The police want YouTubers and influencers to stop using fake makeup in their videos.
While it may be cheap, the authorities say using bootleg cosmetics can have some serious consequences.
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If you’re a beauty lover who regularly watches YouTube tutorials, you probably know how expensive things can get.
The price for just an eyeshadow palette can cost you anywhere between $20 and $200.
Influencers are typically privileged in the sense that they often get paid to review makeup products or receive makeup samples from publicists for free.
Since not everyone can afford to spend that much on cosmetics, people have been getting creative.
Some of the biggest beauty YouTubers have started doing videos where they buy fake or copycat makeup and compare them to the real thing.
Everyone from Jeffree Star to Mia Maples and James Charles have videos using fake makeup with each racking up millions of views.
Now the authorities are begging influencers to stop.
The City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) in the UK, marked Anti-Counterfeiting Day by speaking about this issue.
According to the Independent , the police said, “We’re concerned that popular YouTube stars are using counterfeit make up in their tutorial videos.”
Their main reason for concern? It can cause some serious medical complications.
“This not only puts them at risk of infections, rashes and burns, it could also encourage their followers to use the same harmful products,” they said.
In the UK, they estimate that consumers spend at least £90 million a year on fake goods.
Some YouTubers have even filmed the effects of using fake makeup on their skin.
Beauty vlogger Sarah Tanya posted her review of a fake Kylie Cosmetics eyeshadow palette that she found online for $6.
At first, the eyeshadow looks fairly good on her lids and does a good job of mimicking the real thing. However, by the middle point of the video, Sarah reveals that the fake makeup ended up giving her a nasty eye infection.
Most of the brands people buy fake versions of are highly-popular brands like MAC, Benefit and Kylie Cosmetics.
In 2016, Kylie Jenner spoke on the issue when fans told her they had been purchasing makeup from fake websites.
“I’ve come across this website called kyliecosmeticsoutlet.com. It looks exactly like mine, but it’s not,” she said. “I want to be really, really clear and let you guys know that the only place to get my products is kyliecosmetics.com. Everywhere else is fake. Make sure you guys check the URL because these other websites are selling fake product. It might look exactly like mine, but it’s not mine.”
She then said,
“The ingredients that they’re using in these fake products are also really, really dangerous which is my biggest concern.
“Check my Twitter, I just re-posted a video of this girl who got a fake Kylie Lip Kit and her lips are literally stuck together like glue. This is getting so out of hand, people, please please please don’t trust any other website.”
Thanks to online shopping and the internet, they say the rates of counterfeit purchasing is only increasing.
As a result, the PIPCU has officially announced an awareness campaign since the increase in fakes.
The “Wake up – don’t fake up!” campaign is aiming to teach people about the dangers of buying counterfeit goods and offers advice on how to avoid accidentally purchasing items from fake websites
Have you ever purchased fake makeup online?
Let us know in the comments what your experience was like.
Otherwise, remember to stay safe out there folks and don’t put strange things on your face!
