THE DARK SIDE OF LOW-COST MAKEUP

Counterfeit cosmetics pose a health risk

Synopsis

From foundation containing mercury to lipstick with antifreeze, counterfeit cosmetics are becoming increasingly common and harder to spot, driven by the boom in sales on social media. The damage, however, is all too real.

With tempting promotions and high-quality packaging, consumers are easily lured into buying them. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to these scams.

Counterfeit networks have become so sophisticated that they sometimes manage to release new products at the same time as major brands such as L’Oréal, Revlon, or MAC.