Why buying skincare products from third-party websites is dangerous
Whether or not you’ve seen the movie Forrest Gump, you’ve probably heard the quote, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” That analogy is great for a lot of life’s unknowns. But, unfortunately, it also applies to ordering skincare products or really any products from unauthorized reseller websites: You never know what you’re going to get.
It’s happened to all of us: You purchase something online and when your item arrives, it looks nothing like the photo you saw you online — or, at least, it’s not made out of the same material or doesn’t match some part of the online description. While it’s annoying when it happens with clothing or a random household item, it can be downright dangerous when we’re talking about skincare products.
When you purchase a product from a third-party website like Amazon or eBay, there’s not the same kind of oversight you see with big beauty brands or in-person beauty shops, medical spas or dermatology offices. Due to this lack of oversight, it’s hard to tell what kind of quality the products you receive are going to be in. Skincare companies cannot guarantee the product quality or authenticity of products sold on third-party websites. As a result, the products may be diluted, expired, or counterfeit, and may not be safe to use or perform as expected.
Over the past few years, it’s become common for customers to receive counterfeit products of their favorite beauty brands when ordering from these websites. And when you’re talking about a product to apply to your body, this can have serious consequences: From painful rashes to infections or even permanent skin damage.
Lipsticks, eye shadows, and moisturizers — if the price is too good to be true, it usually is.
“These fake either make up products or skincare products can have urine, human feces, animal feces, arsenic, lead, mercury,” said Dr. Daniella Fisher, an anesthesiologist.
These harmful ingredients can lead to chemical burns, bacterial infections, and sometimes worse. You may think you’d be able to spot a fake anywhere, but these dupes have been found to have strikingly similar packaging and texture.
These counterfeit products can cause reactions that could land you in the hospital — and cost thousands in medical treatment.
Even when an item isn’t a fake, you risk receiving an item that’s been improperly stored or otherwise damaged. Storage conditions might not seem like a big deal, but certain skincare products require climate control or other special, patented delivery methods to remain effective. Another issue is when resellers buy items in bulk, but don’t sell them fast enough — so they end up selling items past or very near their expiration dates at a huge discount to offload the products.
When you purchase from an actual medical account who orders products weekly or bi-weekly, you can be sure you are getting the freshest product from the manufacturer — and products that are properly stored and sealed.
If your dermatologist is suggesting medical-grade skincare products, then you have to be even more careful about where you order these products from. Medical grade skincare products are prescription products, and therefore should not be sold on unauthorized reseller websites. Think of it like buying actual prescription medications: You want to buy from an authorized pharmacy, whether that’s online or in person.
So how can you protect yourself if you do need to buy skincare products online rather than in person?
Stick to buying from the manufacturer, like purchasing LUMEN skincare products from the LUMEN website, or from authorized retailers and distributors. If you’re buying medical-grade skincare products, you should always buy from an authorized seller: such as a dermatology office, medical spa or other skincare professional.
LUX ~ A Medical Spa is an authorized seller run by a licensed dermatologist and a plastic surgeon. You can shop your favorite skincare products — including medical-grade skincare — on our website.