Beauty By Daz, Nigeria's most trusted online skincare store, has shared seven essential ways to determine if your skincare products are fake. With the rise of counterfeit items like fake Bioderma and Cosrx products, which became a major issue in 2023, fake skincare has become a widespread problem. Here are the signs to watch for, according to Beauty By Daz.
7 Ways to Know if Your Skincare Is Fake
According to Beauty By Daz, the easiest way to check if your skincare is fake is to compare the price against the usual market rate, inspect the packaging for misspellings or blurry print, verify the batch code on CheckCosmetic.net, scan the QR code on the box, identify any changes in texture or smell, check the safety seal, and watch how your skin reacts after using it. Let's break each one down.
Tip #1: Watch Out for Suspiciously Cheap Prices
Original skincare in Nigeria has price ranges set by the brands. When a vendor offers an unusually cheaper price, the product is almost certainly fake or expired with an altered date. For example, if a vendor sells Bioderma Sensibio H2O for ₦4,000 while most stores sell it for around ₦17,558, do not buy it. Original skincare has costs like manufacturing, shipping, and import duties that make it impossible to sell at half the market rate legitimately.
Tip #2: Inspect the Packaging for Misspellings, Blurry Print, and Crooked Labels
Authentic skincare packaging is refined with crisp, high-resolution printing, clean logo placement, and consistent alignment. Counterfeits often show flaws like blurred text, washed-out ink, awkward spacing, or spelling errors such as 'CareVe' instead of 'CeraVe.' Beauty By Daz notes that minor box dents can happen during delivery and should not immediately raise alarm, but print quality rarely changes regardless.
Tip #3: Check for Missing or Sticker-Applied Batch Codes, Expiry Dates, and NAFDAC Numbers
Verified skincare in Nigeria has a batch code permanently etched into the bottle and box, a printed expiry date (EXP MM/YYYY), a Period After Opening symbol like 12M or 24M, and a NAFDAC number for products sold in Nigeria. You can verify these online at CheckCosmetic.net or CheckFresh. Beauty By Daz sells products sourced from brand-authorised distributors, with sealed packaging and intact codes. Always check for these codes to avoid using a face cream that might harm your skin.
Tip #4: Identify Any Difference in Texture, Colour, or Scent From the Original
Beauty By Daz confidently notes that real skincare formulas do not change between batches unless the brand manufacturer releases a statement. Since Beauty By Daz sources products only from authorised distributors, every product matches the original formula exactly. If a product looks different, smells unusual, or has a changed texture, it is likely fake.
Tip #5: Check for Broken Seals and Flimsy Bottle Construction
Original skincare bottles feel sturdy with well-built caps that snap shut firmly and intact safety seals. Fake bottles often feel flimsy or arrive with seals already broken or missing. Beauty By Daz only sells products that are well sealed, sturdy, and checked before shipping to ensure customers receive original and unopened skincare.
Tip #6: Scan the QR Code; It Should Link to the Brand's Official Site
Original skincare from brands like Bioderma, CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, and most Korean brands has a QR code on the box that scans directly to the brand's official database. Fake products usually have no QR code, a broken one, or one that redirects to a random website. Open your phone camera and scan the code. If it opens the brand's official website with your product's details, it is real. If it leads to a sketchy link or 404 page, stop using the product immediately.
Tip #7: Watch for Sudden Skin Reactions From a Product You've Used Before
This tip is risky but effective. Real skincare from trusted brands is gentle and skin-safe, while counterfeit versions cause burning, redness, breakouts, or stinging on skin that has used the same product safely before. For example, if a product you have used for months, like Skin1004 Madagascar Centella, suddenly causes burning or breakouts, it is probably fake. Beauty By Daz sources directly from authorised brand channels, ensuring consistent quality.
Commonly Faked Skincare Brands in Nigeria
Some skincare brands are counterfeited more often in Nigeria, including Bioderma, CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, The Ordinary, Cosrx, Anua, Beauty of Joseon, and Skin1004. These are in high demand and cost more. Beauty By Daz gets every product straight from the manufacturer or authorised distributor, checking each shipment against the brand's batch code system before reaching customers. When you order a Bioderma Sensibio H2O from Beauty By Daz, you get the exact bottle made in France.
Final Thoughts: What to Do if You Think Your Skincare Is Fake
If you suspect your skincare is fake, stop using it immediately. Counterfeit skincare can damage your skin barrier, cause infections, trigger long-term dark spots, and undo years of progress. Taking five minutes to run these seven checks could save you thousands of naira and months of skin repair. Shopping from original and verified stores like Beauty By Daz saves you time because they already perform these checks before stocking products. Visit them online at beautybydaz.com or walk into 175 Ogudu Road, Ogudu City Mall, Lagos.
