Here is my facebook information for Dusk to Dawn Beauty:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dusk-to-Dawn-Beauty/109522749101828?ref=sgm#!/pages/Dusk-to-Dawn-Beauty/109522749101828?v=wall&ref=sgm
Would LOVE some friends:)
sue
Monday, August 9, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Fake versus authentic MAC brushes (again)
Hi everyone,
I recently listed many MAC brushes on all of my sites and I continually get questions about authenticity. Now, it takes time to answer all these questions and I am going to now refer anyone who asks to this blog to get a more in-depth education about MAC brushes and how to determine authentic versus fake brushes.
I have combed the net to find MAC brushes for sale to see the differences between the sellers and listings. Often times, I see sellers on Amazon.com, Ioffer and Ebay selling counterfeit or so called "knock-offs." There are many out there, so I understand the skepticism and concern.
I have often times found sellers who sell fakes seem lack variety of products, are new members of the site they sell from and do not have a lot of feedback. They are in it to get in and out before they are either suspended or get too much negative feedback about the purported MAC items they sell. So if you find a seller with ONLY pigments, ONLY blush, ONLY eyeshadows and ONLY brushes, check them carefully and ask a lot of questions.
TOP 5 RULES FOR PURCHASING & RECOGNIZING AUTHENTIC MAC BRUSHES:
1. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, buy anything from China or Hong Kong, where many counterfeit items are mass produced. Stay in the United States when purchasing anything high end. This is not only true of MAC but also true of Clinique, Nars, Estee Lauder and Lancome.
2. Know your seller, look at his/her feedback, check how long he/she has been a member, check out other items for sale and don't hesitate to ask questions. Most good sellers are more than happy to answer questions. If you ask and don't get an answer, stay away as the seller may have something to hide or will not admit counterfeit.
3. Know your product. Go to a MAC counter or department store and research the item you are purchasing. Know what they look like, smell like, feel like, etc. Most seasoned users of MAC and other high-end items know their items and repeatedly buy them for the simple reason they are happy with the product. You cannot fool an experienced user -- they will know for sure if the item is the real deal.
4. Everything MAC makes has a shade/color name and a bar code and item code printed on the box. MAC has recently changed their packaging to stay ahead of the counterfeiters. They now PRINT the color name/shade name on the top right of the box and PRINT the bar code and item code onto the box rather than use a peel-off bar code and round color sticker. Both old and new packaging will remain in stores until the items are sold out -- this may take years. When visiting the MAC counter, you will see both versions of packaging. If you see someone selling pigments with no name but merely numbers, THEY ARE FAKE. If you want the real deal, DO NOT BUY THESE.
5. Brushes: MAC brushes are high quality, made of the finest materials and stand out in performance and style from competitors. Not to say other brushes are inferior, but a real MAC brush will last you a lifetime if taken care of properly. What to look for in a MAC brush:
*Packaging: EVERY MAC brush comes in a plastic sleeve with a bar code printed onto the sleeve. Ask the seller if the brush comes with a sleeve and a bar code. If not, be suspicious.
*MAC brushes have black WOOD handles with brush numbers EMBOSSED onto the handle. When you run your fingernail over the number, it should not be slick or smooth, but you should feel a subtle bump when the finger is run over the number. Some numbers may rub off over time and use. Every authentic MAC brush has a number embossed onto the handle.
*MAC brushes are matte black and should never by shiny or grey or any other color, exception being if it is a SE brush (special edition), in which case MAC may use different colors such as "red" for the holidays. Just an example. SE brushes are not usually full sized brushes.
*The brush should smell like wood. If you smell plastic or something else, it probably is not the real deal. I find MAC brushes to have a very distinct smell of lacquer and wood.
*The bristles should NOT fall out when pulled or fanned over your hand/finger. They should be soft and feel luxurious. MAC brushes last a lifetime.
*MAC brushes are manufactured in various places, mostly USA, Japan and France. Once I saw a brush made in Spain. The countries are EMBOSSED near the end of the brush handle. On smaller brushes, look carefully and use a magnifying glass to see if the country is embossed onto the handle. If not, it could mean trouble.
*Brush sets? MAC does NOT make a brush set exception being holiday sets, which often times are travel sized. Nordstrom has also created exclusive sets of MAC brushes. MAC brushes NEVER come in a roll, exception being again if it is a holiday SE (special edition) version. If you find a brush roll with all of the MAC brushes or many MAC brushes, it is most certainly not the real deal. HOWEVER, there is a professional brush carrier that can be purchased at the professional level but you must have a MAC pro account in order to do this.
*Resale of MAC: MAC is owned by Estee Lauder. Estee Lauder dislikes resale of their items. If you are trying to confirm authenticity, NEVER tell a counter person or salesperson the item was purchased off the internet. DO NOT elaborate on where it was purchased. For the simple reason there are so many counterfeit items for sale on various sites, they may say it is not authentic when, in fact, it is. This goes of any product, not just brushes.
