Recently, while browsing online marketplaces, I found many “Korean cosmetics” at unbelievably low prices.
Same brand name.
Almost the same packaging.
Sometimes even the same barcode and QR code.
The only big difference?
The price.
As a Korean and the owner of Aura3AM, I know that Korean cosmetics can be affordable. But when a product is cheaper in Europe than its wholesale price in Korea, something is wrong.
China has many professional factories producing legitimate, high-quality cosmetics.
The problem is not simply “Made in China.”
The problem is a counterfeit product made to look like something else.
A Pretty Box Proves Nothing
Today, copying packaging is easy.
Counterfeiters can reproduce the logo, colours, font, barcode, QR code and even the batch number from a genuine product. Some fake products look so convincing that it is almost impossible to identify them from an online photo.
But we do not know what is inside.
Was the formula manufactured in a certified facility?
Were the ingredients properly tested?
Was the product stored under suitable conditions?
Is the ingredient list even true?
We apply it to our face, lips and around our eyes. If the formula is contaminated, incorrectly preserved or contains undeclared substances, the result may be irritation, allergic reactions or something more serious.
EU authorities have repeatedly warned that counterfeit cosmetics can present significant health and safety risks. Products legally placed on the EU market must have an EU-based Responsible Person, safety documentation and notification through the EU’s CPNP system. (European Commission, EUIPO)
CPNP information is not a public database that regular customers can search. Therefore, a seller simply writing “CPNP registered” on a product page does not prove anything by itself.
How Can You Spot a Suspicious Product?
There is no single perfect test, but these signs should make you stop and check:
- The price is unbelievably lower than everywhere else.
- The seller does not clearly identify their company.
- There is no EU Responsible Person name and address on the packaging.
- The label has spelling mistakes, strange fonts or poor printing.
- The texture, colour or scent is different from the original product.
- The seller uses only official promotional photos and never shows the actual stock.
- The product is shipped individually from outside the EU, although the seller claims to be a European shop.
- The seller cannot explain where the product came from or provide an invoice.
A barcode or QR code is not enough. These can also be copied.
What We Check at Aura3AM
At Aura3AM, we do not buy random cosmetics from anonymous wholesalers simply because the price is attractive.
We contact Korean brands and manufacturers directly. We check who made the product, where it was produced and whether the necessary European documentation exists. Our products are imported through official EU customs procedures and physically stored in Poland.
This process costs more money and takes more time.
Sometimes customers ask why the same-looking product is much cheaper on another marketplace. Honestly, I cannot always confirm whether another seller’s product is fake.
But I can confirm where ours came from.
That difference matters to me.
Cheap Cosmetics Are Not Always a Bargain
I also like a good price. Nobody wants to pay more without a reason.
But an unrealistically cheap cosmetic may have a cost that does not appear on the price tag. If something goes wrong, the anonymous seller may disappear—and your skin has already paid the difference.
So before buying, check the seller as carefully as you check the product.
A beautiful box can be copied.
Trust, documentation and responsibility cannot.
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