MANY of us are whiling away the quarantine hours on Netflix. Earlier this week, I saw the “Broken” episode featuring counterfeit cosmetics. Even if one is not into makeup and beauty, it’s an educational documentary well worth watching.
It alarms me that fake makeup is sold so openly, everywhere. We can find it in almost any tiangge stall in the mall or bazaar, and there are heaps of listings on Shopee and Lazada.
I myself have fallen victim to counterfeit makeup from an online seller on Instagram who claimed it was authentic. I was able to compare those products with authentic ones and the copy is scarily close to the original in appearance. Performance was definitely not the same; the fake blush looked the same as the real one, but had so much fallout, very weak pigmentation, and no staying power. The seller herself may not have known the difference. Either way, that online store is kaput, and my money with it.
Do not be tempted into buying a counterfeit Benefit blush or Kylie Cosmetics lipstick because you think you’re getting a bargain. “It’s the same thing, just cheaper,” is not true in this case.
The most obvious reason that we should not buy or use fake cosmetics is the high likelihood that they are unsafe. Because counterfeit cosmetics are not regulated the way that registered companies are, we simply don’t know what chemicals are being used in them or what facilities they were made in. Heavy, toxic metals like lead, for example, may be used in place of safe, quality pigments to coax out a more intense color. Too much lead can cause infertility and damage just about all organs in the body. The documentary also mentions that some of the products tested were found to contain arsenic, fecal matter...one big, fat No after another.
Secondly, counterfeit cosmetics are illegal. These manufacturers are just looking to make a quick buck. I definitely wouldn’t want to support a fake cosmetics manufacturer who does not care about clients getting allergies or poisoning just to make money.
Instead of buying fake cosmetics, we are much better off buying authentic. Authentic doesn’t have to mean expensive. Buy from reputable retailers or be very careful when scrutinizing an online seller. Fake cosmetics are just not worth the real dangers they may come with.