For many years working with elite perfumery, I often hear one question from buyers: "Tell me, is this not a fake? Is it the original?"
There is only one answer: "This is the original! We work only with official distributors." This question has already set my teeth on edge, but I patiently explain to everyone how to protect myself and not run into a fake.
What is the difference between a fake and the original?
First of all, there are visible differences between the original and the fake, and a person working with perfumery in most cases will only outwardly understand the fake in front of him or the original.
1. Mica. The presence or absence of mica (ppolyethylene packaging) sometimes speaks volumes.Not all perfume is packaged in polyethylene in factories. Examples: most Hugo Boss fragrances, Davidoff fragrances Cool Water, Cool Water Game, Nude Bill Blass and others presentedwithout plastic packaging. In other words, if you see these products in mica, this should alert you.
Let's say everything is fine and this product has always been in mica. Pay attention to the quality of the polyethylene. How it is glued. Original products are manufactured in expensive factories, where the packaging is performed by a precise unit, polyethylene is glued on equipment that fuses it. The original always shows a polyethylene sealing stamp in the shape of a circle or, in most cases, a rectangle.
2. Pay attention to the box. Counterfeits often have poor quality printing and lower quality cardboard. Printing is usually flat without bulges inherent in the original. Original perfume boxes have high quality printing, everything is clearly outlined.
3. A very large indicator is a bottle. Most of the disadvantages of fake perfume are in the bottle. This is the most expensive part of the entire product. Fake can be evidenced by: sloppy bends, blur in plastic, imperfect transparency of glass, presence a large number bubbles in the body of the glass, non-observance of proportions, the lid does not shrink, indistinct and blurred inscriptions on the bottle, blurred letters, lack of an individual product code, etc., etc.
4. The main drawback of counterfeits is the aroma. Cheap synthetic substitutes and cheap alcohol are used in fakes. Because of this, your favorite perfume, instead of delicate and fragrant in fakes, smells harsh and flat, more like air fresheners.
Why are fakes made? First of all, it is beneficial. Original manufacturers spend millions of dollars developing and promoting perfume. By presenting a high-quality product to the market, they also spend a lot of money on perfume advertising. Falsifiers do nothing of this. Having bought the cheapest fragrances and bottles, they successfully sell them. Because p The difference in price is quite tangible! (gross fakes can cost from 300 to 1200 rubles per bottle)
5. As a rule, counterfeiters do not bother with bottles of 30 and 50 ml and pour only 100 ml bottles. Therefore, if you meet either in a store or on the Internet, stores filled exclusively with 100 ml bottles - be wary. Moreover, you should be confused by the same price for both Chanel and Givenchy.
Successful shopping! Take care of yourself, your health and your wallets.
Mica is a natural silicate mineral that is widely used in decorative cosmetics due to its attractive, shiny or shimmery properties, and has recently been accused of toxicity. And this is unfair: mica is safe, because from a biochemical point of view, it is absolutely neutral for our skin.
Synonyms: Mica; Ci 77019; Sericite; Sericite Gms-2c; Sericite Gms-C; Sericite Mk-A; Sericite Mk-B; Soapstone. Patented Formulas: Satin Mica; Golden Mica; Micagroup Minerals; Muscovite Mica; Pigment White 20; Lipidure Mica; Synthetic Mica 9WA; RonaFlair ™ Silk Mica; Koelin-197 Mica; Colorona® Mica Black; Fiesta Synpearl Mica; Impact Matte Mica T.
The action of mica in cosmetics
The word "mica" actually comes from the Latin verb "micare", which means "to shine" - this is precisely the purpose that mica fulfills in the composition of cosmetics, mostly decorative. Mica is an inherently silicate mineral that glitters, shimmers and shimmers in light, making it an attractive candidate for eyeshadow and eyeliner ingredients, and some other makeup products.
Although many minerals are used as pigments in decorative cosmetics, mica can be called one of the most popular: its pure color, translucency and absolute neutrality in the effect on the skin, as well as light enveloping properties make it one of the most popular mineral powders used in beauty -industry. When applied, mica gives the skin a silky, translucent fleur, favorably shading the make-up with a light natural shine.
