You might think that counterfeits exist only in the realm of "Mark Jacobs" and "Guchi" purses, but there are fake and black-market beauty goods, too. I love a bargain, so I wind up buying a lot of housewares and accessories on eBay. But when it comes to shopping for cosmetics, you've got to be careful. I've found quite a few counterfeit eye shadows, lipsticks, glosses and fragrances—all offered at prices that are too good to be true. While there are honest sellers out there, a few folks are out to make a quick buck.
Why is buying counterfeit merchandise a bad idea? There are a few reasons, but first and foremost is your health. If you don't know where a product really comes from, or what ingredients are inside, why would you let it touch your skin? Counterfeits also funnel money into shady operations, and—oh yeah—they're illegal. And on a less sinister level, the colors just aren't accurate!
To find out how to avoid buying fakes, read more
Common sense will take you a long way. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is! For instance, the 12 "MAC" eye shadows shown here were being auctioned on eBay for $24.99. Hmm, that's a pretty low price, considering a single shadow is $14.50 in the stores. Now, I can't tell whether those eye shadows are genuine or fake, but the price seems a little odd.
For that particular auction, I also looked at the seller's feedback, which had complaints by bidders who claimed the MAC shadows were fakes. The seller also had dozens of similar auctions; why would one person have literally hundreds of "new-in-box" eye shadows? Is there a possibility that this particular seller is legitimate and just being accused of selling fakes? Of course. But it's not a chance I want to take.
For most people, common sense will help you spot obvious fakes, but the counterfeiters are getting better and better at making their junk look like the real thing. This detailed guide has great examples of counterfeits lined up to the real thing, and I recommend it as an excellent reference.
What do you think? Would you buy counterfeit makeup to save a few bucks, or would you rather save up for the real thing?
Marni
Marks and Spencer
Brian Atwood
That's crazy! I've never ordered makeup on ebay before... considered it, but this really opened my eyes.
Thanks for the heads-up!! =D
1it makes sense that people are doing this now, because it's amazing how much women will blow on makeup.
2i went into a makeup outlet in ca and spent $200 on makeup without even blinking an eye. they were great deals!
i would never buy anything off of ebay that sounds shady like that.
I ordered my BE on ebay cos it aint available in my country...it is genuine well, you got to buy from reputable sellers.
I love the whole experience of trying out stuff so I will only buy it at the counter!
3wow, people will do fake anything these days! it's pretty gross when you think about it, not knowing where they came from or what htey're made of. I would never get the fake even if they were cheaper by 200% it could cause infections, irritation and rahes! EW!!
4I've never thought about counterfeit makeup - nor do I think I've ever come across any before. But the Mark Jacobs thing is really funny ... my aunt bought my 13-year-old cousin a bag that said "JUICN Couture" ... when I saw it I laughed my a** off!
5I was actually looking for MAC products on eBay the other day and became suspicious of the prices; I couldn't believe there were actually fakes out there! I wound up finding a guide and it's amazing the length people will go.
It's like the fake Dooney & Burke bags... why???
6I would never buy make-up on eBay anyway. But this is really useful!!!
7Because of people selling fakes, I only buy my makeup from Sephora and Mac's websites and the Boots products from Target.
8This is scary stuff! I am an avid eBayer but I have specific items I buy from specific, trusted sellers. I agree with Glam, if at all possible I try to wait until Sephora or my local stores are having a sale.
9I had no idea there was a cosmetics black market.
That's crazy! I'd imagine that
just like with anything else on eBay, you just have to pay close attention to the seller's feedback and use common sense.
I think one of the main problems is that people see a seller with feedback of say 95% positive or something and think that is great and don't even bother to read the feedback. Heck, that'd be an A in a class.
But, in reality that's quite sketchy. I have over 700 feedbacks as a seller on eBay with a 100% rating. It's not that hard to do if you're honest and provide even a minimum level of customer service. Personally, I wouldn't buy anything from a seller with less than 98% positive feedback.
10That's terrible, I've never heard of this before!
11It happened to me! I bought a lipstick color that had been discontinued by Lancome on Ebay. I thought I would stock up and buy two since it was discontinued. When I got them, they packaging looked odd, and the lipstick was the wrong shade, and a gross consistency. Never again!
12It's shady, but I can see the motivation to for counterfeiters - I just ordered $350 worth of makeup and skin care from Sephora ten minutes ago - if they can sneak it past someone, they stand to make alot of money. That said, I'll avoid eBay for cosmetics!
13So ture, all of it!!!! I bought a "Bobbi Brown" Powder Brush on there and it looked ALMOST exactly like my others purchased at department stores, but it was NOT!!! It shed everywhere, the hair was more coarse, and not nearly as soft. Yeah EVEN BRUSHES are fakes. I buy alot on eBay, and that is the chance you take!!!!!
14Great guide. I think it is one thing if a seller says something like "designer inspired...." but to try and pass it off as the original is not cool. Not to say companies should be making items with someone elses packaging but then to label it as such.... not cool at all. Too back Mac shadows are so pricy to begin with. I am more of a compact girl and like getting 4 at a time!
15I've never bought fake cosmetics largely to the fact that I often shop at Sephora or department stores for these items. I haven't bought anything from ebay in ages and probably never will buy anything from ebay ever. The last time I bought "authentic" Gucci glasses, they never came and the seller never refunded me my money!
