The first thing that distinguishes fake eye shadow or mascara from the original is the packaging. Even if at first glance it seems the same, it is not so. Take a closer look at the details: larger font, different quality of inscriptions, different lid fastening. The packaging itself may also be a little smaller or a little larger. Such things can most often be seen only by comparison, which is what counterfeit sellers take advantage of.

The picture shows Mac blush: original and fake.

Secondly, color palettes most often differ by a couple of tones; some colors may not exist at all. Therefore, if the shade is important to you, take the original.

The third, most significant difference. If you can still close your eyes to the packaging and differences in colors, then this point is very important. Application! The main secret of shadows, blushes, foundations and lipsticks from Chanel, Dior, Mac, Bobby Brown is how they are applied and how they last. Firstly, the colors of original cosmetics are always more saturated than those of fakes. Everyone has most likely seen very bright Chinese eyeshadow palettes; unfortunately, you won’t get that color on your skin even if you want to. This happens because in original cosmetics the pigment is more saturated. Bright palettes from Mas can never compare with Chinese ones, the color of which looks faded and watery on the skin.

As you can see, the texture of the blush is different: the original is denser, while the fake is grainy and desaturated. In addition, the colors vary greatly, although the shade number is the same.

But on the other hand, I had experience using a fake mascara from Mas, and I can’t say anything bad about it. It had a normal smell, it lengthened the eyelashes well, lasted until the evening, and most importantly, it was washed off from the eyelashes with silicone lumps, which is why it did not smear over the eyelids. The only downside was the bottle was of poor quality.

Here are some more brushes: on top is a fake (synthetic bristles), on the bottom is the original.

Of course, in addition to all of the above, fakes and originals differ in composition, which also determines their effectiveness. For example, Chinese anti-aging creams will not be as effective as original brand creams, simply because they do not contain those expensive active ingredients (for example, peptides). If the manufacturer promises that some lipstick will not only last 24 hours, but also moisturize your lips throughout the entire time, then all these properties apply only to the original product. At best, a fake will have the same packaging and color of the product, but don’t expect any unique properties. On the contrary, it will not apply very tightly and dry out your lips.

I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that counterfeits do not have any hypoallergenic properties, so if you are prone to allergies, then you should not risk it; most likely, skin irritations will occur.

Also, you should not abuse cheap cosmetics and counterfeits if you are at risk (for example, oncology).

I would also like to note one more very interesting thing: according to my observations, all these cosmetic replicas like “Dior mascara for 350 rubles” and “French lipstick for 250” are still better in quality and properties than just cheap cosmetics from the mass market. If you compare that fake Mascara from Mas, which I already mentioned, with any mascara from Avon or Maybelline, then it will win by all criteria.

If we look in more detail at the composition of the product, then, as a rule, more chemical components are used in counterfeits. A cheaper pigment and a cheaper preservative are also used (for example, the same parabens). BUT: as a rule, the composition on fakes is simply reprinted from the original box, so you will not recognize the real composition.

My conclusion is this: fakes are also quite good and nothing very bad will happen to your skin. There are some women who speak out sharply negatively about this, and also fall into hysteria, telling the world that “I don’t want to get sick later on, so I only buy expensive, high-quality cosmetics, and let those who can’t afford to buy something decent buy these fakes.”. Well, in my opinion, this is inflated self-esteem and masking one’s complex (or fear) of poverty. So, in this regard, I want to say that several times I came across counterfeits in those very popular cosmetic stores, for example, in Perfumika (and there have been rumors about Letual for a long time that half of their cosmetics are gray). So don’t worry, maybe you use mascara for 1500 thousand and just don’t know that it’s fake from China.

Text: Alisa Antonova

Today, online beauty shopping is not uncommon. We order cosmetics and fragrances for home delivery without wasting extra time and effort. But how to protect yourself from counterfeits?

Type the name of the product you need into a search engine, and a dozen links to stores will appear that promise to quickly make you happy with your purchase. Often cosmetics are sold there at a lower price. This is explained by the fact that entrepreneurs do not need to rent premises, think over the space of the store and spend money on salaries for consultants. This is partly true. But many unscrupulous sellers also save on suppliers, and they, in turn, save on ingredients.

