a haul of cosmetics – seized by Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards – which were found to contain mercury and illegal levels of the skin-whitening agent hydroquinone. Police have previously warned of substances such as rat droppings, human urine and arsenic, lead, berryline, being found in fake beauty products.”

The effects of toxic fake makeup products can be devastating. A young woman, Larissa Reynolds was on Facebook when she was a legitimate seeming ad. Following the link, she was delighted to find a Facebook page selling a lip kit for only $15. Unwittingly, she had bought dangerous counterfeit cosmetics. Larissa needed medical treatment after buying the fake Kylie Jenner lip kit on Facebook for $15. Her lips swelled to the point that she couldn’t eat, or swallow correctly. She told BBC radio that she was “terrified the damage would be permanent.”

Larissa was lucky. A woman in her early forties, was looking for a deal last year. She went online, as many of us do. She had shopped on Wish many times before, friends had recommended it and it was the source of many happy bargains for her. But this time, she wasn’t buying a deal. This time she played right into the hands of scammers. She had unwittingly purchased counterfeit Urban Decay and MAC products. When the fake eye shadow arrived, she thought it smelled a like sulfur. Still, she innocently trusted the packaging and applied it to her face. She smeared her eye with sulfur and other toxins. Her eye swelled up and became dangerously infected.

Detective Chief Inspector Megaughin told the BBC last year “It’s not uncommon to find paint stripper and nail varnish remover in mascara. We are urging consumers to think very carefully before buying fake beauty products or any other counterfeit goods.”

There have been many reported cases of excrement both rat and human found in fake Cosmetics Brand. Counterfeit perfume often contains human urine or poisonous household cleaning agents. As the Washington Post reported “Laboratory tests have shown counterfeit perfume often contains poisonous chemicals including cyanide and even human urine.”

These fake make up products are nearly identical to the name brands. In the best case scenarios, it dupes customers into buying fake rubbish. At worst, companies are supplying harmful products and potentially life changing substances. Companies have a moral and ethical duty, a civic responsibility to protect their customers from counterfeiters. They will also save their brands from forgeries and safeguard their revenue.

Cosmetics are so highly plagued because they face a unique problem. Many fashion and beauty products have a relatively small size compared to their value. The space which companies can utilize to produce serialization or authentication features such as holograms, is minimal. Not to mention that packaging and appearance are key points in the marketing strategies and branding identities of Cosmetics Brand companies.

Furthermore, the outsourcing of production to low-cost factories in countries such as China which may seem to carry huge economic benefits, is largely balanced out and weighed down by that same manufacturing capability being used to create numerous amounts of counterfeit knock-offs.