The experts from SkinCeuticals are here to stress the importance of purchasing beauty products from 100% authorized resellers like LovelySkin.com.

Everyone loves a bargain, but when a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is. This applies to shopping for skin care as well. You get what you pay for when you purchase SkinCeuticals’ award-winning products—so long as you buy them from an authorized retailer such as LovelySkin.com, which is under the direction of Board-Certified Dermatologist, Joel Schlessinger, MD. But, if you don’t, you and your skin may pay a different kind of price.

Counterfeiting is a major issue in the skin care world, and it can be almost impossible to tell the difference between a fake and the real thing. From ingredients and their concentrations to manufacturing and storage practices, there’s no way to know what’s actually in a counterfeit bottle or where it’s been. Yet, one thing is certain: counterfeit skin care products are unsafe to use. They can lead to a variety of consequences, and the risks include allergic reactions, infections, rashes, redness and even unexpected side effects after professional, office-based treatments.

Personal care products, including skin care and cosmetics, are among the top types of products seized by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents. They may be old bottles refilled with cheap imitation creams or bottles made to look like their real counterparts filled with imitation product.

Getting counterfeit products aren’t the only risk you take when purchasing from unauthorized retailers. Counterfeit websites often reduce prices on expired products and remove the expiration date from the package. It is also important to remember that many ingredients, including vitamin C and retinol, degrade when exposed to air, sun and heat. Over time, using them can have a detrimental effect on the skin.

Illegal or toxic ingredients can find their way into counterfeit products as well. Mercury, arsenic, lead, other harmful toxins, allergy-inducing fragrances and preservatives not approved for use in the United States have all been found in counterfeit products.

Red flags when purchasing products from an unauthorized retailer:

• The packaging differs ever-so-slightly from the authentic brand or just might look a little bit off (e.g. it might have a different color or lettering on the product).
• Prices are lower than those at authorized retailers.
• The product’s texture feels or looks different than the authentic version.

Remember, even some commonly known websites are not authorized retailers.

You do get what you pay for when you purchase authentic SkinCeuticals skin care products. Our extensive research, clinical studies, medical-grade ingredient quality, stringent formulation practices and utmost quality control are all factored into our pricing, and these factors contribute to skin improvement you can see and feel.

Still not sure if you’re purchasing SkinCeuticals products from an authorized retailer, either in person or online? Your skin deserves safe, effective formulations, so it’s important to ensure your products are authentic and of the best quality, which LovelySkin.com provides.