he beauty industry is a colossal business, shaped by beauty influencers who significantly impact consumer choices and brand visibiltiy. Previously, consumers relied on major brands, but social media has given rise to a focus on ethical standards within the beauty industry, with consumers increasingly favoring brands that avoid animal testing, ensure fair wages, and maintain safe working environments.

Social media platforms have their advantages. Platforms like YouTube and Instagram, for example, allow us to follow beauty influencers who promote safer products for ourselves and the environment. This trend has spawned exciting new, inde-pendent beauty brands.

For those interested in learning more, the Netflix documentary Broken delves into the multi-billion dollar beauty business. According to Broken, the beauty industry is valued at a staggering 445 billion dollars and is projected to reach 800 billion dollars within the next five years. This growth can be partly attributed to the rise of of social media and countless individuals who started creating makeup tutorials and amassed millions of followers.

However, this social media influence has also led to some issues.

As consumers demanded animal-free, non-toxic beauty products, a wave of independent beauty brands emerged, often with intelligent marketing cam-paigns and unique color palettes. ColorPop is a prime example – they’re so adept at leveraging influencer partnerships that they can seemingly create any product a customer desires. Another facet of this phenomenon is the ‘Kylie Jenner market’, where products often sell out within an hour of launch.

There’s no single culprit to blame. Just like other counterfeit goods, fake beauty products primarily originate in China.

Because genuine products frequently sell out quickly, esp-ecially online, there’s a market for these imitations.

The packaging quality has even improved significantly, making it difficult to distinguish between real Jenner products and their counterfeit counterparts.

Regardless of origin (and it’s not limited to China), these counterfeit products are the antithesis of beauty products. They’re often manufactured in filthy labs and have tested positive for carcinogens, animal feces, and even rat droppings. Shockingly, these fakes are also sold online, not just on shady websites, but even on prominent platforms like Amazon, which earn a commision on every sale.

So, what’s the solution? Our culture undeniably places a high premium on beauty. Perhaps the safest option is to purchase products directly from the brands’ official websites.

Alternatively, you can skip the purchase altogether. After all, who wants to risk applying a lip color that ends up acting like superglue?

In the end, being cautious and informed about where you buy your beauty products can help you avoid dangers associated with counterfeit items and ensure you are supporting ethical practices in the industry.