How can you spot a counterfeit cosmetic product?

People have always been concerned about their appearance. Using cosmetics to enhance your appearance is always a sign of self-esteem and self-confidence. They make you feel good about yourself, giving you greater confidence in your social and professional interactions. Many brands have come out with different products to help you look your best. However, some cosmetics can be head-turning because of their price. That's why it's important to be vigilant when you decide to buy second-hand cosmetics or products from outside an official shop. Many counterfeiters are quick to replicate branded products every day. In this article, we give you our advice on how to spot a counterfeit cosmetic product.

Packaging:

The first clue to the authenticity of the cosmetic product you want to buy is to check the packaging. The packaging tells you a lot about where the product comes from.

Counterfeiters generally make mistakes when reproducing colours, fonts, images and logos from the authentic packaging. For some reason, con artists are unable to reproduce the fonts correctly. On counterfeits, they are generally too large and the words do not line up.

Also check the appearance of the packaging. Counterfeiters use inferior materials to cut costs, which can affect the texture or rigidity of the packaging.

Also look at the finish of the packaging. Genuine products have a high-quality finish, with careful detailing and a smooth finish. Counterfeits may have a rough finish, poorly cut edges or irregularities in the shape or size of the packaging.

Labelling :

You should also pay particular attention to the labelling of the cosmetic product you want to buy. The label of a cosmetic product should contain detailed information on ingredients, warnings and instructions for use.

Look carefully at the small print. Counterfeiters are notorious for not knowing how to handle the language of Molière perfectly, and spelling mistakes are very often made. If you see these on the label of your product, you can start to doubt its authenticity.

The barcode :

Also analyse the barcodes or batch numbers on the product. These are a further indication of a product's authenticity.

Barcodes or batch numbers must be present on your product. These certify their origin. They can therefore be checked with the manufacturer. Counterfeit products may contain barcodes or batch numbers that do not correspond to anything.

Most of the time, you can check this on the cosmetics brand's website.

Smell:

The last but not least point to check concerns the smell of the cosmetic product you want to buy.

The products used by replica factories are extremely chemical and sometimes even dangerous to health. So don't hesitate to smell the product. If the smell seems too strong or aggressive, it's probably a replica product.

Secure the purchase of your second-hand cosmetics with Obvy :

If you want to conduct transactions, sales and/or purchases, between private individuals in complete security, choose Obvy. Obvy is a secure payment platform designed to eradicate online scams between individuals. When you make a transaction on Obvy, the funds are only credited to your seller when the buyer certifies the conformity of the item purchased.

In the event of a counterfeiting scam, you can quickly and easily return the product to the seller and get your money back. What's more, you'll have all the information you need about the seller in the event of legal action.