I have a huge network of wholesale providers I buy from repeatedly for the reason I trust them and know where they are getting items from. Some of them have awesome connections and are able to get exclusive deals on very high end name brands like MAC, Bliss (one of my faves) and Estee Lauder. One of my favorite wholesalers knows a rep who does shelf pulls from major department store due to old packaging or items having been on shelves for the maximum time. It does not mean they are old or expired. Large department stores like to change out product to stay current. Items that are pulled do not get thrown out but stored at a warehouse and purchased by wholesalers for resale. Sometimes the boxes show shelf wear or are slightly damaged from being transported many times. This is why things are being sold on Ebay, Amazon and other sites. Keep this in mind when buying something at 50% off or lower. Perfection often does not exist at the wholesale/resale level.
Something else I like to say and not in a sarcastic way but truly the only way you know if something is real is to buy at Nordstrom, Macy's, Bloomies, or MAC. Don't expect a discount of any kind but you will have total reassurance the item is genuine. On the other hand, if you have purchased from a reputable seller and know his/her products, chances are they will provide genuinely awesome products at astoundingly low prices.
To sum up, this is a lot of information to digest and I am happy to share it in order to educate buyers to become informed. I hope you have gained some insight into how to recognize fakes from authentic items.
On a side note, I am working on my very own website and have hired someone to design one for me, so look for that before Christmas.
Thank you for reading and being a follower:)
I am republishing my stores below.
Sue
Ebay: http://shop.ebay.com/suem427/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1
Webstore: http://dusk_to_dawn_beauty.webstore.com/
Ecrater: http://makeup4you.ecrater.com/
Bonanzle: http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/Dusk_to_Dawn_Beauty
I recently listed many MAC brushes on all of my sites and I continually get questions about authenticity. Now, it takes time to answer all these questions and I am going to now refer anyone who asks to this blog to get a more in-depth education about MAC brushes and how to determine authentic versus fake brushes.
I have combed the net to find MAC brushes for sale to see the differences between the sellers and listings. Often times, I see sellers on Amazon.com, Ioffer and Ebay selling counterfeit or so called "knock-offs." There are many out there, so I understand the skepticism and concern.
I have often times found sellers who sell fakes seem lack variety of products, are new members of the site they sell from and do not have a lot of feedback. They are in it to get in and out before they are either suspended or get too much negative feedback about the purported MAC items they sell. So if you find a seller with ONLY pigments, ONLY blush, ONLY eyeshadows and ONLY brushes, check them carefully and ask a lot of questions.
TOP 5 RULES FOR PURCHASING & RECOGNIZING AUTHENTIC MAC BRUSHES:
1. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, buy anything from China or Hong Kong, where many counterfeit items are mass produced. Stay in the United States when purchasing anything high end. This is not only true of MAC but also true of Clinique, Nars, Estee Lauder and Lancome.
2. Know your seller, look at his/her feedback, check how long he/she has been a member, check out other items for sale and don't hesitate to ask questions. Most good sellers are more than happy to answer questions. If you ask and don't get an answer, stay away as the seller may have something to hide or will not admit counterfeit.
3. Know your product. Go to a MAC counter or department store and research the item you are purchasing. Know what they look like, smell like, feel like, etc. Most seasoned users of MAC and other high-end items know their items and repeatedly buy them for the simple reason they are happy with the product. You cannot fool an experienced user -- they will know for sure if the item is the real deal.
4. Everything MAC makes has a shade/color name and a bar code and item code printed on the box. MAC has recently changed their packaging to stay ahead of the counterfeiters. They now PRINT the color name/shade name on the top right of the box and PRINT the bar code and item code onto the box rather than use a peel-off bar code and round color sticker. Both old and new packaging will remain in stores until the items are sold out -- this may take years. When visiting the MAC counter, you will see both versions of packaging. If you see someone selling pigments with no name but merely numbers, THEY ARE FAKE. If you want the real deal, DO NOT BUY THESE.
5. Brushes: MAC brushes are high quality, made of the finest materials and stand out in performance and style from competitors. Not to say other brushes are inferior, but a real MAC brush will last you a lifetime if taken care of properly. What to look for in a MAC brush:
*Packaging: EVERY MAC brush comes in a plastic sleeve with a bar code printed onto the sleeve. Ask the seller if the brush comes with a sleeve and a bar code. If not, be suspicious.
*MAC brushes have black WOOD handles with brush numbers EMBOSSED onto the handle. When you run your fingernail over the number, it should not be slick or smooth, but you should feel a subtle bump when the finger is run over the number. Some numbers may rub off over time and use. Every authentic MAC brush has a number embossed onto the handle.
*MAC brushes are matte black and should never by shiny or grey or any other color, exception being if it is a SE brush (special edition), in which case MAC may use different colors such as "red" for the holidays. Just an example. SE brushes are not usually full sized brushes.
