Counterfeit MAC makeup could be toxic

Canada's most famous makeup brand is facing a big counterfeiting problem. Counterfeiters are trying to cash in on MAC cosmetics popularity and that’s putting consumers’ health at risk.

Margaux Wosk is a fan of MAC cosmetics, but she was suspicious when the online site Buytopia sent her a prize package recently containing several MAC eye shadows.

"It didn't seem like a retailer’s website would have the ability to sell brands that are generally sold through their main flagships," said Wosk.

A Google search turned up several warnings about counterfeit MAC products and 70,000 videos on YouTube about how to spot a fake.

MAC's website also has an entire page dedicated to counterfeiting, warning it does not “offer its products through….individuals, street vendors, flea markets, internet auctions, independent boutiques or unauthorized online retailers."

Still, eBay has thousands of MAC products for sale and the Internet is filled with sites selling suspect MAC products at ultra cheap prices.

Consumer reporter Lynda Steele took the eye shadows to MAC's flagship store on Robson Street and the staff verdict was unanimous, claiming it was definitely counterfeit.

Staff said the eye shadows were cheap and crumbly, the back of the product codes say 2008, and the big tell was the cheap piece of fake leather on the back, where real MAC eye shadow would have a magnet.

The real MAC product has finer net weight lettering. The font on the fake package is thicker and pushed together.

The colours of the shadows are also off, and the counterfeit shadow looks cheap.

But most importantly, the counterfeit products could be harmful to your health because some have been found to contain unsafe levels of several chemicals.

"[They can contain] lead, mercury, cadmium, copper, beryllium, so these can be potentially very toxic," said dermatologist Dr. Frances Jang.

The online site Buytopia, that gave the counterfeit MAC makeup as a prize, emailed Wosk to say, "we were assured that the products were legitimate and received samples from the merchant that were authentic."

If you suspect someone's trying to sell you fake MAC makeup you can report it to MAC cosmetics by calling 1-800-387-6707.

MAC says it takes counterfeiting seriously, filing civil actions in court and partnering with law enforcement agencies to file criminal charges.