Counterfeit Jergens Enters the Market. Is This the Tip of the Iceberg?

Two fake versions of Jergens, a popular drugstore lotion, have been spotted on beauty shelves. Kao USA Inc. has warned customers to double check the labels on bottles of Jergens Ultra Healing 10 oz. and Jergens Original Scent 21 oz. According to the company, only a “small number” has been identified so far.

The counterfeit product may have some telling signs, according to the company. It may have a thin, watery consistency and an unexpected texture, color, or odor. But true lotions are easily identifiable by bar code. The code on a legitimate bottle of Ultra Healing should read UPC 19100-10998 with Lot Code X0G30055; Original Scent will have UPC 19100-10994 with Lot Code X0G13154. According to Dayton Daily News, even shopping at a certified Jergens retailer doesn’t mean the product is legitimate. Counterfeit products have been sold in retail stores around the Northeast United States.

While Kao “has not received any report to date of adverse health effects or injury” due to the fakes, the idea of putting fake lotion on your skin should be enough to make customers double check their bottles. “Consumers, particularly those with impaired immune systems, should be careful not to use the counterfeit lotion,” says the brand.

Jergens is hardly the first brand forced to take action in the face of knockoffs. Counterfeit products, especially of viral products like Kylie Lip Kits, are a consistent problem. But unlike fake Gucci bags, beauty products could mean health impacts for customers.

Customers who have purchased knockoffs complain of ingredients that should be nowhere near a beauty product, from glue (horrifying) to urine a (true nightmare). One study even showed that fake electric beauty tools have been known to cause electrocution. And you’re not the only one who may get hurt by faux product. “In some cases, the proceeds support organized crime and the funding of terrorist organizations,” Bob Barchiesi, president of the International Anticounterfeiting Coalition, told Cosmopolitan. Last year, Kylie Jenner herself got involved after fans let her know about fake Lip Kits. She warned fans to check URLs before purchasing a Lip Kit, even if the product looked exactly like hers.

As Cosmopolitan reports, many of these fake “dupes” come from the cheaper, poorly regulated factories Chinese factories. Brands work as fast as they can do track down fakes — Estée Lauder Companies, for example, has an Intellectual Property Group — but it’s also up to us to consider what we buy. As Karen Buglisi Weiler, global president of MAC Cosmetics, explained, “This isn’t just a MAC issue. It’s a public health and safety issue.”

It’s best, of course, to go to the brand directly when purchasing products. But if you’re scavenging for a deal on eBay or Amazon — we’ve been there — check for a certified retailer, consistent product packaging, and seller reviews. Price point can also be a giveaway. If you’ve found a lip shade online that’s sold out everywhere else and it was sold at a steep discount, look closely before putting it anywhere on your skin.

For their part, Jergens is working with consumers to track down counterfeits. If you suspect you may have purchased a fake Jergens product, the company requests you to contact the Kao USA Consumer Care Center at 1-800-742-8798 or consumer@kao.com.

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