There are numerous makeup “knock off” brands on the market today. These companies sell their products in comparison with big name brands and offer the same quality for half the price. While the majority of these products are safe, there are instances where these companies skip corners in order to offer their high-quality product at a below market average.
According to a recent news investigation, Homeland Security has recently reported that rat droppings are just one of the many ingredients they have found in brand name makeup knock offs. These beauty products claim to offer you the fountain of youth, smell great and make you feel younger -and they are part of a $200 billion industry. The brand name product itself can cost hundreds, while the knock off version is up to 75 percent or less. The Department of Homeland Security reports that these knock off brands are fake and over the past two years they have seen an increase in the number of seizures related to the arsenic and rat droppings found in these products.
The reason the Department of Homeland Security is investigating this problem is because they are in charge of investigating products that enter or leave the country. Most of the knock off makeup products come from China, where quality control measures are very relaxed and not even close to those of the United States or other established countries. Through testing, the DHS has already found products that contain cyanide, arsenic and rat droppings. These are things that no one would want to apply to their face.
Often when a person finds a product for a “steal” they are paying a more precious price – their health. These defective products are sold on popular retail outlets like Amazon. Just a few of the knockoffs that were reported in the news article included MAC makeup, Obagi eye creams, Skin Medica anti-aging serums and the Shu Emura eyelash curler. All of these were offered at discount prices and upon arrival a person could clearly see that they were not the real product.
Consumers must be aware of the products they are buying and most importantly, always buy from an authorized dealer rather than a third party site. When consumers choose to purchase these products from sites like Amazon and other third-party retailers, there is no guarantee they are getting the real product – even if they spend several hundred dollars on it.
Even the ones that are the legitimate product are sold on third party websites after they have expired or they were discarded by the manufacturer due to a known defect. Sometimes they are stolen or found in black markets overseas.
The makers of the real brands have already issued consumer warnings about diluted or counterfeit products.
If you or a loved one was injured by a defective product – whether it turns out to be a knock off or a legitimate product – you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact Berkowitz and Hanna LLC today to schedule a no obligation case evaluation. Contact us online to get started.
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