As cut-price counterfeit cosmetics and perfumes — marketed as “dupes” — flood the market, consumers are being put at risk, warn industry groups FEBEA (Fédération des entreprises de la beauté) in France and the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) in the United States.
In the U.S., PCPC, the nation’s leading trade association for the cosmetics and personal care products industry, launched a public awareness campaign titled “Buy No Lie”.
“Counterfeit beauty products threaten our industry’s reputation, but more importantly, they endanger consumers and devalue the billions invested in research, safety and innovation,” said PCPC President and CEO, Tom Myers.
FEBEA echoes this concern, warning that counterfeit products pose “a danger to public health.” Unchecked and non-compliant by definition, these items “expose consumers to uncontrolled risks,” the French federation stresses.
Speaking to the Guardian in July, EU justice and consumer protection commissioner Michael McGrath has expressed shock at the toxicity and dangers of some goods being sold by Shein, Temu, and AliExpress, amid a crackdown on the popular Chinese retail platforms.
Several million low-value parcels enter the European Union each day from online retailers located outside the bloc. Among the non-compliant goods found on these platforms, a recent European Parliament report flagged cosmetic products containing butylphenyl methylpropional, or Lilial — which is classified by the EU as a substance of “very high concern” and banned from cosmetics since 2022 due to risks to fertility and fetal development.
“I am shocked by it, and I think we have a duty to protect European consumers,” McGrath told the Guardian.
“Fake products can expose consumers to potentially harmful substances and undermine consumer confidence in the legitimate beauty industry,” the PCPC warned.
Promoted as attractive bargains, these products draw in both younger consumers, who are often unaware of the dangers, and even seasoned shoppers, both ending up “victims of cleverly concealed deceptions,” according to FEBEA.
According to the PCPC, cosmetics and fragrances rank in the top eight categories of most frequently seized products by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other law enforcement agencies.
On both sides of the Atlantic, beauty industry representatives say that informing consumers about the health risks and economic damage linked to counterfeits is essential to tackling this rapidly growing phenomenon.
“The holiday season is a pivotal period for our industry. We encourage everyone to choose safe, verified, and compliant products (…), distributed through approved channels. Thanks to the expertise and innovation of our companies, consumers can offer cosmetic gifts with total confidence. This year, let’s keep the dupes away from the Christmas tree,” concluded Emmanuel Guichard, General Delegate of FEBEA.
