Everyone keeps complaining about fake Bioderma products and even weird-looking Cosrx products (this was a HUGE thing in 2023).

Fake skincare products are a pandemic at this point.

That’s why it helps to turn to Beauty By Daz, Nigeria’s most trusted online skincare store, for the answer to one BIG question:

“How can you tell if a skincare product is fake?”

Here are the 7 signs to watch for:

7 Ways to Know if Your Skincare Is Fake: Beauty By Daz Tips

According to Beauty By Daz, the easiest way to check if your skincare is fake is to compare the price against the usual market rate, inspect the packaging for misspellings or blurry print, verify the batch code on CheckCosmetic.net, scan the QR code on the box, identify any changes in texture or smell, check the safety seal, and watch how your skin reacts after using it.

Now, it isn’t as simple as this, so let’s break each one down:

Tip #1: Watch Out for Suspiciously Cheap Prices

Original skincare in Nigeria has price ranges set by the brands, so when a vendor offers an unusually cheaper price, the product is almost certainly fake or expired (and the date has been altered on the bottle).

For example, if a vendor sells the Bioderma Sensibio H2O for ₦4,000 when most stores sell it for around ₦17,558, DO NOT BUY.

Original skincare has certain costs (manufacturing, shipping, import duties) that make it absolutely impossible to legitimately sell at half the market rate.

Tip #2: Inspect the Packaging for Misspellings, Blurry Print, and Crooked Labels

Authentic skincare packaging is typically very refined with crisp, high-resolution printing, clean logo placement and consistent alignment.

Counterfeits, on the other hand, often give themselves away through small but obvious flaws like blurred text, slightly washed-out ink, awkward spacing, or spelling errors such as “CareVe” instead of “CeraVe.”

Beauty By Daz adds that minor box dents can happen during delivery and shouldn’t immediately raise an alarm, BUT the print quality itself rarely changes regardless of that.

Tip #3: Check for Missing or Sticker-Applied Batch Codes, Expiry Dates, and NAFDAC Numbers

Verified skincare in Nigeria has a batch code permanently etched into the bottle and the box, a printed expiry date (usually shown as EXP MM/YYYY), a Period After Opening symbol like 12M or 24M and, where it applies, a NAFDAC number for products sold in Nigeria, all of which you can verify online at CheckCosmetic.net or CheckFresh.

Beauty By Daz sells skincare products that are sourced from brand-authorised distributors, come in sealed packaging with intact batch codes, expiry dates, and, where applicable, NAFDAC registration numbers.

So you should always be strict when checking for codes because, imagine using a face cream for oily skin & your skin ends up producing more oil.

Tip #4: Identify Any Difference in Texture, Colour, or Scent From the Original

After several years in the skincare game, Beauty By Daz confidently noted that real skincare formulas do not change between batches (except when the brand manufacturer releases a statement).

This is accurate because Beauty By Daz sources skincare products only from authorised distributors, so every product matches the original brand formula exactly.

If a product suddenly looks different, smells unusual, or has a changed texture, it is likely fake.

Tip #5: Beauty By Daz Advises Users to Check for Broken Seals and Flimsy Bottle Construction

This might seem obvious, but it isn’t.

Original and authentic skincare bottles feel sturdy with well-built caps that snap shut firmly, and safety seals that are still intact when you receive the product, while fake bottles often feel flimsy or arrive with seals already broken or missing.

Beauty By Daz only sells products that are well sealed, sturdy, and checked before shipping so customers always receive original and unopened skincare.

Tip #6: Scan the QR Code; It Should Link to the Brand’s Official Site

Original skincare from manufacturers like Bioderma, CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, and most Korean brands has a QR code on the box that scans straight to the brand’s official database, while fake products usually have no QR code at all, a broken one, or one that redirects to a random website.

So, open your phone camera and scan the code. If it opens the brand’s official website with your specific product’s details, the product is real. If it leads to a sketchy link, a 404 page, or a random site, stop using the product immediately.

Tip #7: Beauty By Daz Advises Users to Watch for Sudden Skin Reactions From a Product You’ve Used Before

This one is risky, but your skin is the final lie detector.

Real skincare from trusted brands is made to be gentle and skin-safe, while counterfeit versions cause burning, redness, breakouts, or stinging on skin that has used the same product safely many times before.

For example, if a product you’ve used safely for months (say the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella) suddenly starts burning, breaking you out, or causing a rash, it’s probably fake.

Because Beauty By Daz sources directly from authorised brand channels, you always receive original products with consistent quality.

Commonly Faked Skincare Brands in Nigeria

Some skincare brands get counterfeited far more often than others in Nigeria, with Bioderma, CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, The Ordinary, Cosrx, Anua, Beauty of Joseon, and Skin1004 at the top of the list because they’re in high demand and cost more.

That’s why Beauty By Daz gets every skincare product straight from the manufacturer or the brand’s authorised distributor. Each shipment is checked against the brand’s batch code system, and the product is reviewed before reaching customers.

So when you order a Bioderma Sensibio H2O from Beauty By Daz, you get the exact bottle the brand made in France.

Final Thoughts: What Should You Do if You Think Your Skincare Is Fake?

If you suspect your skincare is fake, stop using it right away.

Counterfeit skincare can damage your skin barrier, cause infections, trigger long-term dark spots, and undo years of skincare progress. The 5 minutes it takes to run these 7 checks could save you thousands of naira and months of skin repair.

And that’s another reason to shop from original and verified skincare stores like Beauty By Daz, because they save you the time of doing these checks for ALL your products, because they already do it before stocking products on their website and shelves.

You can check them out online at beautybydaz.com or walk into 175 Ogudu Road, Ogudu City Mall, Lagos.