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THE HSE AND the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) have today issued a warning to watch out for counterfeit “high-end” beauty products in the run up to Christmas.
Tests carried out on some 728 counterfeit and imitation products detained by the HPRA identified harmful substances such as arsenic and lead in them.
Kylie Cosmetics by Kylie Jenner and Urban Decay were among some of the brands seized to contain the dangerous substances.
Kylie Holiday-Burgundy and Bronze eyeshadow palettes, Kylie Matte liquid lipstick and lip liner, and Urban Decay eyeshadow palettes were a few of the specific products detained.
Revenue said it had seized “significant quantities” of counterfeit and imitation cosmetics on the way into the country in recent months. The majority of them were eye shadows or lip products.
The products are being purchased online from websites from outside the EU, and are sold to Irish consumers online and through social media. They have also been seen at trade shows and at markets throughout the country.
Aoife Farrell, cosmetics compliance manager at the HPRA, said: “Prolonged exposure to both of these banned substances can severely damage your health causing potential harm to your brain and kidneys, among other organs. The suppliers of these products are unconcerned about the health of the consumers who purchase them.
We can’t emphasise enough the need for consumers to be vigilant when purchasing cosmetics this Christmas; while they may be sold at a cheaper cost than legitimate beauty products, it is never worth gambling with your health when buying these products.
She added that genuine Kylie Cosmetics products are only sold via the official US website and other high-end cosmetics are usually only available through pharmacies and high street retailers.
Farrell said: “If a product is much cheaper than in a high street store or pharmacy, consumers should be immediately suspicious and think twice before buying the beauty product.”
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I think it’s obvious that the products are fake if you’re buying them from a stand in the city and the price is low. You have no idea of knowing what ingredients are in it.
@Cíara Ní Dee: same as perfume and aftershave. Was walking down Henry street Dublin on Monday and a guy selling perfume at his stall saying it
@Jason Ebbs: .,,it was €60 a bottle in the shops and only €10 from him !!
@Cíara Ní Dee: Is it wrong of me to think it very funny that arsenic and lead were used in Elizabeth 1 times as beauty products? Where would you buy arsenic anyway?
Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA)
Oh look – another quango !
Arsenic to make your lips look like Kylie jenners…i despair
@Alison Maguire: she borrowed the idea from her aul lad
Why anyone would risk their own or someone else’s health by buying knockoff cosmetics off a stall is beyond me. I also don’t understand how they are so clearly available to buy at those Christmas stalls on Henry St.
Slobodan Praljak wears lipstick: Confirmed.
Beauty is poison
Very few of these claims are true most fake stuff is the cheep brands you get in deals relabel. It would not be worth their while profit wise to start adding poisons and chemicals. Even with colour it would more than likely be food colour, were traces come from as in the middle east and far east have different standards.
The only reliable way to end the fakes market is by serializing the original goods and offer the possibility to check the goods to any customer. Solutions such as the one offered by my-validactor are available and cost near to zero.
But aren’t they not also in all Chines products as in cigs as well?
That explains the Kardashian’s bloated faces.
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