BellaSugar

How to Spot Fake Cosmetics

BellaSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:12:07 -0800

Since many of you had questions after my first post about counterfeit cosmetics, I created a guide to spotting the fakes. Although you can find some good deals on eBay, fake goods are extremely prevalent. Watch out for phony MAC, Nars, and Bobbi Brown - although a few other brands pop up as well. Use this guide to protect yourself from bogus beauty, and be prepared to laugh and cringe while you browse through these fakes.

View Slideshow ›

Beauty Byte: L'Oreal Sics its Lawyers on eBay

BellaSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:00:37 -0700

Quick, call the crack team at Boston Legal! L'Oreal is taking eBay to court in five European countries, claiming that the auction site isn't doing enough to crack down on counterfeit cosmetics and fragrances. L'Oreal produces more than just its namesake products; it also owns The Body Shop, Lancome, Kiehl's, Shu Uemura and produces fragrances for Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, Viktor & Rolf and Cacharel. In a statement, the company said:

"L'Oreal has been facing an increasing volume of illicit trade in fake fragrances and fake cosmetic products on some online auction sites."

I'm no Matlock, but my guess is that this lawsuit won't go far, because eBay is merely the conduit for the illegal sellers. If you're concerned about buying fakes, check out my guide to spotting them.

Black Market Makeup: How To Spot Fake Cosmetics

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:00:20 -0700

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?

Find Out How To Spot Diverted Products

BellaSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:01:45 -0700

When it comes to professional haircare products, do you know if what you're getting is legitimate? Last week, L’Oréal USA filed suit against Sally Beauty Holdings Inc. for allegedly selling Matrix products to a wholesaler without authorization; eventually, these products ended up at CVS and Target.

The process of products going through unapproved retail channels is called diversion. It's often caused by third parties offering underground deals to those who have a legitimate contract with the manufacturer, like shady salons. Once the arrangement is made, the products are then sold to mass retailers, who technically don't have the right to resell the product. Find out some tips on spotting diverted products, along with some other reasons why you might think again before making a purchase, when you read more.

Pro only: If the label says something about the product being for sale only in professional salons, then only purchase the product in the salon or the brand's website. The manufacturer cannot guarantee that it hasn't been tampered with, replaced with cheaper product inside, diluted, or has been stolen unless it's purchased through the appropriate channels.
Old stuff: Since many of these underground products sit in warehouses for months at a time, they are often outdated, or worse, contaminated in some fashion. Ick.
The packaging: Think about it. If the product looks dirty or dented on the outside, what's really in the inside? Plus, if you notice that the caps are different colors, or something is off about the packaging in any way, put it down.
Batch codes: Check the labels. If batch codes are rubbed off or missing, this could be a sign that the product is counterfeit or that the third party is trying to erase evidence of original purchase.
Not really cheaper: Even though diverted products may end up on the shelves of discount retailers, the prices are often not all that much of a difference. In fact, diverted products often cost more, as a result of being shuffled around the gray market.

Source: Flickr User banna123456

What To Do If Your Favorite Makeup Shade Is Discontinued

BellaSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:00:42 -0700

I think it's happened to us all. You head to the store to stock up on your favorite lipstick that you've worn for years, only to be informed by the clerk that it's been discontinued. Panic strikes, then anger. You wonder how and why this could happen.

Don't take it personally. Cosmetics companies frequently switch up inventories to make way for new technology and trends. Often, it's the lower-selling items that suffer the most. But don't fret, because there are tips and tricks to track down shades that have fallen victim to discontinuation. Get the details when you read more.

Customize: They don't call themselves Three Custom Color Specialists for nothing. The company will custom blend to re-create your favorite shades. Prescriptives offers a similar service, too.
Power of the people: If you're upset about an item being discontinued, let the company know about it. Who knows? They might just reconsider if they hear from enough diehard fans.
Check the websites: Many brands have special sections of their websites devoted entirely to products that are being or have been discontinued, like Estée Lauder's Gone But Not Forgotten program or Urban Decay's R.I.P. Items section.
Hit the discount stores and overstock sites: Hello, TJ Maxx for perfume, and Cosmetics and More and BuyMeBeauty.com for low-cost finds. Don't forget about Overstock.com for discontinued goods as well.
Auction: There's no place like eBay when it comes to long lost cosmetics. Just don't get suckered by counterfeit makeup.
Change with the times: Change is a constant. Take it as an opportunity to try out a new shade. Better yet, many companies offer up suggestions for replacements, like CoverGirl's In With the New page.
Swaparoo: If exchanging makeup with strangers feels OK, the "swap" feature from Makeup Alley might just score you the goods.

Source

Beauty Byte: Beware of Black-Market Products

BellaSugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:00:28 -0800

The demand for beauty products at a discounted price has already led to the dangerous counterfeiting of some of our favorite brands. But according to a report by the National Health Federation, even legitimate products sold through these sites can pose a risk to our health.

USA Today explains that dozens of types of beauty products for sale on discount or auction sites have been stolen straight from drugstore shelves. This opens the door to possible contamination and spoiling of these temperature-sensitive items, which when used, can cause skin irritation and possible infection.

The bottom line? The pennies you save on these discounted products are not worth the risk to the health of your skin. Stick to the clearance sections at online drugstores, which are required by law to regulate their quality of their products.

Source

The Best of Bella, 7/22

BellaSugar — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 09:19:04 -0700

Why is Pete Wentz grimacing? Because y'all really don't like guyliner on him.
This week's Bella Donna robs banks: It's Faye Dunaway!
Weigh in on whether Julianne Moore should have gone blonde or stayed red.
Find out how to protect yourself from buying counterfeit cosmetics.
A new Brazilian hair treatment straightens, potentially with formaldehyde.
Peek into Rachel Bilson's makeup bag.
If you've got Harry Potter overload, check out this too-cute beauty book for teens!
We discuss whether your private parts really need plastic surgery.
Find out which beauty secrets you should never share with your guy.
Hilary Swank has a brand-new beauty gig.
Finally, you down with SJP? (Yeah, you know me.) Get details on Covet, her new fragrance.

Source