China is known for manufacturing fake goods which is not surprising why Korea’s YG Entertainment issued an advisory to consumers how to distinguish between the real GD Eau De Toilettte, or G-Dragon perfume, it launched in June 2015 under the brand “moonshot” and fake ones.
The fake “moonshot” perfume has yellowy color and the scent could change into a sour odor over time. The product description on the fake perfume has typographical errors and it lacks the original brand mark at the top of the box. The perfume’s cap is also different from the original, particularly the lack of multiple rings on the surface, AllKpop reported.
But more than get a fake product, YG Entertainment warned Chinese consumers that when a cosmetic product comes in contact with skin, it could have severe side effects especially if cheap ingredients were used to manufacture the fake item.
Fake products abound globally, not just in China. To educate American consumers, the FBI and National Intellectual Property Rights Center teamed up with several foreign and domestic agencies, Medical Daily reported.
The FBI pointed out that fake cosmetic items could contain high levels of aluminum and bacteria. Phony perfumes, lipstick and mascara could be filled with known carcinogens such as arsenic, beryllium and cadmium. Contents of fake perfumes possible include Di(2-ethyhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) which the Environmental Protection Agency classified as human carcinogen and considered one of the most deadly toxic chemicals for humans.
Some fake perfumes, according to the FBI, are made with urine which could lead to serious skin rash, besides other negative side effects such as acne, psoriasis, rashes and eye infection. Other than urine, it could also have ingredients such as antifreeze and poorly based chemicals, according to Valerie Salembier, president of the Authentic Foundation. She added perfume that is too pale could be heavy with alcohol, while if it is too dark, it most likely uses faux chemicals.