The Health Products Regulatory Authority issued a warning regarding conterfeit make-up, in which traces of lead and arsenic has been found. Exposure and contact with this substances has potentially harmful efects in the human body and despite many of these fake cosmetics have been stopped from entering the country by Revenue’s Customs service, many more are finding their way, especially with Christmas around the corner.
In case you are not sure how to tell the difference between a real and a fake, here are five hints that will help you find out:
- The retailer: Generally, high-end brands have concesions or dedicated shops in which they sell their products. It is very unusual that they are sold elsewhere. If you are shopping on-line, look for a seller with good reviews and good reputation.
- Misspelling on the packaging: Since many times they use an automatic translator, check the box or the information leaflet for any spelling mistakes. A real one would never have those.
- Mirrors that don’t fit: Sometimes the outside of a fake is nearly identical to the original, however, it gets tricky with the mirrors, and often, they will be just a little bit too small or miss-shaped, so look carefuly.
- Doubt of wholesale bargains: If a seller tells you that they can sell it so cheap because they bought it from a wholeseller or in a warehouse, suspect. Most high-end brands never sell their products this way.
- Little imperfections: If an eyeshadow looks uneven, or the colour of it doesn’t correspond with the color it says it is in the packaging, suspect. Thin lines on a lipstick or small cracks in a blush are also red flags.