Are you buying fake skincare products online? The problem is more common than you think

These products might pass quality controls in developing countries, for instance, but may not necessarily meet a developed country’s standards, he cited.

Two of the moisturisers Talking Point purchased online might be parallel imports, he reckoned. They had a 52 to 63 per cent similarity to the reference product.

Parallel imports aside, skincare products are undoubtedly susceptible to counterfeiting because of their “high perceived value” and profit margin, said Ng, who identified several tiers of counterfeiters.

There are those who “just want to make a quick buck”. Then there may be predatory competitors, original equipment manufacturers or distributors — with knowledge of the distribution channels — that “try to copy the products from the brand owners”.