Counterfeit cosmetics: seven signs that never lie

People repeat that a suspiciously cheap product is a fake. True — but the reverse is false: the most profitable counterfeits are sold at the normal price, precisely so nothing looks odd.

A sensible price is therefore not a guarantee. Traceability is: knowing where the batch came from, and being able to trace it back to a distributor.

• Batch number: it must match on the box and the bottle, cleanly printed or embossed, never stuck on afterwards.
• Typography: fakes give themselves away on accents, the ® symbol and the small-print legal text.
• Texture and smell: a genuine serum is consistent from batch to batch. An unusual alcoholic smell is a warning.
• Tamper seals: film, band, safety tab — a missing or badly cut one is a strong signal.

Comparing against a unit you are sure of remains the most reliable method: always keep one reference item.

A fake serum is not merely ineffective. Analyses of counterfeits regularly find banned preservatives, uncontrolled acid concentrations or microbial contamination. On compromised skin that means burns and reactions.

For a reseller the problem is twofold: the harm to the customer, and the liability that traces back to the shop that sold it. Buying through an identified channel costs a little more and avoids exactly that.