*The brush should smell like wood. If you smell plastic or something else, it probably is not the real deal. I find MAC brushes to have a very distinct smell of lacquer and wood.
*The bristles should NOT fall out when pulled or fanned over your hand/finger. They should be soft and feel luxurious. MAC brushes last a lifetime.
*MAC brushes are manufactured in various places, mostly USA, Japan and France. Once I saw a brush made in Spain. The countries are EMBOSSED near the end of the brush handle. On smaller brushes, look carefully and use a magnifying glass to see if the country is embossed onto the handle. If not, it could mean trouble.
*Brush sets? MAC does NOT make a brush set exception being holiday sets, which often times are travel sized. Nordstrom has also created exclusive sets of MAC brushes. MAC brushes NEVER come in a roll, exception being again if it is a holiday SE (special edition) version. If you find a brush roll with all of the MAC brushes or many MAC brushes, it is most certainly not the real deal. HOWEVER, there is a professional brush carrier that can be purchased at the professional level but you must have a MAC pro account in order to do this.
*Resale of MAC: MAC is owned by Estee Lauder. Estee Lauder dislikes resale of their items. If you are trying to confirm authenticity, NEVER tell a counter person or salesperson the item was purchased off the internet. DO NOT elaborate on where it was purchased. For the simple reason there are so many counterfeit items for sale on various sites, they may say it is not authentic when, in fact, it is. This goes of any product, not just brushes.
I have a huge network of wholesale providers I buy from repeatedly for the reason I trust them and know where they are getting items from. Some of them have awesome connections and are able to get exclusive deals on very high end name brands like MAC, Bliss (one of my faves) and Estee Lauder. One of my favorite wholesalers knows a rep who does shelf pulls from major department store due to old packaging or items having been on shelves for the maximum time. It does not mean they are old or expired. Large department stores like to change out product to stay current. Items that are pulled do not get thrown out but stored at a warehouse and purchased by wholesalers for resale. Sometimes the boxes show shelf wear or are slightly damaged from being transported many times. This is why things are being sold on Ebay, Amazon and other sites. Keep this in mind when buying something at 50% off or lower. Perfection often does not exist at the wholesale/resale level.
Something else I like to say and not in a sarcastic way but truly the only way you know if something is real is to buy at Nordstrom, Macy's, Bloomies, or MAC. Don't expect a discount of any kind but you will have total reassurance the item is genuine. On the other hand, if you have purchased from a reputable seller and know his/her products, chances are they will provide genuinely awesome products at astoundingly low prices.
To sum up, this is a lot of information to digest and I am happy to share it in order to educate buyers to become informed. I hope you have gained some insight into how to recognize fakes from authentic items.
On a side note, I am working on my very own website and have hired someone to design one for me, so look for that before Christmas.
Thank you for reading and being a follower:)
I am republishing my stores below.
Sue
Ebay: http://shop.ebay.com/suem427/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1
Webstore: http://dusk_to_dawn_beauty.webstore.com/
Ecrater: http://makeup4you.ecrater.com/
Bonanzle: http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/Dusk_to_Dawn_Beauty
Sunday, August 1, 2010
URBAN DECAY & FUSION BEAUTY -- NEW LISTINGS
Hi everyone,
Just listed the new lot of Urban Decay shadows, deluxe shadows and loose pigments and Fusion Beauty - Pure Fusion skincare items, all pristine, all half off retail value, all authentic.
Colors are as follows:
Shadows:
Jones
Chronic
Cult
Green Goddess
Narcotic
Vert
Heist
Electric
Shakedown
Revolver
Flipside
maybe a few more
Deluxe shadows:
Sting
Heat
Zero
Rhthless
Shag
Loose pigments:
X
Yeyo
Gunmetal
Protest
Shattered
Smog
Rockstar
Graffiti
Shag
and maybe a few more.
All of these Urban Decay items are posted to both Ebay and Bonanzle and selected items are posted to Ecrater.
Also, Fusion Beauty items:
Pure Fusion eye cream, foaming cleanser, serum, and moisturizer.
Let me know if I can help you!
Sue
Just listed the new lot of Urban Decay shadows, deluxe shadows and loose pigments and Fusion Beauty - Pure Fusion skincare items, all pristine, all half off retail value, all authentic.
Colors are as follows:
Shadows:
Jones
Chronic
Cult
Green Goddess
Narcotic
Vert
Heist
Electric
Shakedown
Revolver
Flipside
maybe a few more
Deluxe shadows:
Sting
Heat
Zero
Rhthless
Shag
Loose pigments:
X
Yeyo
Gunmetal
Protest
Shattered
Smog
Rockstar
Graffiti
Shag
and maybe a few more.
All of these Urban Decay items are posted to both Ebay and Bonanzle and selected items are posted to Ecrater.
Also, Fusion Beauty items:
Pure Fusion eye cream, foaming cleanser, serum, and moisturizer.
Let me know if I can help you!
Sue
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