How to Avoid purchasing fake MAC cosmetics online

Many people are searching for MAC cosmetics online, trying to get a good deal. However, they end up being ripped off because the majority of these products are fakes, especially on ebay.

Buying MAC Cosmetics on Ebay
Shopping online is so great—no crowds to push your way through, no messy sales floors full of unfolded clothing, no long lines at a cash register—just a few simple clicks… and you don't even have to schlep heavy bags all the way home. Plus the bargain hunting is great too.

Then there's eBay, the ultimate place to look for a designer steal (and with the way the economy is going, it might be the only place I shop). But unfortunately, the great savings often come with greater risk. When you're buying items you can't see from people you don't know, it is easy to get taken advantage of.

Check the sellers feedback and other auctions. A high feedback with a good rating does not necessarily mean that their products are authentic. They could be selling fakes unknowingly, or their customers are unaware of what they are purchasing. However, on the other end of the spectrum, do not, and I repeat DO NOT buy from a new seller who has many other products listed for sale. You have to ask yourself how would they get so many of these products?

MAC Eye shadow
Eye shadows purchased from MAC cosmetics do not come with sponge-tip applicators, nor do they have mirrors on the bottom. Authentic MAC eye shadow have a barcode as a sticker on the bottom of the box, and the name of the shade should be on the top of the box, as well as on the bottom of the product itself. All MAC products have names, so if the products do not have one, then they are fake. Most sellers no longer sell obvious fakes on eBay, and they are rarely sold individually. You will see them in lots of 12, 20, 24, etc. Be wary of seller in other countries where they have better access to knock off products.

MAC Color Pigment and Eye shadow Pigment
When you unscrew the cap of pigment purchased from MAC cosmetics there should be a removable protective plastic lid across the top. This lid will never have a hole or a little spout for easy pouring. The easiest way to tell if a pigment is genuine is by testing some out on your hand. Real MAC pigment is top notch quality and just a little bit of it will leave a rich color on your skin. It should also be difficult to rub off without makeup remover. (I even gently rinsed my hand under cold water and there was still a light color stain.)

Also most fake MAC Pigment will only have a color number on the box and bottom of the jar.

MAC Lipglass
Fake Lip Glasses tend to be much longer than a genuine one would be. A real M.A.C. Lip Glass is just short of 3.5" long and is 5/8" thick. All (20) of mine have a silver circle sticker on the bottom that says the full name of the color and it's number. Fake Lipglass will only have a number or a color name like red or pink.

MAC Cosmetics has specific names for each color so I would always check the name against the ones listed on the MAC Cosmetics website.

And remember, the only ones that come in tubes are the Clear Lip Glass and the Gelée.

MAC Lipstick
A new lipstick from MAC Cosmetics never has a rounded shape that comes to a point in the center like most cheap lipsticks you find at the drugstore. A genuine one is cut on a slant that will easily glide across your lip—the one exception is the Slimshine Lipstick, which is just completely flat. As usual, check the name and number on the silver sticker.

Just be careful...
MAC does not sell wholesale to anyone, they only sell through their own counters and stores; including the Cosmetic Company Outlet stores, which are owned by MAC's parent company. So if you do find authentic wholesale MAC cosmetics they may be out dated or purcheed from a retail outlet

Pigments, brushes, eye shadows and lipgloss are the most commonly faked MAC products. I would just avoid buying online altogether and save up the extra money and buy authentic brushes from a MAC Cosmetics store or from the MAC Cosmetics website. You do not know where or how these people acquired these products, or the possibly dangerous chemicals that are in them.