BellaSugar

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?

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 ›

Why a Glowing Review Might Not Be So Real

BellaSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:00:22 -0700

You already know that you shouldn't believe everything you read on the Internet, but here's another reminder: NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has settled with a cosmetic-surgery group due to its unethical shilling. Lifestyle Lift is paying $300,000 to New York State for posting fake endorsements of its services. From the story:

According to the AG's office, investigators uncovered e-mails sent to employees of the company directing them to post positive reviews of its services online. As noted by the AG's office in a press statement, one e-mail sent to staffers read, "Friday is going to be a slow day - I need you to devote the day to doing more postings on the web as a satisfied client." The company's employees allegedly created false accounts on online forums, posting positive reviews, as well as counteracting critics of Lifestyle Lift.

Basically, Lifestyle Lift worker bees were busy "astroturfing" websites by creating fake buzz. It's good that they've promised to cut that out, but they're far from the only company to do so. (When we catch promoters of a product here on Bella, we put the kibosh on that right away.) Treat this as a reminder to look into any sort of over-the-top endorsement; they're sometimes real, but as you can see, that's sometimes not the case.

Photo by Purpleslog

Is It Getting Cold In Here?

BellaSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:00:22 -0700

Boob jobs? So last century. In the United Kingdom, one medical practice has seen a 30 percent rise in nipple surgery during the past year. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Riccardo Frati says that Victoria Beckham's bosom is the most requested. "In the past I've had patients coming to my surgery clutching pictures of celebrities like Katie Price and saying, 'I'd like breasts like hers,'" he said. "But now there's a chance that Mrs. Beckham's designer nipples could be the next big thing for 2009."

If that does indeed happen - and I'm not holding my breath - it's probably better to stay away from the knife. Go braless, wear one of those cupless bras, or shove Bodyperks fake nipples into your brassiere. With that said, I don't think this "trend" has much of a, uh, point.

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Make Bronzer Look Natural With These Easy Tips

BellaSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:00:02 -0700

We all know that the only safe tan is a fake one, but if you don't want to commit to self-tanner, it's time to break out the bronzer. The key is to avoid the Malibu Barbie look. "When women want to look tan, a lot of times they will make their entire face tan with bronzer or tinted moisturizer," says Carol Shaw, makeup artist and founder of LORAC cosmetics. "It's too much." What's more, she adds, it can leave the neck white, creating a visible line along the jaw.

For a more natural look, use a shimmer-free powder bronzer. Shaw recommends her LORAC Baked Matte Satin Bronzer, which goes on ultra-sheer but can be built up for more intensity. (On a budget? Try Physicians Formula's version.) Use a brush to dust it where the sun would hit: on your cheekbones, the tip of the nose, your chin, and forehead. "You can dust it on your neck, too, so that your face and neck match," Shaw adds. And don't forget, you can use bronzer on your eyelids for a simple, natural-looking hue, too.

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Best of Bella

BellaSugar — Sun, 03 May 2009 07:00:42 -0700

The top 10 most iconic movie hairstyles

Eleven great glosses under $15

Which lipstick looks best on Emily Deschanel?

Oprah shares about her hair

Fake a sun-kissed glow with these five steps

Three tips to keep beauty bridezilla at bay

Would you wear the human hair necklace?

Check out a lace braid tutorial

Leighton Meester as a blonde?!

Spot beautiful bridal henna designs

Can you pick beauty facts from beauty fiction?

My must-have items for May

Create a Gossip Girl-inspired headband

What do you know about cosmetic crimes?

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Lovely Links

BellaSugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:00:59 -0700

Prescriptives is aglow this season - Beauty Snob
Vegan, schmegan, says Pat Wexler - Beauty Counter
How not to accelerate your skin's aging process - babyassface
How cosmetic companies trick you into buying products - The Beauty Brains
Tales from the self-tanner crypt - Beauty Addict
Lauren Conrad goes to the grocery store - Jolie Nadine
An interview with Allure beauty director Amy Keller - Bit by the Beauty Bug
Lindsay Lohan: When fake tans go wrong - Hey, Dollface!
Hair by Charlene - IBKC
Pundit exasperated by Obama's "bad makeup job" - HuffPo

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.

Fun, Cheap Finds: Vintage Atomizers

BellaSugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:03:28 -0700

eBay is a great source of beauty buys, especially if you know how to spot fake cosmetics. Lately I've been on an old-timey kick - fancy netted hats, seamed stockings - and the auction site is a wonderful repository of vintage goodies. Perfume atomizers can be picked up for $10 or less, and many would look amazing on a dresser. Whether you fill them with fragrance or just like the way they look, here are a few auctions I've found. Happy bidding!

De Vilbiss atomizer	De Vilbiss atomizer
White glass atomizer	Art Deco atomizer
Irice Atomizer	Blue atomizer	1940s atomizer

Are Chemicals in Lipstick Leading to Bigger Bust Sizes?

BellaSugar — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 07:00:12 -0800

. . . That's the question asked by a Daily Mail story that explores why the average bra size of British women has jumped from 34B to 36C in a decade. Now, if you're like me, you might think that the popularity of implants might have something to do with that change. Or perhaps the fact that Brits, like Americans, are progressively getting larger in general.

Not so, says nutritionist Marilyn Glenville, who blames fake hormones. Xenoestrogens are estrogen doppelgangers that are found in plastics and pesticides, so they're in everything from corn chips to cosmetics. Since they're fat-soluble, they stick around in your body, and she believes that the jump in faux estrogen is making our chests heave:

"We are talking about a cocktail of toxins so it's hard to pinpoint what is going wrong. But many products, from lipsticks to tampons to spermicides, contain xenoestrogens, and we are applying them directly to our bodies.

Of course, further in the story, there are professors and scientists who brush aside her concerns. They point out that women are larger in general now, so it makes sense that their cups runneth over. I think that while synthetic estrogens might have some effect, it's more likely that such a rapid increase in bra size is due to cosmetic surgery and weight gain. (Plus, really, if lipstick makes your bosom bigger, why am I more Kate Moss than Dolly Parton up there?)

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