Shopping for a good deal is practically a sport during the Big Deal days like Black Friday etc. Why buy full price when you can get it at a discount? But could a lipstick, a fragrance or moisturizer that never goes on sale and is suddenly 50 percent off on a site you’ve never heard of be trusted? Dr. Kimberly Norman, senior director of safety and regulatory toxicology at PCPC (the Personal Care Products Council), warns it might be too good to be true. This is especially relevant in today’s age of dupe culture, where imitators of our favorite beauty brands run rampant.
Why it is so important to be extra careful when buying your beauty online this season?
Q: Consumers hear “counterfeit beauty product” and often think it just means a knockoff or a dupe. From a toxicologist’s perspective, what actually defines a counterfeit cosmetic, and why is it dangerous?
Counterfeit cosmetics are illegal, phony imitations of legitimate beauty and personal care products. These fake products often contain harmful ingredients that pose serious risks to consumer health. Many of the skincare and topical products that are applied to hair and body are manufactured without meeting federal safety standards and can cause allergic reactions, skin irritation, chemical burns, eye infections and even more severe health repercussions.
Q: What kinds of harmful or unexpected ingredients have you seen show up in counterfeit cosmetics?
These counterfeit products are often not formulated properly, and the issues range from inappropriate concentrations of established ingredients to the intentional addition of prohibited ingredients, such as mercury. Another significant issue is the presence of dangerous levels of bacteria in some of these products. We have also been made aware of unsanitary conditions in the storage locations of seized counterfeit products, including rodent waste observations.
Q: What are the short-term and long-term health risks that people don’t realize they’re exposing themselves to?
Short-term risks include rashes, allergic reactions and skin and eye infections. Consumers should discontinue use of any products that cause reactions and contact the manufacturer to prevent any long-term health risks.
Q: A lot of counterfeit products come from third-party marketplace sellers on Amazon, TikTok Shop, and social platforms. What are the biggest red flags that something sold online is not legitimate?
When shopping online, consumers should look for suspiciously low prices, vague product descriptions, lack of official brand imagery, unverified sellers and overly positive reviews. If the seller is unauthorized to sell the product or the product ships from an unexpected location, that could also be a warning sign.
Q: Packaging can sometimes be a giveaway, but counterfeiters are getting better. What are the subtle differences or signs that consumers can look for on a bottle, box, or label to spot a fake?
Look for inconsistencies in font size, color shades and logo placement. Authentic products often have batch codes, expiration dates and high-quality seals. Counterfeits may lack this information or display it incorrectly.
Q: If someone suspects they accidentally bought a counterfeit product, what should they do next? Should they patch test, throw it away, report it, and contact the brand?
Do not use the product — even for a patch test. Dispose of the product safely and report the purchase to the platform. In addition, consumers should contact the manufacturer and law enforcement agencies to confirm authenticity and alert them to the counterfeit.
Q: Finally, as a scientist who advises on product safety, what’s your best advice for consumers who want to enjoy beauty shopping during the holidays without accidentally bringing home something unsafe?
To limit the risk of purchasing counterfeit products, we encourage consumers to buy from authorized sellers or directly from the brand’s website. They should be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true and take steps to verify sellers on marketplace platforms.
Q: What exactly does PCPC do behind the scenes to help protect consumers from counterfeit products? How does the organization ensure the beauty products we’re buying are safe and legitimate?
PCPC works with member companies, regulators and law enforcement agencies to combat counterfeiting. We continue to advocate for strong legislation, like the SHOP SAFE Act, educate consumers through initiatives like the national #BuyNoLie campaign and provide tips and resources to consumers to help identify counterfeit products.