Counterfeit cosmetics may contain dangerous ingredients that have a detrimental effect on the skin. Lead, copper, mercury, arsenic, cadmium - experts found all this in some samples that came to their laboratories directly from the Internet.

Enthusiasts from England, concerned about the problem of cosmetic counterfeits, conducted the following experiment: they bought M.A.C eyeliner on Amazon for £3.5 and sent it for examination. It turned out that the permissible level of copper in the product was 46 times exceeded, and therefore the product is not suitable for use on eyelids. “Thanks to” such purchases, you can develop skin diseases from acne to psoriasis.

According to Interpol, proceeds from the sale of counterfeit cosmetics often finance the counterfeit medicine business.

So, what should you pay attention to when buying cosmetics online?

• Purchase products only from a licensed store. It is safest to make purchases in official online stores of brands - for example, Clinique, Clarins and Estee Lauder;
• Always look for the barcode on the packaging. It can be located either on the case itself or on the box;
• Compare the size of the brushes, applicators and brushes that come with the product with the original ones. For fakes they are usually smaller or larger;
• Pay attention to the font size on packaging. On counterfeit products it is usually smaller and less clear;
• If the packaging is suspiciously light or, conversely, bright, this is a reason to think about it. The packaging of counterfeits may differ from the original;
• Check the instructions inside the package. It usually accompanies even the smallest items - lipsticks, shadows, etc.;
• The more translations into other languages ​​you can find in the instructions, the better. Many unscrupulous manufacturers have difficulty mastering even its Russian version, let alone Arabic and other exotic languages;
• More often, bright shades of makeup products and products with glitter are counterfeited (this makes it easier to hide imperfect texture). So that there is no doubt about whether the product you are going to buy exists in nature at all, do not be too lazy to go to the brand’s website - the entire palette of shades with their names is usually presented there;
• If the product has already fallen into your hands, smell it. A pungent odor or strong fragrance should alert you;
• As for perfumes: never buy so-called “confiscated goods”, samples (they are not released for sale) and fragrances with “Everything for 500 rubles!” promotions;
• Organic cosmetics (Melvita, Aveda, Decleor, etc.) and pharmacy brands (La Roche-Posay, Vichy, Lierac, etc.) are almost never counterfeited;
• The most counterfeited product is mascara. The Benefit brand, after its counterfeit mascara was discovered on the market, even hired specialists to track batches of counterfeit goods;
• Don't buy the low price. If the product costs 30 percent or more cheaper than in the store, it is better not to order it.

Today, large sites like eBay or Amazon are trying to control who sells what through them. The owners of both resources claim that they have agreements with official representatives of many brands, and in case of suspicion, they delete the accounts of unscrupulous sellers. However, it is always better to be on guard and, if even the slightest doubt arises about the quality of the product, refuse to purchase it.

Their parameters are far from the generally accepted 90-60-90, and the sizes are by no means XS or S. But they know how to present them so advantageously that any skinny woman will envy. Meet plus-size girls who break stereotypes and prove that you can be stylish and attractive at any weight. So, we present the chubby bloggers you should follow in order to love yourself.

Tanesha Awasthi

One of the brightest and most famous chubby girls on the Internet, Tanesha Awasthi, founded her blog Girl With Curves back in 2011. And since then she has never ceased to prove that jeans, flounces and full skirts are ideal for plus-size girls. The main thing is to approach the choice wisely.

Daniel Vanier

Danielle Vanier is a girl who loves experiments. Her fashion collection includes not only minimalist looks, but also quite catchy and bold ones.

Jay Miranda

Jay Miranda is all about bright colors, fun prints and always a good mood. The girl skillfully uses accessories and never parts with sunglasses. Some models are quite funny.

Gabi Fresh

Gabi is not only not shy about her curves, but also enjoys posing in a swimsuit.

She also loves stripes - both vertical and horizontal. And in general, it’s worth learning how to wear prints from her.

Louis Orelli

The girl loves bright colors and always chooses the right cut. Her favorites include wrap dresses, flattering design patterns and a clearly defined waist.

Alison Teng

The blogger focuses on femininity and elegance. Therefore, she prefers skirts and dresses. Of course, she also has trousers and jeans in her collection, but you must agree: the only thing cooler than a dress is a dress.

