The idea of illegal hair and skin care products has nothing to do with specialty brands being sold on the black market. Rather, it’s a process that takes place right before your eyes each time you shop at the store. Knowing how to tell the difference between a knockoff and the real thing will keep you from becoming a victim.

It isn’t always easy to shell out top dollar for products at your favorite salon or day spa. At the same time, most people know that you get what you pay for and going for cheaper hair care and skin care products at the store may not get you the results you want. However what happens when you come across your favorite salon brand in the hair care aisle of your local drugstore? If it appears too good to be true, it probably is and this situation is no exception.

Illegally diverted products are described as products that haven’t been authorized by the manufacturer to be sold anywhere else other than the salons and spas they were made for.  

There are a few ways that illegally diverted products end up on store shelves. Sometimes these hair care and skin care products have been discontinued, expired or counterfeited completely. These products are tampered with severely, often using fillers and unsafe ingredient. Some have even been shown to contain bacteria, according to independent research studies. Allergic reactions, hair loss, skin discoloration and other negative side effects can occur as a result of using illegally diverted products.

The skin care and hair care industry is very aware that certain items are being turned into illegally diverted products and are taking steps to crack down on this problem. Removing identifiable marks such as barcodes from its products makes it harder for individuals pushing these illegal goods to sell them to major retailers. Often retailers are unaware that they are purchasing illegally diverted products so many salons and spas around the country now buy their skin care and hair care products directly from the manufacturer themselves. This eliminates the middleman and any opportunity to get a hold of the products.

But the manufacturers can’t do it alone. If you see a hair care or skin care product that you think may be an illegally diverted product, call the brand manufacturer right away and list the product name(s) and the store where the item is being sold. Be sure to ask the salon or spa you go to if any of their products are sold outside of their facility and be on the lookout for those brands the next time you go shopping.

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