Big name skincare products on ebay - are they genuine?

lovemoneysaving

Hi members, i'm very new but i have to say i'm glued here :rotfl:

I wanted to buy some nice skincare products eg CLINIQUE/DIOR/LANCOME/ESTEE LAUDER and searched on ebay. There're lots of cosmetic shops selling 'cheap' but big named products. I'm just very cautious as you put them on your face/body, I don't want to end up with a big rash or something... I'm just wondering if they are genuine / how people can sell them at such low prices?

Any idea will be very welcome!! Thanks

Lilmissskint

I have bought some items from e-bay and they have been fine. But I did buy a Lancome Juicy Tube and it was obviously fake. I find from my experience that if you buy from a private seller who is just selling one or two cosmetics the items are usually genuine, but from shops it can be anyones guess.

pinkfluffybabe

Would agree with lilmissskint - I have had some fine items and some that are clearly fake.

Individual sellers selling a couple of things are likely to be people having a clear out of unwanted gifts and spur of the moment purchases. The people with shops are on there to make a profit, so you need to think if a £30 face cream selling for £10 is really the good deal it first appears to be, or if it is simply not the real thing.

Having said that, I've never had any rashes or ill effects - maybe I'm just lucky! I have heard that perfume buying on ebay is best avoided though.

windswept

It's pretty obvious, if the prices are way too cheap, it's normally fake, if the seller is a business with good feedback and a regular customer base, the stuff should be fine and genuine.
I speak to quite a few sellers on the ebay business board, it's easy to suss out the genuine ones. look for caspian cats for fragrances, she also has a website - the inscents outlet.
I would disagree about buying from shops, if they are registered as a business, they are more likely to have simply bought in bulk and of course they are trying to make a profit!
I wouldn't buy from a private seller myself, just how many "unwanted gifts" can some people have? Also businesses have a lot more to lose under the vero scheme.

lovemoneysaving

thank you so much for your advice guys they're well appreciated :T

elsien

windswept wrote: »

I wouldn't buy from a private seller myself, just how many "unwanted gifts" can some people have?

I've sold some cosmetics as a private seller - perfectly legit, they're the ones I've won off the competitions forum on this site! with I hope many more to come. I sell them cheaper because they didn't cost me anything, so any money they bring in is better than nothing.

MoaningMyrtle

I've seen a lot of fake make-up, Lancome, Bobbi Brown and Dior. it's obvious to me by the pictures. Of course, sometimes you get sent a different item to the picture too.

A lot of the times it will be old or discontinued stock. A useful hint is that the last number printed in black on the bottom of some items signifies the year it was made.

Employees of companies usually get stuff very cheaply or free too. Plus there are outlets where you can buy some items. This can be up 70% off.

Superdrug were selling Lancome products very cheaply recently and lots of these appeared on Ebay too.

pinkfluffybabe

elsien wrote: »

I've sold some cosmetics as a private seller - perfectly legit, they're the ones I've won off the competitions forum on this site! with I hope many more to come. I sell them cheaper because they didn't cost me anything, so any money they bring in is better than nothing.

Same here. I also buy skincare from Liz Earle and you always get a free gift with your package which I usually list on ebay. Nothing dodgy about a private seller with a few beauty items - as always, check feedback and if you think its dodgy then steer clear.

lovemoneysaving

MoaningMyrtle wrote: »

A useful hint is that the last number printed in black on the bottom of some items signifies the year it was made.

This is very useful thank you

melancholly

pinkfluffybabe wrote: »

Same here. I also buy skincare from Liz Earle and you always get a free gift with your package which I usually list on ebay.

i do that with clinique - some tiny GWP items are really popular and it's ended up almost covering the value of the item i originally bought can't complain though