And the hot brunette can’t imagine life without miniskirts and teaches how to wear them with self-esteem.

These girls are so cheerful that they never tire of giving those around them a boost of cheerfulness and energy. If you also want to look at the world positively, regardless of the parameters of your figure, be sure to replenish your subscription box.

How to wear the most ordinary sweater every day and look completely new

Did you know that your favorite jumper can be not only a warm part of your look, but also a trendy accessory? This season, it is fashionable to wear a sweater on the shoulders, tying its sleeves around the neck. This fashionable technique was readily demonstrated by participants in all street style shows at Fashion Week. But simply tying a jumper instead of a scarf is not enough; you need to know a few trendy tricks. Find out about the most popular ways to wear a sweater this year right now.

With another sweater

You can stay warm in style on cool spring days with a second jumper.

Drape it over your shoulders directly over your sweater and secure the sleeves at your chest. You can move the knot to one shoulder - the main thing is not to tie the jumper too tightly. A layered, relaxed look looks cooler with matching sweaters—the pattern and shade may vary slightly.

Over a blouse

A simple office shirt or a laconic blouse can be worn with a bright jumper - this technique will brighten up a restrained outfit. But instead of wearing a sweater, just cover your shoulders with it. Add asymmetry - lower one sleeve to the waist and fix the jumper on the chest. To make your look truly fashionable, choose a sweater in rich colors – you can check the current seasonal palette of shades at the Pantone Institute.

Over the jacket

You won't be able to show off a cool jumper if it's always hidden under your jacket. It’s too early to walk around wide open, but you can always pull the sweater out. Simply layer your favorite jumper over your jacket or coat like a scarf and securely secure the sleeves.

With a dress

A sweater can even be worn as a scarf with a dress. A knitted jumper will add coziness and simplicity to a feminine outfit with heels. Throwing a sweater over a romantic dress will make your look fragile and incredibly sophisticated. It is better to choose a jumper to match your outfit or accessories.

A sweater-scarf looks even cooler with casual outfits. It gives outfits carelessness and audacity. And if you tie a sweater at your waist, you will be transported to the era of the 90s and early 2000s.

We all understand: if the packaging of a cosmetic product says “Canel” instead of “Chanel”, then this is an obvious fake. However, modern manufacturers of “fake” products have also learned other tricks that can mislead an inexperienced buyer. the site has made a selection of useful tips for its readers on how not to make a mistake in choosing.

A genuine product cannot have a crooked sticker or sloppy name printed on its packaging. Any branded product, be it cream or eau de parfum, is packaged in cellophane. Moreover, such a protective shell should tightly “tighten” the box without forming wrinkles or folds.

Often the original product, in addition to the sticker on the package, contains an additional insert with information. It can be seen by pulling the bottom edge of the sticker. This practice also occurs when designing mascara tubes.

Pay attention to the serial number or product article! Its digital data on the packaging and tube must match. If there are inconsistencies, this is a fake.

Manufacturer information may be embossed or printed in a printing house, but in no case embossed with paint on top of the packaging.

Tip three: don’t buy into a suspiciously low price

Branded cosmetics cannot be sold at the cost of low-quality products. Today, many private sellers on social networks offer to purchase a cheap “Mac adaptation”. You can take a risk, but if your decorative cosmetics are unstable or an allergy occurs, no one will be held responsible to you.

Mini-investigation from Barb. Using the same Mac cosmetics as an example, we decided to see whether temptingly low prices are worth trusting. On one of the popular shopping portals, a private individual offers to purchase a palette of 120 (!) shades of eye shadow for 195 UAH. Can this price be considered adequate?

We find the official website of the manufacturer and go to the products section. In the subsection “Palettes and eye sets” there was only a palette of 15 shades - this is the maximum when it comes to eye shadows. Its cost is 65 dollars, which in terms of national currency is 1759.55 hryvnia. Think about it: is it really possible to buy a branded product second-hand that costs 9 times less?

Often, the websites of cosmetics manufacturers provide information about their representative offices abroad.

Conclusion: you will not find branded cosmetics either on the market or from individuals engaged in trading on popular social networks.

