Kiehl’s is a high-end American cosmetics brand retailer that can be found in malls around the world. The company specializes in skin, hair, and body care products. It started as a single pharmacy in Manhattan at Third Avenue and East 13th Street in 1851. Kiehl’s was purchased by the L’Oréal Group in 2000 and has 65 stores in the United States and 400 stores worldwide as of 2015, with over 1,000 points of sale supplemented by sales in high-end department stores, select airport locations, as well as independent stockists.
In contrast to its market competitors, Kiehl’s is distinguished for its unorthodox marketing approach, exceptionally large male clientele base, and its products’ simple and straightforward packaging.
How To Spot Fake Kiehl’s Products
Gone are the days when you pick up a beauty product and you know for sure you are holding the real thing. The market these days is saturated with imitations and fake products, and it’s quite probable that you too might have been duped at some point of time or the other by a product that appeared convincingly authentic. Fake products can be harmful to your skin as they are often made using relatively harsher chemicals, ingredients of a cheaper quality and haven’t passed any quality control measures.
The spread of fake or counterfeit beauty has become so problematic that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security launched a division called Operation Plastic Beauty, designed specifically to prevent its expansion. The results of one investigation revealed that 20 of 47 products purchased from third-party sellers were counterfeit. In each case, the seller had a customer rating of at least 90 percent, instilling misplaced trust that can hurt the end consumer.
Many knockoff goods contain beyond-harmful ingredients like cyanide, arsenic, rat poison, urine, and lead that definitely shouldn’t be in your household, much less your beauty product. Consumers need to be suspicious of counterfeits, and to shop only at brand-approved retailers. Here are few tips to help you avoid fake fake kiehl’s products;
Note the Pricing of Kiehl’s Products
Of course, you should always buy your products from one of the brand’s licensed retailers. If the sale is a little too good to be true, however, it probably is. Most brands including kiehl’s regulate pricing on their products, meaning a low priced kiehl’s product likely isn’t the real deal. Also, knockoff products are often sold in bulk, so be wary before buying.
Check the Label of the Kiehl’s Product
Counterfeit Kiehl’s products will often have uneven fonts, misspelled words, inconsistent patterns, and incorrect shade names printed on the label and leaflets, so make sure to cross-check the item with the one on the brand’s official website. If your product features a “peel-to-reveal” stickers, which can be peeled back to show the full ingredient list, that’s a sign it’s genuine.
Pay Attention to the Kiehl’s Product Packaging
If you previously purchased a Kiehl’s product, line the items up side-by-side to compare their exteriors. Fake products are housed in lower-quality plastic or metal casings, often paired with ill-fitting mirrors and sponge-tipped applicators. The name of the shade should be printed on a sticker as opposed to the box. Products that don’t quite fit into the box as they should, as well as boxes with exposed pieces of cardboard, are other indicators that you may have picked up a phony.
Swatch the Color Before Using
Just like low-quality packaging, a seemingly cheaper formula is a telltale sign of a counterfeit Kiehl’s cosmetic. Fake Kiehl’s products typically have a chalkier or thinner consistency than the real counterparts. Then, take a whiff of the product. Unless they’re unscented, many genuine products will have a signature fragrance for example, the pleasing signature aura and fragrance of Kiehl’s Musk Eau De Toilette Spray. At the very least, beauty products should smell like it should, so toss any items that have overly-chemical notes, as well as perfumes with off-color liquid or medicinal-scented elements.
Be Mindful Where You’re Shopping for Kiehl’s products
Some third-party sites sometimes get authorizations to sell specific brands, but if the listing seems unusual (the price is strangely low, the packaging is unusual, or you’re just not sure), go with your gut and stick to a different retailer. Instead, go to department stores or directly from the brands’ own websites. Payments through PayPal or American Express also protect the consumers in case of fraudulent transactions. SEE: How To Spot Fake Shea Moisture Products
