How to Spot Authentic Beauty Products (and Why We Guarantee Ours)

Counterfeit beauty products are a real, growing problem — not just a "cheaper knockoff" issue, but a genuine safety one. Here's what to actually check before you buy, wherever you're buying from.

Price is the first red flag

According to the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, a UK trade body, a price that's dramatically below the normal retail range for a known brand is one of the most reliable early warning signs of a counterfeit — genuine skincare and cosmetics rarely see discounts anywhere near 40-70% off outside an actual clearance event.

Check the product itself, not just the box

Local UK authorities, including Kent County Council, have found that counterfeit cosmetics can contain unsafe levels of contaminants, including heavy metals, that don't belong in skincare at all. Practically, that means texture, scent, and consistency matter: an unusual chemical smell, a texture that doesn't match what you remember from the same product before, or inconsistent color between batches are all worth taking seriously rather than shrugging off.

Where you buy matters as much as what you buy

Buying through unofficial third-party marketplace sellers or social media shops carries meaningfully more counterfeit risk than buying from an authorized retailer, simply because there's no accountability chain back to the actual brand. That's the actual reason authenticity guarantees from a retailer matter — not marketing language, but a real, checkable sourcing chain.

What we do differently

Every product listed on Lush Locks & Skin is sourced through authorized channels, which is why you'll see the same trusted names across our catalog — OGX, CeraVe, The Ordinary, Neutrogena, Bioderma, Aveeno — rather than unfamiliar off-brand alternatives at suspiciously low prices. If something ever feels off about a product you've received, reach out through our contact page and we'll sort it out directly.

The short version

Be skeptical of prices that seem too good to be true, pay attention to how a product actually looks and feels compared to what you expect, and buy from sellers who can actually stand behind what they're selling. That's the real protection — not a single trick or checklist item.

Browse our full, authenticity-guaranteed range in Shop, and follow us on Facebook for updates.