The Dirty Truth About Counterfeit Makeup

In this day and age, social media has become a widespread phenomenon. It is everyone’s go-to place to get updated on what is fashionable and trendy. One of the biggest industries that is highly influenced by social media is the beauty industry. Much like high end clothing, there is also what is known as “high end make up”. This term can be used to describe brands such as Mac Cosmetics, Estee Lauder, Marc Jacobs, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Too Faced and the list goes on.

Due to this social media culture, people can tend to feel pressured to keep up with the latest fads. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to have the same thing that you see your favourite beauty influencers using online. If it makes you happy and you feel confident doing so, then by all means, GO CRAZY! However, how far is TOO far?

People have often opted to purchase clone make up instead of the authentic ones due to the price point. Clone make up is usually substantially cheaper which means that you are able to buy more stuff. However, these knock offs could contain dangerous ingredients that the buyer is totally unaware of because it is not listed on the packaging.

Some people might say that it’s the same concept as wearing fake designer shoes. This is totally not true. If you wear fake Louboutins, the worst that could happen is that you either end up with smelly feet or the shoe will fall apart. However, make up is an entirely different world. These products make direct contact with your skin and even seep into your pores, which can cause serious damage. Some harmful ingredients found in counterfeit makeup are lead, mercury, cyanide, arsenic, paint thinner, urine and faeces. They can also contain the same ingredients as authentic make up, such as preservatives, but in much higher concentration. In the longer run, this can cause you to develop an allergy and you won’t even be able to use the real deal make up anymore. In the case of lip products, apart from causing labial chemical burns or irritation, due to the fact that throughout the day you basically ingest your liptstick or lip gloss (gross, right? I know), in women it can cause menstrual problems, hormonal problems and can even contribute to miscarriages and stillbirth.

So the next time you’re shopping for new make up, it would be best to skip the clones and instead search for some awesome dupes that fit into your budget.

Now, some people might get things confused and think that clones and dupes are the same thing. However, this is not the case. Clones are a direct replica of said product while dupes are similar alternatives.

For example, a person may be dying to get their hands on the Kylie Cosmetics liquid lipstick in the shade Dolce K but might not be able to pay $17.00 for it. Instead of jumping onto amazon or aliexpress and ordering yourself the cheap clones, try googling some affordable dupes. Colourpop liquid lipstick in the shade Beeper would make an awesome dupe for Dolce K and it’s only $7.

Remember it’s not about quantity, it’s about quality. It’s better to have a few authentic make up items than a whole room filled with clones. There are a plethora of make up brands that offer great quality products at an affordable price point. However, if it really means that much to you and you just gotta have that Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadow palette, just save up your money and treat yourself to the authentic product.

At the end of the day, your health and well being should be above everything else!

xx