When testing foundation notice how it blends and absorbs into the skin. A high-quality product is applied without lumps, absorbs quickly, does not change color after application and does not cause irritation.

Regarding powder, blush or dry eyeshadow, then their consistency should not resemble crushed chalk.

A sure sign of a “linden”:

• after application with a brush, small glitter remains on the skin, and the surface of the product becomes uneven;
• the shade of the applied product differs significantly from that presented in the palette;
• When opening the tube, a strong unpleasant odor is heard.

If we talk about perfume products, pay attention to the color of the liquid in the bottle: it should not be too bright or cloudy. The aroma of real perfume appears on the skin after a couple of minutes, while the fake one “reveals” immediately, but it dissipates faster.

Tip five: check the information on the manufacturer’s website

If you have clearly decided on the choice of a specific product, go to the manufacturer’s website in advance. There you can study the packaging design in detail, find out the product article or information about the shade palette. Thus, you will come to the store as a “savvy” buyer.

Lifehack: Saw a set of Mac eyeshadows in the store? Check the name of each shade presented in it. If it is marked with numbers, this is a fake: this brand assigns specific names to the samples, for example, “Neoprene Green”.

For a branded product, the composition of the components is indicated in full, and they are in descending order of concentration of active substances. You can familiarize yourself with such information in advance on the manufacturer’s website, and at the same time check it with the data indicated on the box in the store.

Buying a new face cream? Let us not once again remind you of the harmfulness of sulfates and parabens, as well as the long shelf life. If a cosmetic product consists of at least 40% natural ingredients, it can be taken.

What about eco-cosmetics that are popular today?? Let us be clear: there are no products consisting exclusively of natural products. Any cream or milk contains chemical components, such as surfactants (surfactants). As for fake eco-creams, they give themselves away with an expiration date. Since organic substances lose their usefulness after just 3 months, the service life of such cosmetics should not exceed six months.

Always be aware

How can you find out about the most important new products without going to international conferences and without following news every day from the websites of leading cosmetic brands? Participants of the Cosmo Expo know the answer; they know where to publish their information and announcements of educational events.

Cosmetics, no matter what they are, are always something with a surprise. Even if you buy something you know and like, you may still get another batch, your skin may become capricious, and your own taste may finally change. But, you must admit, it’s a shame to buy a pig in a poke, only to find... someone else.

Let me make a reservation right away: you can buy fakes and counterfeits with intention. For example, “Diode” nail polishes can be used to tint the heels of summer colored shoes, eyeshadow palettes can be conveniently gutted and filled with proven shades of eyeshadow by pressing them, bright lipsticks can be used to paint the feet and palms, if you don’t want to bother with henna, “Zhevamshi” powder compacts make excellent tablet holders . The only question is not to buy “Armenians”, being sure that you are buying “Armani”.

1. If you don’t know the brand, buy only in boutiques.
This rule works not only with cosmetics. There are a lot of brands, collections change, and so does the packaging. It’s impossible to keep track of everything, and who needs it?
Therefore, the scheme is this: come to the store of the desired brand, try it, listen to the scents, then grab someone who has a discount card in this store and go buy. Usually friends don’t refuse: saving money is good form these days. You can fill your cosmetic bag with the necessary minimum in 2-3 such trips and for the whole year.

2. Switch to professional care and decor and buy at exhibitions.
There, certificates, consultants, trial products, and discounts are at your service. There are usually two exhibitions in Moscow: Intercharm 2 times a year and Intercosmetics. For those who do not collect comedies, this is quite enough.

3. If you know the brand...don't be too sure about it.
There is no absolute knowledge. Those who counterfeit cosmetics are not idiots 100% of the time either. Moreover, if some kind of nonsense came to the Russian Federation all the way from China or the Turkish region, then the one who produced it, sold it and made a fortune is definitely not a fool. The task is not to become a fool by buying this business. The rule is: not sure? Do not take.
Even if the product is branded and turns out to be real, it will cost much more nerves than it’s worth.

4. Use reference and promotional resources.
All shade numbers, series and collections are presented online on the websites of manufacturing companies. Do we doubt it? You shouldn’t be lazy to type in an address or two in order to buy (or not buy) with peace of mind.

