Risk with Purchasing Skin Care Products from Online Marketplaces Vs Local Esthetician
Suzy uses Image products she gets from her esthetician. While searching the internet, she found the same lightening serum for half price. She thinks to herself, "Wow, my esthetician has been charging way too much. From now on, I'm buying my products on the internet." Fast forward two months. Suzy has been using her lightening serum, but it isn't working. She doesn't know why. What Suzy doesn't know is, according to the Customs and Border Patrol, personal care products, to include cosmetics and fragrances, are in the top three categories of counterfeit items seized by customs in 2019.
Today, counterfeiters and unauthorized retailers are not as apparent because they blend in on reputable marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. Lower prices are often a dead giveaway, but many charge regular price, which can make them seem more convincing. While our federal government and the marketplaces mentioned above have rules and regulations, counterfeiters and unauthorized retailers often slip through the cracks.
What is the Downside of Purchasing Skincare Products from Counterfeiters and Unauthorized Retailers?
According to Customs and Border Patrol, "Counterfeiters don't care about your well-being. They want to make a profit. Many counterfeit products are low-quality and can cause injuries". While the products may look real, there have been cases where products included ingredients like arsenic, mercury, and have even had traces of fat feces. For example, in 2019, a lady was placed in a coma after using a counterfeit that was tainted with mercury.
Unauthorized retailers are slightly different from counterfeiters because they may have a legitimate product, but there is a twist. They often procure the product via theft, dumpster diving, or an unauthorized seller. As a result, you are at risk for receiving poor-quality products due to dilution, expiration or improper storage. Dilution, expiration, and extreme heat and cold degrade active ingredients like lighteners, retinol, benzoyl peroxide, peptides, and vitamin C – making them worthless.
What are the Benefits of Purchasing Skin Care Products Directly from Your Local Esthetician?
Your local esthetician/authorized retailers have a reputation to uphold, which means we do everything in our power to ensure you receive quality and safe products.
You are guaranteed authenticity and safety. Skincare brands only guarantee products purchased from authorized retailers. Want to confirm if your provider is an authorized retailer? Most brands have a "find your nearest retailer" option listed on their website.
A skincare consultation will benefit your skin in ways the internet can't. Our corrective skincare specialist will educate you on your skin condition and will only recommend products to help achieve your skincare goals. Not only are you getting quality products, but you are not wasting money on products that are not a good fit for you.
Protect yourself from counterfeit, diluted, and harmful products by choosing an authorized skincare retailer like Brow to Toe Waxing and Skin Care Studio in Hampstead, NC. We offer both in-person and virtual consultations to discover more about your skin type, condition, and goals which will ultimately ensure you only invest in quality and results-driven products.