Amazon: Counterfeit Cosmetic Danger

I had a client come in having purchased her lash enhancing serum off AMAZON at a significant discount from MSRP. Her lashes fell out in clumps, she trusted Amazon for her purchase and received a counterfeit. PLEASE BEWARE!

This incident could have been far worse; the lash product had the potential to permanently damaged her vision. Currently, we are unaware if her lashes will grow back due to damage of the hair follicle, but we are hopeful for a full recovery in 3-6 months.

It's scary out there. This is the 3rd incident I have personally witnessed in the past 18 months. In January of 2014, the FBI put out a warning.

"Government and industry studies and testing have discovered that some of the ingredients that make up counterfeit cosmetics and fragrances are downright dangerous:
Phony cosmetics often contain things such as arsenic, beryllium, and cadmium (all known carcinogens) along with high levels of aluminum and dangerous levels of bacteria. Some of these products have caused conditions like acne, psoriasis, rashes, and eye infections.
Counterfeit fragrances have been found to contain something called DEHP, classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a probable human carcinogen. These phony perfumes and colognes, which sometimes contain urine as well, have been known to cause serious skin rashes." -www.fbi.gov

Currently, I am trying to build an online retail site so that you can get your products directly from me. I am an authorized dealer and get my products directly from the manufacturer. Until I started this process, I had no idea how difficult it was to get the rights to sell online even on a private site (some brands won't allow it at all, and other companies are asking for loads of legal documents). It's not that they are being difficult, it's because they are trying to protect you, the consumer, from diversion.

"Product diversion is when products that are meant for exclusive distribution at a specific retailer end up on the shelves of unintended or "unauthorized" places - a grocery store, drugstore, retail chains, various online websites, etc.

Have you ever wondered why there are labels on products that may say something like: "Genuine products are only guaranteed when sold in licensed salons and spas?" Diversion is very common when it comes to hair care products and is definitely on the rise for skin care, too. Just take a walk down the beauty aisle of one of the big box stores and you will undoubtedly see some typical salon professional hair care product brand, such as Paul Mitchell, Redken, Matrix and Big Sexy.

What Does Diversion Mean to You?
Diverted products are obtained through what's known as the "gray" market. It may look the same, smell the same, feel the same and have almost identical packaging - but is it the same?
Diverted skin and hair care products can be counterfeit, old, diluted or contain harmful bacteria. Many times they are expired products that have been sitting in non-climate controlled warehouses. These products may not be safe to use and could cause irritation or infection.
Products purchased from an "unauthorized" retailer are NOT guaranteed by the manufacturer to be authentic and perform as tested. Often, the prices are even higher than when purchased from a salon, spa or medical facility." -UW Health

PLEASE PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY. I love using Amazon Prime too. Make sure you are purchasing authentic goods from a reputable retailer. Remember if Amazon is shipping the product doesn't necessarily mean they are also the seller. On sites like Amazon and eBay, use caution if it is used on the skin, eyes or ingested. It's just not worth the risk.

Here are several other articles if you wish to continue your research.
CBS News
CNBC
The Daily Dot