5. Use your collective wisdom BEFORE you buy.
Hanging around the forums asking “oh, what did I buy?” - a sure way to get a bunch of comments addressed to you like “Girl, what were you watching?” or “I sympathize, so much money is wasted” or “We need to kill such sellers” or “Life is bad without a sucker.” It won’t get any easier, but it will definitely be more offensive.

6. If you buy cosmetics from hand, consider the risk as 50/50.
Then it will be easier to survive the wasted forces and means.

7. Buy second hand only from those you know personally.
I’ll say this: if I added something, but it just didn’t suit the person, I’ll give the money back. Regardless of principles, normal people do not crap where they live, and do not deceive those with whom they are friends.

8. Most fakes, as it turns out, are given as gifts.
Therefore, before consuming something given by a stranger or someone you barely know, check the barcodes and the authenticity of the product. If, of course, this matters to you at all.
However, this may come in handy if you decide to sell a gift: then you can get really into trouble trying to sell a fake. If you sell something given as a gift, check and double-check.

9. Try not to buy cosmetics without boxes.
In stores, in general, all products come in packaging, but cosmetistas, who know the habit of being disappointed in what they have purchased and selling, keep the boxes. Moreover: in the store we open the box we buy, there is an instruction booklet, even if it’s just lipstick. This is exactly what manufacturers of counterfeit products are not bothering with yet.

10. And here's why they don't bother: too many beeches.
Follow the text. On boxes and on inserts. You can mix carmine with talc and package it into blush with almost any formulation. But writing instructions in English, French and Arabic is more difficult. As a rule, the French or German version of the annotation is either missing or shines with such pearls that it is a pity to throw it away. Do you know what the box looks like and the number of, say, shadows? Already reduced the risk by half.

11. Look at the price.
You cannot price a fake as if it were an original: no one will buy it. Understate? Will not reduce the risk of prosecution under the law. Therefore, on average, a fake is something that costs 1/3 of the cost of an original moderately expensive product (up to 2 thousand rubles) and 1/4 or 1/5 of the cost of a fairly expensive product (about 100 USD) Products, cost originals whose price exceeds $300 are extremely rarely counterfeited. This is, so to speak, collectible fakes.

12. Know what is most counterfeited.
The leaders in the number of counterfeits are decorative cosmetics - mascaras, lipsticks, eye shadow palettes, lip glosses, nail polishes. Next are cream powders, followed by compact powders. Pastel colors are less often counterfeited, and bright colors are more often counterfeited. Counterfeits most often contain the so-called. glitter, sequins: they can easily mask the coarser grind of the product than the originals. Among skin care products, face creams are most often counterfeited, and not in jars, but in tubes or dispensers.

I have never seen counterfeit concealers, eyebrow pencils, compact cream powders, fancy eyeliners, or lip balms.

Organic cosmetics are rarely (almost never) counterfeited. The market segment is small, and it is completely saturated with original products. Sisley, Darphin, L"Occitaine, Decleor are (at the moment) relatively safe to buy.
Lsuh to fake it - you also need to be able to do that. With these brands, it is important not to buy a bottle filled with liquid soap by a cunning craftsman.

Well, let's guess which of the two cylinders contains Magrav poured into the more convenient Darphin packaging for 37 rubles?

(on the left, if anything)

Brands distributed through catalogs - Avon, Oriflame, Mary Kay, Yves Rocher - are not counterfeited (for fear that the distributors will track them down and strangle them)

Do not fake the so-called. "pharmacy" brands (Avene, La Roche-Posay, Uriage)

Mineral cosmetics are not counterfeited (at least for now). Apart from Jane Iredale (which not everyone knows), it is too cheap for counterfeit manufacturers to bother duplicating the original.

The “Russian” brands RBR and Illozyur are not counterfeited (yet). However, I'm not sure about the last one.

13. Trust your instincts.
Sense - in the literal sense of the word, smell. There should be no rancid smell in cosmetics or excessive fragrances in the nose. AND instinct, of course, also worth trusting.
It may make a mistake in a couple of cases, but there is no development without mistakes.

And most importantly, keep things simple: these are not sacred relics, not ancient manuscripts, these are not even diamonds. It's just carmine and talc. And plenty of silicone...