Counterfeit Cosmetics: Our Call to Action

Since Netflix released a very informative episode about counterfeit makeup on its new show “Broken“, it has shone a light on an industry that is wreaking havoc on individuals and businesses. Counterfeit makeup production is growing exponentially as customers reach for boutique brand labels with smaller price tags. Saving money may be a gratifying short term solution, but remaining uninformed about the consequences of counterfeit cosmetics can lead to serious repercussions for your health, community, and valuable American businesses.

The growing popularity of the cosmetics industry is due to revolutionary marketing techniques and specific social media direction. As a result, the general public has begun to yearn for access to boutique brands worn by celebrities and top tier influencers. Consequently, the global cosmetics market has skyrocketed in the past decade. In 2018, the value of the global cosmetics market was 507.8 billion U.S. dollars. The market was projected to value at about 758.4 billion U.S. dollars by 2025.

However, the beautiful eye shadow palettes and luscious skincare products featured on social media are sometimes expensive and difficult for the general public to attain.  This is where savvy but morally challenged “entrepreneurs” quickly found their niche – providing falsely labeled boxes filled with phony, dirty product to turn a quick profit. They satisfied a need in the market, and their business began to boom. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that the value of trade-related counterfeit goods amounts to $461 billion annually across the globe.

These counterfeit products pose a threat to individuals because they are largely unregulated. According to this article, products regulated by the FDA are required to go through six critical steps of testing before hitting shelves. There is no way of knowing what processes counterfeit products go through or the conditions in which they are manufactured. In fact, in 2018 the Los Angeles County Police Department confiscated counterfeit makeup that contained high levels of bacteria and animal feces.

Counterfeiters become increasingly advanced in their attempts to fool consumers. One of the major ways that counterfeit products are reaching you is through generally trusted outlets such as Amazon. It is very easy to become a third party seller on the platform. The percentage of third-party sellers on Amazon has been increasing steadily over the past 5 years, rising from 40% in 2013 to 53% at the end of 2018.

There are several ways to spot counterfeit cosmetics. This guide from Evergreen Beauty College serves as a wonderful resource for identifying counterfeit cosmetics in real life and online. The bottom line is to trust your gut – if it is too good to be true, it probably is.

Cosmetic companies are working to help make labels harder to duplicate. Platforms like Amazon are tirelessly troubleshooting ways to keep toxic sellers out of their site as well. However, it is ultimately our responsibility as consumers to eliminate the need for these products by remaining informed. As with anything else, we cannot take anything at face value and must educate ourselves and form our own opinions to make enlightened decisions.