The "big brand alternatives" in the live broadcast studio ruined my face!

Ms. Li recently grabbed a bottle of "big brand alternative" essence in a live broadcast studio. The price was only one-third of that in the counter. However, after using it for three days, her face started to become red, swollen and itchy. After testing, this product turned out to be a high imitation, with heavy metal content exceeding the standard by 5 times... Similar stories are happening every day. The purchase of authentic cosmetics is no longer a simple consumption choice, but a safety issue related to health.

Consumers often fall into such cognitive misunderstandings:

• Mystery 1: The Counter is Absolutely Safe — Mr. Zhang once bought a replaced refill that had been swapped at a shopping mall counter. Cases of real bottles with fake creams are not rare.
• Mystery 2: Barcode Verification is Omnipotent — The counterfeiting industry chain has been able to mass-replicate anti-counterfeiting QR codes. Tests by Zhongshitong Laboratory show that 32% of fakes can pass barcode verification.
• Mystery 3: Overseas Purchasing Agents are Worry-free — The "delivery from bonded warehouses" in cross-border e-commerce may also be mixed with parallel imported channel goods, and there are differences in ingredients from the local version.

Establishing a systematic identification system for authentic products is more reliable than relying on a single method:

• Step 1: Check the Channel — Recognize the list of "authorized dealers" on the official website of the brand. The 2023 report of Zhongshitong shows that the fake rate in official authorized channels is only 0.7%.
• Step 2: Look at the Details — The gilding process, batch code embossing, etc. of the authentic product packaging have unique characteristics and need to be compared with the brand's process manual.
• Step 3: Test the Texture — The spreadability of the authentic face cream and the absorption speed of the essence liquid have specific standards. You can ask for samples for comparison.
• Step 4: Verify the Channel — Ask the merchant to provide complete proof of the supply chain such as customs declaration forms and brand direct supply agreements.
• Step 5: Conduct Tests — Conduct component spectral analysis through third-party institutions such as Zhongshitong, and pay particular attention to the content of active ingredients.

With the development of technology, counterfeiting means are also upgrading:

The newly emerging "half-genuine and half-fake" products are filled by mixing diluted genuine products, and ordinary consumers can't distinguish them at all. When purchasing, it is recommended that:

• Avoid choosing "expiring soon special sales" with abnormally low prices.
• Be vigilant against the so-called "goods from internal employee channels".
• When opening a new product, pay attention to observing the sealing state.

When we are complacent about "saving money", we may be paying the price for future skin problems. True smart consumption is to wait for discounts in authentic channels, rather than taking risks to pick up bargains in the fake market. Have you encountered any cosmetics that are difficult to distinguish between genuine and fake recently? Welcome to share your identification experiences in the comment section.