There are so many cosmetic lines currently making waves in the beauty industry- but be sure to keep an eye out for counterfeit cosmetics.
Unfortunately, global trade in counterfeit cosmetics has become a 461 billion dollar industry. When there is a high demand for these types of products, the companies use any means to make a quick buck, even if they are putting the users in jeopardy.
Kylie Cosmetics, Naked Urban Decay, and Fenty Beauty are just a few examples of lines that are constantly selling out due to high demands. These companies don’t solely rely on marketing and advertising to sell their products. In fact, their rise in popularity can also be attributed to YouTube and Instagram influencers who use these products in their tutorials. The more these products are mentioned in videos or tagged in social media posts, the more people want to buy them. But when these items are sold out, or their prices are beyond the limits of people’s budgets, the temptation to turn to eBay or third-party vendors on Amazon becomes heightened.
Imagine frantically opening the package you’ve been eagerly waiting for and swiping on that first layer of vibrant gloss only to find that your lips are stuck together. That is one of the adverse reactions that consumers who are purchasing counterfeit cosmetics are experiencing. Counterfeiters use cheaper ingredients to achieve the same “look” as the real product, but they often smell and feel different. Testing of these products has shown the use of ingredients such as carcinogens, rat droppings, horse urine, and super glue. And those are being applied to your eyes, lips, and face!
In a new Netflix series titled “Broken,” famous YouTube influencer Marlena Stell warns against the effects of counterfeit cosmetics and how a seemingly harmless industry actually has many negative repercussions. Not only are the counterfeiters using dangerous ingredients but the conditions of the factories are less than ideal. Unfortunately, global trade in counterfeit products has become a 461 billion dollar industry. When there is a high demand for these types of products, the companies use any means to make a quick buck, even if they are putting the users in jeopardy.
Stell also speaks about her experience with makeup and the role that social media has played in her following and on the fame of her own cosmetics line, Makeup Geek Cosmetics. She started her YouTube channel in 2008 and now has over a million followers. Marlena then began her own brand in 2011. She didn’t use traditional marketing. Instead, she just advertised her products through her own videos, and, eventually, other influencers started using her products in their tutorials. In 2017, the company made 22 million dollars.
Why have consumers begun favoring indie brands like Makeup Geek and ColourPop over the more mainstream lines? Well, big corporations have been found to use parabens, asbestos contaminated talc, and carbon black in their products. When this information was released, it created distrust in the users and encouraged them to turn to indie brands that promote the use of clean ingredients. However, some of these indie brands are using scarcity tactics, which is the technique of producing a limited quantity of an item that is in high demand with the intention of driving sales due to people’s fear of missing out. It’s when popular items are sold out that consumers turn to other sellers.
So how can you be sure that the products you’re ordering are legit? Make sure you’re ordering directly from the cosmetic line’s website or other well-known stores that sell those products. It’s best to avoid shady websites that offer products at a much lower price than their usual cost; this is usually an indication that it’s not the real deal. Also, pay close attention to the packaging. Counterfeit product boxes may have spelling errors or images that look a bit off.
If the original item’s price tag has you pining for a cheaper alternative, your best bet is to wait until the products go on sale instead of choosing a counterfeit cosmetic. With the holidays just around the corner, you’re bound to find deals on your favorite items. To find out more about counterfeit cosmetics, watch the episode of “Broken” titled “Makeup Mayhem” on Netflix.
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