16a lot of the people that sell discounted mac and bobbi brown go the cosmetic company outlet store (it only sells estee lauder brand cosmetics). that's where the leftovers (and disccontinued items) from the various collections go and are sold at a discount. i actually purchased a couple of mac lippies there yesterday. the sellers put the stuff in lots or start the bids at a deep discount and say the items are "limited edition", "discontinued", "rare", or "very hard to find (VHF)" in the hopes that buyers will bid the price up for the items and they can recover their cost (and perhaps turn a profit).
i buy enough mac, so i can usually tell if it's fake by looking at the pictures. i never bid/purchase anything that doesn't have a picture. in fact, when i'm bored, i'll peruse the listings and most of the stuff i see is legitimate (at least as far as mac is concerned). i've also purchased chanel cosmetics from ebay and all of it has been legit.
17oh yeah, and i never buy from a seller with a rating less that 98% (unless the reviews are really stupid...like shipping took too long). if any review says product was not as promised, then i don't buy. i have a few favorite sellers i look at for stuff because i've purchased from them before, so i know the cosmetics they sell are real.
18I've seen the same auctions for the lots of MAC eyeshadow on Ebay. I soooo wanted to bid on them but it does sound way to good to be true. I also refuse to buy name brand jewelry or purses because I am not willing to take the chance of being ripped off.
19IM AN EBAYER AND I WOULD SAY CHECK THE FEED BACK OF THE SELLER FIRST!!! I'VE BOUGHT MAKEUP ON EBAY LIKE TOO FACED AND BENEFIT AND THEY WERE DEFINETELY NOT FAKES, YOU JUST HAVE TO BE CAREFUL!
20Yeah, same thing happened to me. Once I became hooked on MAC, I wanted to see if I could find any good deals on eBay. I saw tons of auctions that were extremely suspicious (prices too stinkin' low and who in their right mind would get RID of awesome cosmetics?!?!). I found the guides and was able to save myself (and my sister-in-law) the money, time and trouble of only ending up with fakes.
So, in short, no I wouldn't buy fakes. So not worth it.
21Yeah, same thing happened to me. Once I became hooked on MAC, I wanted to see if I could find any good deals on eBay. I saw tons of auctions that were extremely suspicious (prices too stinkin' low and who in their right mind would get RID of awesome cosmetics?!?!). I found the guides and was able to save myself (and my sister-in-law) the money, time and trouble of only ending up with fakes.
So, in short, no I wouldn't buy fakes. So not worth it.
22eek! i go to the department store. it's not worth the risk.
23wow,i had never even thought about counterfeit make up.
24The thought never crossed my mind that people actually sell fake brand-name makeup, and there are people out there who will buy it. I mean, it makes sense now, but I just assumed that everyone cared about their skin and went out to buy the real thing like I do
Ooops!
25I just go to Sephora; that way I know it's the real product and I'm not wasting my money on fakes.
26i wouldn't buy make up from ebay- but i'm always a skeptic!
27i would never ever buy cosmetics from auction website like ebay~ it's just not me. Why would someone buy cosmetic at the auction website, while they can go to Sephora.com or to the store?
28I sometimes buy some products from ebay sellers with rating 99% and more, i read all negative and neutral feedback, i never had a bad experience.
But this article taught me new things about fake makeup.These products looks even the same
we
have to be very careful and shop from reliable places.
29makeup is a no no for fakes as well as perfume..so not healthy
30I wouldn't even risk buying on eBay. You never know what you'll get. A.) it could be used--ick! B.) it could be cut with something (i.e. talc in eyeshadows, water in perfume, lotion in shampoo/conditioner, etc.), and C.) it could be just be a plain ol' fake. Also, their feedback may not be accurate because someone has to NOTICE the indiscretion first. A lot of people wouldn't notice a fake, or that their shadow was mixed with baby powder.
31the real thing! who knows what the fake products could be comprised of and i only buy from the retailers themselves and at beauty superstores (i.e. sephora, ulta, beauty.com). i'm all for the real deal in all products!
32Why would I ever buy a fake high-end beauty product to save money? The whole point in investing in high quality makeup is.. obviously, because it's high quality. Fakes have less pigment and staying power. No way would I ever consider.
33I've never bought makeup on eBay. MAC eyeshadows are vivid and bright, and I'd be pretty pissed if I bought a fake that hardly showed up. I'd rather just spend the money and know I'm getting the real thing. That said, I usually look around online first for coupon codes for free shipping or gift with purchase, etc.
34excellent post with good tips. as an esthetician we find the same issue with skincare products.
35I bought some fake cosmetics, that burnt my skin, it was different to the normal stuff I bought in store, from a site called Island Cosmetics, I have sent to trading standards - be careful. Sarah
36I ordered MAC brushes on eBay once.... When I received the order guess what, THEY WERE FAKE!!! I sent the seller a message about it of course he was denying... then I told him I was a makeup artist and I have another set of brushes that I use only for myself and is big difference between them... guess again I returned them, I received a full refund and refund on shipping and handling as well!!
37Oh, he proved it to me that he knew what he was selling!!! BEWARE if is too good to be true all the time IT IS.
ooh, my friend was just warning me yesterday about buying fake cosmetics online. The thought never really occurred to me that people try to make knockoff high end cosmetics, but i guess it totally makes sense. With health related products you can't be too careful.
38I am an Ebay seller of NARS cosmetics, and I didn't even think about people selling "knock-offs" until I got an email from someone tonight asking me about my blushes and whether or not they had the word "NARS" stamped on the surface of the makeup. I know where I got my makeup, so I know it's reputable, but that really made me worry until I read that fake NARS blushes have the stamp, not authentic ones! It is possible to get great deals on high end makeup if you are careful. I would suggest never buying from a seller that is using a captured picture of the product from another site. You need to see a picture of the actual product. Also, it helps if you can see the box in the photo too. That way, you can really look at the picture and maybe catch something that may be supicious and you can also see the actual product you're getting. I have read some comments that others have made about the lower priced ones being supicious, but mine all start at an extremely low price just to get the bidding going, but I always put what the retail price is just so everyone bidding knows how expensive it really is!
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