Top 10 Biggest SCAMS in the Beauty & Fashion Industries

- 24K Gold Beauty Products
- Influencer Gifting & Paid Reviews
- Collagen Improving Facial Elasticity
- Detox Teas & Skin Supplements
- LuLaRoe Pyramid Scheme
- Made in Italy & Paris Fashion Mislabels
- Blue Light Protection Products
- Clean Beauty, All-Natural, & Organic Labels
- Creams That Make Cellulite & Stretch Marks Disappear
- Fast Fashions Sustainable Collections
#10: 24K Gold Beauty Products
Having precious metals infused into your everyday products may seem like the height of luxury. If anything, however, its the exact opposite. Gold has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties but has primarily been used to treat arthritis rather than skin concerns. While it could have some positive effects on issues like redness or acne, theres no proof that its better than any other antioxidant already on the market. So while using gold products will give your face a bit of a glowing effect, they wont do anything for you in the grand scheme of things. There are plenty of other options, like Vitamin C and green tea that are just as effective and far less expensive.
#9: Influencer Gifting & Paid Reviews
The continued popularity of social media has led to web-based moguls taking on the role of QVC. Despite clear guidelines from the Federal Trade Commission stating that ads, gifted products, and sponsorships must be disclosed, prominent TikTokers have promoted items without doing so. The fact that the rules were flaunted so easily quickly built a culture of distrust. You cant be sure whos being genuine, especially when negative reviews have been bought as well. With the FTC imposing fines on fake reviews in 2024, we may finally see the end of this phenomenonbut for now, its too soon to tell.
#8: Collagen Improving Facial Elasticity
Though the average lifespan is longer than its ever been, looking your age has become a cardinal sin. People all over are pressured to keep their youthful appearance. Some have turned to collagen-infused products that claim to maintain skin elasticity after the body stops naturally producing it. While it has been found to have moisturizing effects, the cells are too big to effectively breach through the skin meaning those promises of reduced fine lines are exaggerated at best. With the protein becoming a thriving industry, companies have realized they could profit off the insecurities of millions. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and wearing sunscreen is all you should need to maintain what your body has made for free.
#7: Detox Teas & Skin Supplements
The concept of being able to fully cleanse yourself is thrilling, but unfortunately impossible. Detox diets and teas have been around for years, promising weight loss and a clean gut. While some may experience the former, its only due to the laxative-like effects found in certain ingredients. A slightly newer idea has been skin detoxification, which claims that the largest organ can purge negative particles with the help of supplements. The science behind this is weak because theres no evidence they work. Its impossible for toxins to exit through the dermis, making it nothing but a gimmick. Both forms can be achieved through eating healthy and keeping yourself exfoliated and moisturizedwhich will feel better for your body and your wallet in the long run.
#6: LuLaRoe Pyramid Scheme
Countless people dream of running a business from their own home. Legging company LuLaRoe seemed to be a beacon for that demographic until the rug was suddenly pulled from beneath them. The business model was seemingly simple. Potential sellers purchased inventory and then resold it. Distributors were expected to sink thousands of dollars into their first batch, and many learned that interest in the clothes was less than expected. This was a classic multi-level marketing scheme, where a few people at the top make bank off the struggles of the people at the bottom. Despite its legal woes, LuLaRoe still exists, and people are still risking their financial futures to sell for them.
#5: Made in Italy & Paris Fashion Mislabels
Who knew something as small as a clothing tag could hold so much significance? Clothes from style-heavy areas of the world, especially France and Italy, have become somewhat of a status symbol. Consumers want to believe theyre buying pieces from countries with storied fashion histories and good labor practices. What many dont know is that the label is only partially honest. While the tags were made and stitched into the garments in those countries, most of the clothes themselves are made in the global South by exploited workers. There have been several recent ramifications to this phenomenon, including a 30 million fraud case. But it was President Trumps recent tariff plan that inspired several Chinese influencers to expose the truth on a broader scale.
#4: Blue Light Protection Products
Modern problems require modem solutions or do they? There are products made to protect us from the suns UV rays, but in recent years, more people are exposed to light through screens. Constant exposure to this blue light can result in dry eyes and cataracts. Companies have attempted to profit off this newfound health fear by creating skincare supposedly designed to protect from the harmful effects. Theyve utilized popular influencers to push it, with streamers and TikTok stars alike creating new lines. Theres limited research on blue lights correlation to skin damage, making the items proposed solutions nothing more than speculation. Experts have found that for now, regular sunscreens do the trick cutting out the need for newer, more expensive alternatives.
#3: Clean Beauty, All-Natural, & Organic Labels
Some labels may promise the world but it doesnt mean they can be trusted. Its easy to see something labeled clean or organic and automatically assume itll have no ill effects on the body. With so many beauty products containing known carcinogens, it makes sense that an alternative option be created. However, the lack of regulation in the industry as a whole has led to various corporations having different definitions of clean. Many still sell things that are riddled with potentially dangerous ingredients. Organic cosmetics arent any better, with the Food and Drug Administration confirming that goods with natural ingredients aren't automatically healthier than synthetic ones. It just goes to show that you cant trust companies even ones that claim to want to help.
#2: Creams That Make Cellulite & Stretch Marks Disappear
Theres seemingly nothing corporations love more than profiting off insecurity. Where theres something to dislike, theres a product offering to fix it. Businesses have been peddling creams and touting miracle cures for decades, and they havent become any less insidious. For cellulite, no amount of ointment can get rid of unreachable fat cells beneath the skin at best, they can slightly reduce their appearance. The same goes for stretch marks, which might fade a little but may never go away. Its easier said than done, but radical self-acceptance and destigmatizing normal body conditions are simpler and less expensive than creams that may never provide the results you desire.
#1: Fast Fashions Sustainable Collections
By now, many are aware of fast fashions disastrous impact on the environment. Some brands have tried to dance around controversy by releasing collections claiming to be sustainable or starting clothes recycling programs, all while obfuscating the real truth. Research has confirmed that while these companies put on a front of caring about the Earth, theres little proof that theyre actually reducing their carbon footprint and emissions. Additionally, many continue to horrifically mistreat the workers making these clothes, with countless rights violations being committed. Its proof that some corporations only care enough about social issues to earn another dollar and that consumers should be extra critical before financially enabling them.
Which of these scams do you think is the most insidious? Let us know in the comments below!