Since mica belongs to natural silicates, in its natural form, it is often mined together with other mineral impurities that affect its shade, which in turn can predetermine the range of its use in cosmetics. The shine and shade of mica in cosmetics, however, depends not only on its color, but on how finely this silicate is ground before being added to the product.
It is noteworthy that there is one more sorbing property of mica, which has also found wide application in the production of cosmetics: a fine powder of this silicate is added to the formulas of various cosmetics to reduce the fat content during storage of lipid-containing products. Thus, mica is often a substitute for talc in cosmetics (and is considered a healthier alternative).
Who is mica shown to?
Mica cosmetics are worth a try for anyone looking to improve their skin tone: mica powder perfectly reflects light from the face, gives the skin a radiance and thus is able to create the illusion of smoother, softer and more radiant skin. Mica reflects and diffuses light with a subtle sheen, reducing (but not clogging) visible wrinkles and pores. Often, mica in cosmetics also does the opposite - it mattifies the skin, reducing the oily sheen.
Who is contraindicated in mica?
Mica has been used as a pigment and aesthetic enhancer in makeup for centuries (and has generally been used by humans for a variety of purposes since prehistoric times) with no negative side effects... Therefore, it is considered a safe and natural ingredient. However, there are ethical restrictions in the use of such products: since cosmetics containing mica (like other products containing pigments) are tested on animals, animal protection organizations do not recommend their use for vegans and vegetarians.
Since mica is found in the ground, it can contain trace amounts of heavy metals. The levels of heavy metals are determined even at the stage of the extraction of this mineral, and as the regulatory authorities of the USA and the EU assure, the mica used for the production of cosmetics is pure in this respect and absolutely safe for humans (the degree of purification of raw materials is over 98%). Since mica does not contain proteins, the reaction of individual hypersensitivity upon contact with this component is practically excluded. For external use only.
Cosmetics containing mica
Depending on other mineral additives, this silicate can shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow, so its use in cosmetics will depend on the color - blue and green shades are suitable for eye makeup (shadows, eyeliners, shimmers, etc.), reddish ones will decorate blush, lipstick or gloss for lips. Again, colorless transparent mica is an ideal ingredient for powders or other tinting products. Sericite mica is the main ingredient used in all types of mineral cosmetics. It forms the basis of mineral cosmetics, improves its texture and provides the most natural coverage.
In general, mica can be used in liquid and powder formulas for color cosmetics and skin care creams. Mica is also sometimes used in various other cosmetics such as nail polishes or hair styling products. The concentration depends on the formula, typical use levels in color cosmetics: 10-40% when used as a filler, 3-6% when mica is used to reduce the fat content during storage of lipid-containing products.
Sources of mica
Mica is a mineral silica that lies in the earth's crust, and is also part of the rocks of volcanic origin, which were formed during the cooling of molten lava. There are many varieties of this silicate, of which muscovite (transparent or white mica) is considered the most common. That is, mica is a group of silicate minerals that are widespread in different types rocks - it is often found in nature in the form of flakes, scraps or sheets. It is usually mined in thin sheets, usually in translucent blue or green hues. In some cases, various iron oxides are added to transparent mica already at the stage of processing in order to achieve bright colors of the red spectrum. Sometimes, for cosmetic use, silicate, on the contrary, is discolored. Mineral dust can be harmful to mine workers by inhaling it inside the respiratory tract - perhaps partly explaining rumors of mica toxicity in cosmetics.
The most important areas where mica mines are located are the USA, Canada, India, Madagascar, Russia, Brazil and South Africa. The raw material used in the cosmetic industry is a gray-white free-flowing powder, insoluble in water (but it mixes well with it due to its small particle size - less than 20 microns).
The editorial office of the newspaper "Moy District" was visited by an expert in the field of aromas. The specialist shared the features of the packaging and the bottle of the original perfume, which will allow readers to distinguish a fake.
5 years
average shelf life of perfume
Mica (polyethylene packaging). The mica should be very thin and fit snugly to the box (bubbles and polyethylene “riding” around the box are excluded). The seam of mica is welded with a slight overlap of the edges on top of each other, and in fakes it is sometimes not neatly glued together. Above and below the boxes on polyethylene are printed round or square (less often oval) hallmarks of the perfume house.
