Expert warns counterfeit hair products may trigger unexplained allergies

Counterfeit beauty products may contain dangerous substances and could be behind unexplained allergies, haircare expert Liis Elts said on ERR’s Terevisioon programme.

Elts, the chief executive of Pro Beaute, said counterfeit products are widely sold in beauty product markets, particularly through social media groups and, in some cases, retail outlets. She said she had been examining the issue in depth for nearly a year.

Laboratory testing carried out with TalTech laboratories found that counterfeit products were not identical to the originals. According to Elts, tests detected traces of mercury, arsenic and even urine. She said urine may have been added to make the counterfeit product’s colour resemble that of the original.

Many counterfeit products come from Asia, Elts said, although counterfeit factories also operate in Europe. She advised consumers to be especially cautious with Korean beauty products and brands that are currently very popular.

Elts said brands that have been on the market for years and have established user bases are among the most frequently copied haircare brands. Packaging can be reproduced relatively cheaply, while the contents of the product may receive little attention, she said.

Long-term use of a counterfeit product bought at a very low price could eventually cause an allergic reaction, Elts said. She added that such products may cost one or two euros to make, with much of the budget spent on imitating the packaging.

Elts said a genuine shampoo should spread across the hands and begin to foam before it is applied to the hair, rather than forming a lump.