| eBay...the land of online deals! There are so many | | | | printed on and if it feels raised it a sticker like label. |
| great items that can be found on eBay, computers, | | | | 2. When you open the jar is it sealed by a smooth |
| clothes, jewelry, and even makeup! Their are some | | | | piece of plastic or does the plastic raise up like the tip |
| incredible makeup deals on eBay especially with M.A.C. | | | | of a crayon and have a hole in it? True M.A.C. |
| cosmetics pigments, that seem just too good to be | | | | products are sealed by a smooth piece of plastic and |
| true, and in many cases they are! With M.A.C. | | | | will never have a hole in the middle of it. |
| pigments retailing for $19.50 each brand new, it's hard | | | | 3. What is the consistency of the pigment? Is it smooth |
| not to get excited when you see 6 "New In Box | | | | or does the pigment have lots of clumps and balls in it? |
| M.A.C. pigments selling for $20 or more popular lately | | | | Real pigments are always smooth in consistency and |
| 50+ "New In Box M.A.C. pigments" selling for $120 | | | | should never appear clumpy like the fakes very often |
| (that's less than $2.50 each), but trust me beware. | | | | do. |
| Below I have listed some key things to watch out for | | | | 4. Carefully examine the back of the jar for misprints. |
| when making a M.A.C. pigment purchase on eBay. | | | | Often the fakes will spell words such as "pigmentos" |
| First and foremost, be sure that the auction description | | | | like "plgmentos" |
| actually lists the pigment names that are for sale | | | | 5. What do the labels say? On a real pigment there will |
| rather than it just saying something along the lines of | | | | be 2 labels naming the shade, one will usually be on the |
| "assortment of pigments." This sounds obvious, but you | | | | top right hand corner of the top of the box and the |
| would not believe how many auctions there are that | | | | other will be placed underneath the jar itself. With the |
| only include a picture of the pigments and disregard | | | | fakes there are usually 2 labels but instead of the |
| listing the shades, and there is a reason for this...they're | | | | name of the pigment, you will see that letter and |
| fake! | | | | number code. Be sure to also pay attention to the |
| You see instead of naming the shades, this line of | | | | placement of the label on top of the box. Again on a |
| M.A.C. fakes have created a letter and number | | | | real pigment the shade is usually on the top right hand |
| system, for instance M.A.C. has a pigment called Deep | | | | corner towards the back on a fake, it is still on top of |
| Blue Green, instead the fakes may put a label on it | | | | the box but towards the front corner. |
| called something like "A15." Real M.A.C. pigments are | | | | It is very important to ask the seller as many questions |
| never labeled like this and are always labeled by their | | | | as possible to prevent you from being "duped." Believe |
| name. More than likely the sellers of these fakes | | | | it or not you may make the seller aware that he/she is |
| probably won't list the pigments by "A15" and will rather | | | | selling fakes because sometimes they bought a huge |
| only include a picture, so be sure to ask. | | | | auction of these themselves with plans to profit by |
| The next set of things to look out for are really hard to | | | | selling them individually, all the while they have no idea |
| figure out without having the item in hand, so be sure | | | | that they are selling fakes. These fakes can potentially |
| to ask the seller all of the following points, or if it is too | | | | be very dangerous, for the simple fact that you are |
| late and you have already won the item be sure to | | | | putting them on your eyes and you have no way to |
| closely examine it when it arrives before you leave the | | | | tell whats in them or where they came from. It could |
| seller feedback. | | | | contain things such as formaldehyde a very toxic |
| These are the following points to ask the seller/look | | | | chemical or lead or basically anything that it takes |
| out for in addition to the previous point: | | | | these imposters to make the knockoff look as close |
| 1. Is the bar code on the bottom of the box printed on, | | | | to authentic as possible. Since they are knockoffs they |
| or is it a bar code label that is a sticker? If the bar | | | | are not going through any kind of screening or |
| code is printed on the box, it is a fake. Authentic M.A.C. | | | | regulation process that monitors what they are made |
| products' bar codes are a label that is like a sticker. | | | | with and therefore anything goes. |
| Not sure? Rub your finger over it, if it's smooth, it is | | | | So please be careful when buying these. |