Packaging cardboard. The packaging of fake perfume is roughly cut at the edges, with rough edges, if you shake it, then cardboard scraps can often fall off. The cardboard of the original perfume is very dense, smooth and satin. Inside the package there is a support system for the bottle so that it does not dangle. Usually, manufacturers of counterfeit perfumes do not spend money on this technology.
The quality of the glass bottle. The glass of the original perfume bottles is perfectly transparent, there are no bubbles or inclusions in it. The edges of the bottle are even, clear, symmetrical.
Lid. Manufacturers of original perfumery use technologies for the manufacture of special plastic for perfume caps. It is visually very sleek. The cover made of such plastic is one-piece, without a visible seam gluing two halves or parts. It also closes tightly on the bottle, does not dangle.
Atomizer rim. If the cap is removed from the bottle, then a rim can be seen under the spray bottle. For fakes, this ring most often dangles or is removed along with the lid. Often, when using perfume, it can rust due to the fact that it does not fit tightly to the atomizer.
Price. The original perfume won't be cheap. Fake perfume sellers use the terms "Perfume from a warehouse", "Confiscated", "Everything for a thousand and a half." For example, “Chanel” cannot have a price of one and a half thousand rubles, because the production of only a bottle of these original perfumes will cost more. You can also focus on the cost declared by the official distributor for advertising in magazines.
Air in the atomizer tube. The original new perfume has the first few sprays from the atomizer empty. Manufacturers fill the spray tube with air to essential oils did not hammer her before using the perfume.
Debunking the myth of resilience
It is generally accepted that a quality perfume should last for several days. This is not so, it all depends on the physiology of a particular person. Perfumers even have an expression: "the scent was eaten by the skin." More precisely, the skin absorbs well the essential oils that are in the perfume. But on average, in terms of durability, eau de toilette lasts 3-6 hours, eau de parfum - 5-10 hours, essence - 1-2 months (on clothes).
Perfume price by segment for a volume of 30 ml:
Mass market: 500-1.5 thousand rubles
Celebretis: 1.5-3.5 thousand rubles
Lux: 2.5-10 thousand rubles
Selective: 8-60 thousand rubles
Premium (Exclusive): up to 1 million rubles
When buying perfumery products - whether they are made in a traditional or online store - the buyer always wants to be sure of the authenticity of the product, because counterfeit products may not only fail to meet expectations in terms of quality, but also be hazardous to health. The presence of a special wrapper often testifies in favor of the authenticity of the product, but it is far from always a guarantee of quality.
Content:
The first thing the happy owner of a brand new scent pays attention to is the packaging. There is a widespread consumer opinion that the "right" perfume or eau de toilette is always packed in cardboard packaging and cellophane. But what if your purchase doesn't have a mica top packing layer?
Does the absence of mica identify a fake?
We hasten to assure the worried lovers of branded perfumery: the absence of cellophane is not a sign of a fake. Packaging traditions are very different depending on the manufacturer of the fragrance, and it is rather difficult to predict, see a strict logic or pattern in this phenomenon, oddly enough.
So, some companies producing selections, for example, Annick Goutal, Creed, L "Artisan Parfumeur, do not use film at all, and if you come across a niche perfume in mica, then, most likely, the packaging was supplemented by a seller or an online store. , focusing on the picky customer and trying to keep the original box intact. Manufacturers of popular perfume brands related to sports and cars also pack their products without cellophane. For example:
- Adidas;
- Puma;
- Ferrari.
Complicated story
In other companies, the situation with the packaging schemes of the offered products is even more complicated. So most of the men's Hugo Boss fragrances are sold wrapped in mica, while the women's version is offered in a box without any additional wrapping. It is difficult to give an exact answer to the question of why this is happening, because the brand does not provide explanations.
Is it volume?
The decision on the type of packaging may depend on the amount of perfume purchased. For example, small volumes (30 ml) are sold in neat traditional boxes, while larger bottles of 50 and 100 ml are carefully wrapped in cellophane.
Conclusion
In other words, the presence or absence of external cellophane packaging when purchasing perfumery products cannot be an unambiguous criterion for authenticity or counterfeiting. Each branded product corresponds to a number of characteristics carefully observed by the manufacturer: composition, strength and ratio of odors, shape, size, quality, color of the bottle and box, inscriptions and drawings on them. These properties should be guided by, and it is better to purchase perfumes from trusted sellers.