10 Aug 2022
Beauty Brands, Home Care Brands
August 10, 2022

5 Ways to Avoid Purchasing Counterfeit Home & Beauty Products

There are varying factors that continue to feed the black market, and it’s important to be cautious when shopping for products.

The counterfeit market tends to show up in most industries and this does not exclude the beauty and home industries. Knock-off products have become commonplace across Africa alongside the use of dangerous and illegal chemicals for skin-lightening products. Read our article on the very issue of skin-lightening products.

 

 

Home and cosmetic products aren’t entirely immune to the creation of knock-offs by people looking for a quick buck. Unfortunately, due to the high demand for make-up on a budget consumers often buy fake products (knowingly) for the sake of saving a buck. These items have been found to contain very harmful ingredients such as cyanide, arsenic, rat poison, and urine. However, some people can’t tell the difference between an original product and a counterfeit.

Here are 5 ways to avoid counterfeit products:

  1. Purchase beauty and home products from a trusted retailer or directly from the producers.
  2. If you’re buying from an alternative marketplace, check the label! Usually, counterfeits have various types of inconsistencies such as spelling or different labels from the original
  3. If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is! Avoid buying cheap products as they’re either counterfeits or close to expiry
  4. Accommodate your budget by shopping for cheaper/store brand products, or shop directly online.
  5. If you’re used to the product, be sure to be mindful of the texture, consistency, effectiveness, etc. to ensure it’s the real deal!

As the Africa Home & Beauty Cluster, we aim to educate consumers on the importance of shopping ethically! The businesses in the cluster can also benefit from the organization through our workshops and training programs to ensure that an emerging business is to include viable ingredients in their products. The AB&H Cluster aims to grow this thriving community of beauty and home products passed down from one generation to the next. The platform will grow into a reservoir of resources and knowledge, and a tool of empowerment for African brands to craft successful strategies in penetrating a high-potential yet saturated market. With the key players located across Sub-Saharan Africa, The AB&H Cluster is well-positioned to propel and empower emerging brands.

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