How to Spot Fake Cosmetics- Nars, MAC, Bobbi Brown

With so many of our IMBB members ordering online or asking friends abroad to buy cosmetics for them, I think it’s an opportune time for this post. Also, when an online seller (on eBay or otherwise) gives you a ‘good deal’ or a ‘steal’ by offering branded cosmetics for cheap it is time to be wary. I know for a fact that many big cosmetics companies do not offer discount, no matter what. Still there are hoards of online sellers selling branded cosmetics at low prices. It is better to learn than to regret. So here is it folks, my research on how to spot fake cosmetics. I will post one by one and, as always, keep on updating this post everytime I find something new. If any other IMBB member has something helpful to offer on fake cosmetics, please go ahead and do so. I shall include the info in this post. Ok, lets start:

How to Spot Fake NARS Cosmetics

  • Nars does not make three pan palettes. (Although I just saw trio palettes on Nars website)
  • Nars never writes their name on their products.
  • Be careful for different names on the duos you purchase as well as numbers on the back in circles. Please make sure that the seller gives a name to the duos. ALL duos have names, not numbers. If they can’t give you a name or there isn’t one in their auction, beware. This auction didn’t have a name to any of their duos listed.
  • Also, go to a site that sells nars such as sephora.com or narscosmetics.com and do research on the color you are buying. I have seen colors on here that nars doesn’t even make. If you find  a bohemian gold duo here on Ebay, make sure that the color of the duo you want to purchase is the same as on the sephora or the nars website.


Well, one more

How to Spot Fake MAC Cosmetics

An interesting post was written by Ami on fake/ duplicate MAC Cosmetics and a very detailed must-read post was written by accidental beauty on the subject. All you MAC lovers please go through these posts.

Some more…

How to Spot Fake Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

Info taken from eBay Guide.

  • Genuine Bobbi Brown palettes always have proper B.B. brushes with their logo! Fake palettes have these plain black, cheap sponge applicators.
  • Authentic B.Brown palettes always have proper names on the box such as surf & sand, pink raspberry & mauve face. The fake palettes DON’T have these names just some madeup title such as 12 colours eyeshadow palette or Eyeshadows Palette 12colour shimmer 02!
  • Authentic B.B palettes, will always have on the back of the box proper names of the shades such as bare, nude, buff, cocoa.. Fakes will have :brown, gold, copper etc you get my meaning! Always ask the seller prior to bidding about the EXACT names of these shades!
  • the box of the product says it is made in Italy but the label on the actual product says it is made in Canada.
  • The label on the product says the name of the product is Long-Wear Cream Shadow whereas on the box it says Fluidline Eye Liner Gel.
  • The label on the product says the color is BURNISHED but when I checked on bobbi brown official website, ‘Burnished’ is a bronzed brown color instead of Black.

And one more…

In retrospect, it is much better to buy branded cosmetics from their respective stores instead of from online sellers. Buy only those products online which are the brands of seller itself. If you do not have access to these stores, ask your friends who do. In the long run, the online sellers of fake cosmetics would also start producing exact replica of genuine products (except for product quality) and it would be hard for you to distinguish the real products from the fake ones. Better buy products from the branded stores only.

Also Read:

Fake Tan: How to Avoid Orange, Yellow and Green
Fake / Duplicate MAC Products – Beware!

IMBB RECOMMENDS

40 thoughts on “How to Spot Fake Cosmetics- Nars, MAC, Bobbi Brown

  1. I only buy from reputed stores or original stores…..if spending so much money on brand cosmetics, its better to go look, test and then buy…..Most of these brands give upto 30 days for returning or exchanging with some other color/product if you are not satisfied with the purchase. I always keep the receipt for 30 days. Also I think fake cosmetics also may have harmful toxic ingredients, may give you skin allergy or can be manufactured in unhygenic places. Why take this chance? If its too good to be true, then may be it is.

  2. I know- In VT mumbai (now CST) I was sold a fake MAC fluidline. at that time I was desperately searching for blacktrack and cudnt find it anywhere so was desperate. he even had MAC shadows and palettes and lippies. thank god I was done shopping and was low on cash so could only buy lip liners and the fluidline. ghar aake I did a little RnD and found that the dibbi ka shape was different and when I applied the liner it was all smudgy and didnt stay at all- must be some gharelu wax thingy.
    thank god it didnt harm my eyes: I had taken it for 399 or so. I even made my cousin buy it.. hehe
    it didnt harm but it was totally useless.
    and as usual the guy disappeared wen we went there next.

  3. i too saw a fake MAC compact at one of the beauty shops. I asked the SA if this was a fake and she openly admitted to it. She said the customers ask for it. And the fake one was for 450 bucks…. much more than genuine lakme/lotus/colourbar compacts….!

  4. I once saw whole of MAC products at a small cosmetics shop in Panjim, Goa. Its a shop where you get bindies, bangles. And they also sell lakme and revlon products. I was shocked to c the MAC products and asked the price of a foundation. He told me its 180 Rs. I was double shocked. Although i never used any MAC Stuff but i know their price range. So i asked the same to him. Just see how he answered confidently. He said ‘its their other range in less price for people who cant afford those other costly products’. My mouth was toh just shut. Did not know what to speak. I never went der again as i am doubt abt their lakme and revlon products too.

    1. R u sure its orgasmic… :vampire: :vampire: :vampire: :vampire: :vampire: :vampire: :vampire: :vampire: :vampire: :vampire: :vampire: :vampire: :vampire: :vampire: :$ :quiet: :quiet: :quiet: :quiet: :quiet: :quiet: :quiet: :quiet: :quiet: :quiet: :quiet: :quiet: :lol2:

        1. hehehe me tooo love that blush on u :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: …i searched for a bakra to get that to me :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: …but cudnt find any…Talaash jaari hai… 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐

            1. Yup she was there for 2 months…but she was stayin at sum god foresaken place that didnt have NARS…got my fill of Burts bees though.. :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin:

  5. 😯 😯 😯 😯 dint know abt all this at all…! about nars and all!!!!
    i havnt done online shopping yet.. but i will always keep this in mind and refer to htis post!!! :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble:

    thankyou sooo much … that very thoughtfull of you sanjeev… :)) :))

  6. We have an entire shopping mall in surat dedicated to Fake MAC,Revlon and VOV products :sweat: :sweat: :sweat: :sweat: :sweat: ..i to am tooo afraid to buy any lakme or elle 18 also frm there…. :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble:

      1. Nopes..and the place is filled with ladies all the time…i thnk most of them dnt even realise that it is fake… 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 But yes that place is awesum for accessories :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin:

  7. some tips i found online
    MAC has never made a 12 color cream eye shadow palette
    MAC doesn’t have a 120 color palette
    Has never released a Hello Kitty eyeliner or mascara or SINGLE Hello Kitty eyeshadows
    No Kim Kardashian collection
    No Goldmine PIGMENT
    Single MAC eyeshadow pots DO NOT have a “basement” that houses brushes or brush-tip applicators with a mirror
    Authentic MAC eyeshadow pans have a FLAT bottom
    Real MAC eyeshadow cases do NOT have a raised edges
    hope this was helpful, especially when buying from ebay :heart:

  8. hi, do you know how we can spot on fake Bare Minerals (bare escentuals) foundations? I have seen may fake bare minerals foundations that are sold for $5 from China! and when you ask them, Chinese people say that they are not authentic.. but now how can I trust sellers on ebay? maybe they bought from China for $5 and selling for $20? if you have any information, you will help me much 😉
    thank you :thanks:

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