Beauty Products

Avoiding Beauty Scams

The beauty and skincare industry is regulated by the FDA ensuring that all products comply with both the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA)

The FDA wants to ensure that what we’re putting on our skin, hair, lips and eyes should meet at least basic standards – and any claims made about a product are backed up by hard facts.

But note products are FDA regulated – not approved.

This means that cosmetics and other beauty products are not approved before being launched, they’re simply regulated once on the market.

And it’s within this gap that beauty scammers operate. From suspect ingredients to false claims, beauty scammers are out to take advantage of our inherent need to look good.

Whether it’s a cheap imported lipstick or counterfeit perfume – a “slimming” cream or “anti-aging” gel, if it looks too good to be true, or offers miracle results that science hasn’t yet matched, you’re putting your health and wallet at risk.

The FTC states “if you are tempted to buy any over-the-counter product that: promises easy weight loss, an effortless increase in muscle mass, or other “too-good-to-be-true” benefits; or touts itself as an “anti-aging” shortcut to health and vitality – exercise doubt”

Can you be sure an imported makeup doesn’t contain dangerous metals like lead? Have cheap perfumes and hair products been fully skin-tested to ensure customer safety?

The risk will literally be on you and your family’s skin if you buy knock-offs and cheap imports.

So how can you protect yourself when buying diet and fitness products?

• Only use legitimate and trusted companies or services, such as those we list above.
• Promises of weight loss, body toning or age-reversal from a cream should make you very suspicious.
• Check that the product complies with the FTC’s health and fitness claims or advertising guides. If not, walk away.
• Check a company’s credentials at the BBB and with your local Chamber of Commerce if they are in-state.
• Read online reviews – is there a pattern of complaints with the company or service concerned?

Remember, our skin is highly absorbant. What we put on it goes into our bodies and can have serious impact on our wellness.