Is it Real or is it Fake?

Hello, beautiful soul! I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s day yesterday with your loved ones. I wanted to write a post about love but I think I haven’t moved on from my Long distance Relationship post hehe. A reader suggested on the comment section of my post, entitled “What is your Makeup’s PAO?”, a feature about how to determine genuine products from counterfeit ones. I thought it was a beautiful topic to write about, so why not? Part of our rights as consumers is to be well-informed and aware that the products offered to us in the market is of quality, and of course safe to use. Continue to read my post so you would know if the products are real or fake. The last thing we would want to happen is skin inflammation, irritation or scarring caused by purchasing a wallet-friendly product. I’ve listed a few tips that could be of help in your purchasing process.

These tips are not limited to cosmetics and beauty tools.

Buy from authentic stores

Simply, buy from the brand’s store, virtual shop, website or app to make sure that the product that you’ll get comes directly from the brand itself. The products, I strongly believe, passes through quality control, thus this is the safest way that you’ll get your money’s worth. Below are my favorite virtual stores that sell more than one brand. This is where I usually splurge my money on.

Read and check the packaging

If in case you’ll purchase the product personally through resellers, check the packaging. Make sure that the product is sealed properly. Read the labels on the box and the product itself to check for misspelled words and grammatical errors. If such cases arise, don’t buy it. I automatically consider it a fake product. Not only will it save you money from spending, but it will also leave a peace of mind for not giving in to the risk and/or temptation of purchasing something you had absolutely no clue where it came from. Trust me.

Observe how they are presented

This one has surely saved me time and money because of how easy it saves me from spending. Whenever I visit a reseller or an unauthenticated shop and I already know the price of the product, I check how it is actually fixed on the shelves. If it’s an expensive one and it is not located in a safe or locked area, that in itself makes the product look less than its true worth. It also gives an impression that the seller does not give due importance to the product. Why would a product priced more than a thousand pesos be situated where it could easily be picked and snatched away in a store with no security or sensor machines? You answer.

Research

If ever you stumble upon a brand you’ve never heard before, search it on Google. If the product has passed positively on my tip #2 and #3, then research on its retail price. Consider that international brands have taxes and shipping fee added up to the original price. For times when the prices are already lower by more than 10% of the original price, I doubt that it’s original.

Ask for proof

There’s nothing wrong in asking, especially when you want to make sure that you’re buying a genuine product. Try to ask for a proof that the product you’re buying from a reseller is really from the brand itself. Try asking for a copy of their receipt upon purchasing the product you have your eye on. Reseller prices are higher because of taxes and shipping fee to cover. They are small businesses so haggle with respect. If in case there is a return policy, don’t be taken away by the product and don’t immediately remove the seal. Examine the packaging first; read and observe.

Remember:

It is okay to buy a product that is cheap; in terms of price, but NOT in quality. Don’t purchase a product mainly because it’s a big saving, thinking that you could save a lot when it could actually risk your health.