Fake: eBay Listings

Scrawling through eBay, I came across some laughable fakes that I thought I would share with you...

Fake: Benefit BADgal Lash Mascara

With an influx of counterfeit Benefit Cosmetics hitting the shelves, consumers need to be increasingly wary when purchasing products online. One the more popular imitation products currently being sold on sites such as eBay is Benefit's Badgal Mascara.

Fake mascaras are particularly dangerous as the product is applied so closely to the eye. With laboratory tests showing that some fake mascaras contain nail polish remover, paint stripper, lead, and high levels of bacteria, it is important to ensure that you are buying the real thing. Testing of fake Benefit mascara in particular has also found high levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury which can cause infection, itching, burning, and flaking of the skin.

44 Reasons Why Not To Purchase Counterfeit Cosmetics

While reading news stories and blogs about fake makeup I was surprised to find that many beauty lovers were actively choosing to purchase imitation products. Many commenters were saying that the quality of their fake cosmetic was "just as good" as the genuine. I found this a little shocking, so after some research I decided to prepare a list of reasons why this is not good practice. 

1. New York laboratories found some imitation MAC cosmetics contained dangerously high levels of lead which can cause nerve, memory, muscle, kidney, and brain damage.
2. Past testing of counterfeit cosmetics has found dangerously high levels of aluminum which is linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Research conducted by Interpol found that some of the profits made from selling counterfeit cosmetics were used to fund drug smuggling.
4. Imitation eye makeup is particularly dangerous as it can cause eye infections which can irreparably damage the eye.
5. Laboratories have found that some of the dangerous materials contained in imitation cosmetics are strong enough to burn the skin.