Everyone loves a good bargain, but you might want to rethink buying knock off versions of your favorite high-end products, especially if it’s perfume.
According to Fox News, detectives recently seized over $51,400 of knockoff products in a raided London counterfeit perfume factory. After inspecting the products, detectives found that the counterfeit perfume contained toxic ingredients including cyanide, arsenic, urine, and even rat droppings.
Buying into fake make-up, such as eyeliner, mascara, and foundation can also be risky business. Not only do the products harmful substances like arsenic and mercury, but they can also cause some serious allergic reactions, like skin irritation, rashes, and other serious health problems.
Detective Chief Inspector Teresa Russell, of Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at the City of London Police said, “With jewelry and perfume being popular gift choices, it’s easy to fall into the trap of cheap offer.”
It’s also important to be cautious of counterfeit websites when shopping for cosmetics. You can tell the difference between them and reputable sites by looking for grammar errors, poor spelling, and inconsistency in images and fonts. Russell also warned consumers, “Purchasing counterfeit goods online results in your personal details being used to set up new fraudulent websites. Treat [yourself] to something legitimate from a reputable seller.”
We know it sucks shelling out big bucks for luxury cosmetics, but trust us, it’s so worth it when you don’t have to worry whether or not your spraying yourself with toxic chemicals every morning.