How the Saying “If the Price is too Good to be True, it probably is,” is Now Prevalent in the Cosmetic Industry

How the Saying “If the Price is too Good to be True, it probably is,” is 

Now Prevalent in the Cosmetic Industry 

Written By: Dana Low 

When you walk into a big name retailer such as Target, you also have the security of satisfaction that comes with this big name. Whether it be the cosmetics or grocery aisle, customers know the goods they purchase will perform as marketed. These expectations however become dangerous when unregulated retailers begin to sell counterfeit makeup and toiletries. Often the price is low and customers will purchase the item with excitement only to wake up the next morning with allergic reactions, chemical burns, skin rashes and swollen eyes/lips (CBS News). Not only is this a threat to the health of the consumer, but also impacts the makeup industry and the economy.

In the beginning of 2018, police in Los Angeles seized $700k in counterfeit makeup from a market downtown known as “Santee Alley”. The colorful marketplace however is more than meets the eye, in the makeup confiscated it contained 15 times the amount of lead as normal lipstick, along with arsenic, aluminum, mercury and high levels of feces in many of the products. Additionally, U.S. Customs and Border Protection were able to prevent $1.6 billion in 2016 from being sent into the United States, while this number is reassuring, the Santee Alley investigation shows that their initial inspections were not enough.

Another place that shows a prevalence of counterfeit items is Amazon and it extends further than just toiletries. While many do recognize and trust the Amazon name, it is easy for an online retailer with many sellers and of that size to have slip-ups in product quality. The large number of Apple iPhone chargers on the site lead to an investigation where it was uncovered that 90% of the products that claimed to be of Apple brand, were not. Unfortunately for customers, sometimes this means paying full price, and ending up with a negative impression of the company due to a low quality product.

This all impacts the economy because when imposter products are in the mix it leads to a lower demand for the products sold by the real brand. The low quality counterfeit items cause consumers to feel like the item is not up to par, where in reality they are unaware they using a fake. Then the company can suffer which can lead to very high inflation or a worsening in the quality of products sold. Overall the counterfeit toiletry industry can end in serious health complications as well as deteriorating the economy.

Works Cited

Castañon, Kelsey, and LAPD. “$700K Worth Of Counterfeit Makeup Was Seized For The Scariest Reason.” Marijuana Legalization State Vs Federal Law, Scheduling, Refinery29, www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/04/196518/counterfeit-makeup-tested-for-human-waste.

CBS News. “Fake Makeup Can Be an Easy Buy – and a Health Hazard.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 29 Dec. 2017, www.cbsnews.com/news/fake-makeup-health-hazard-us-customs-and-border-protection/.

Watson, Patrick W. “Counterfeit Products Hurt The Consumer And The Economy.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 13 Nov. 2016, www.forbes.com/sites/patrickwwatson/2016/11/13/counterfeit-products-hurt-the-consumer-and-the-economy/#68a399823a7c.