Counterfeit Mac

Like many of you, I too struggled with and had my share of counterfeit MAC. I discovered Mac or makeup in general in 2009 after watching my favorite youtuber Ateyaa talk about Mac and do wonderful makeup tutorials. After watching her videos I was hooked. If she was a sales woman, she would have gotten me to buy whatever she was selling. However, she really wasn't trying to get me to buy anything. It was me..all of my doing. After hearing her name the products from the Mac Starflash Collection, I wrote them down and I begin to search for them. Now looking back at this, I do regret the decision I made. I wish I had done more research on Mac. I didn't even know Mac had counterfeit products. I wish I would have first looked on MAC Cosmetics Website before I begin buying on eBay. I still don't remember how I stumbled across eBay. Oh, yeah I think the Starflash Collection was discontinued. But I still don't recall my reasons for going on there in the first place.

Anyway, boy was I up for a rude awakening. Luckily, I was lucky..or I thought so. Mind you I was also dumb about eBay. But the "buy now" button was calling my name. I don't think I checked out the seller's feedbacks. I clicked on so many "buy now" button's I was $700 in the whole. Luckily, I had the money to pay my debt. Here I was buying Mac items I knew nothing about. I didn't even know if the items were cute on my skin tone. All I knew is that I had to have them and like that I was sucked in....an addict. I was beginning a MAC collection-it was my fetish! When I received my very first counterfeit I was sick (hurt-upset). The smell and texture was horrifying. I slowed down my buying on eBay after that. Started to trust only the "top rated" sellers, or some of my repeat eBay sellers. After I found out some of my repeated eBay sellers and, or some top rated eBay sellers were sending me counterfeits, I was hurt.

Yes, feedbacks do not matter anymore. Why? Because it is easy for people to accidently rate a seller a positive feedback without knowing if the product is real especially if you don't know how the product look (the color and texture). It is also easy to rate a seller a positive feedback if you bought from that seller more than once. It usually took me months to find out, or realized I had a fake in my collection. I trusted these sellers. It just hurt me to know these people out here in this world would take your money and send you counterfeits (that's life huh). I begin to be paranoid. I trusted NO ONE I started accusing everyone one..until someone said to me: "I swear to God I didn't send you a fake item." After that day, I thought there are honest people in this world. They should not be punished. So my mission is to blast any other seller that is selling counterfeits to people.

Please do NOT make my mistake....
Counterfeits are constantly changing..they are getting better
Do as much research on counterfeits as you can
Do YOUR research on the product-It is easier to listen to others who say or claim they have knowledge on something, which is cool but there's nothing better than learning for yourself and by yourself.
Find out what places they are distributing the product to
Before you buy on ebay, ask sellers where did they purchase their products..grill them until they give you an answer. Say it is your right to know (still be polite because they don't have to tell you). These sellers will flip words..don't be afraid to ask what they mean. If they block you for asking them a question, they felt you were a threat.

I am still learning myself...I just found out a lot of information today March 2, 2012 from MAC Corp. office located in NY-ONLY..I will share with you what I know. Everything I learn, I will continue to share. One thing I will say is a lot of MAC stores cannot tell you a lot of info because they don't know. If you want the best answers you have to call the Corp office or Estee Lauder Corp. Office.

Click here to hear my convo with the MAC Corp office

I have censored names and personal/private info

MAC is owed my Estee Lauder..their website says so
MAC is Not affiliated with warehouses
MAC cosmetics (not the brand company) IS affiliated with warehouse sales in Canada which is provided by Estee Lauder (the locations not sure---Call Estee Lauder for that info)
MAC cosmetics (not the brand company) IS affiliated with The Cosmetic Company Store  (CCO) which is provided by Estee Lauder
Once again, I am not sure if they distribute to some or all..I have to find out. But that is what I found. They are listed on the web for public.
Incase the link does not work, go to mallseeker.com. This is only for USA BTW

On the top of the page where it says: "Outlet malls by state-Mall stores by name/brand ect"-click on "Mall stores by category".

Find Health&beauty. Then scroll until you see Cosmetic Company Store.

MAC USA and MAC Canada are connected
MAC UK and Ireland are connected (USA people have to call to place an order).
This is Mac Corp. Office number-1800-387-6707
This is Estee Lauder's info: The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. 767 Fifth Ave. New York, NY 10153 212-572-4200

Other places that sells Mac:
Macy's
Norstroms
Bloomingdales

I am not here to tell you to believe me..but to be smart by educating yourself. I wish I had! Now that I am a little educated..it is a relief. Listen to the phone conversation with MAC corp here. Office in NY

Another cool thing about this is if you take your Mac items to the Mac store they can tell you if they are real or not. I need to do so myself.

One place I can sort of trust (because they made an ASS out of me) is Specktra.net 
Now I do not know if everything they say on the forums are 100 percent correct but far as warehouse sales that are in Canada and CCS/CCO (Cosmetic company outlet) they are legit due to the info I found out on my own. Far as the forum, it is full of craziness. I'd go there personally to look at makeup looks, up-coming products and see what sellers on eBay and or Makeup Alley (MUA) are legit. They are strict..They ban you for disagreeing with others (which is one of the guidelines-have to respect others opinions and views).
-------If you want to know more info about this check out the blogs I've listed on my blog. Maybe there's something there that can help you. Accidentalbeauty talks about counterfeits as well.

Pictures of some counterfeit's I received from some unmentioned Mac sellers:
Mac Knight Divine (permanent until otherwise)

This is really gray looking with silver specks..I cant describe the color but it is not black

This is a Black eyeshadow (e/s) with silver sparkles

Do you see how the real swatch is smooth and the fake swatch is chalky..plus it smells horrible (@ the fake one)

Mac Juiced (discontinued)

This e/s is smoother..I believe it has specks of glitter 

As you can see just like the fake Mac Knight Divine-this too is chalky

See the difference??

For more info or whatever..please ask and I'll try my best to answer or better direct you.
Other fakes such as MAC brushes..pigments..glitters..lipsticks..lip tints I haven't ran into those fake items-yet. However, glitters has a N/A batch code....from reading Accidentalbeauty Mac glitters are soft and a fine grain glitter (I think). Check out her blog too.
Thanks for listening
Younique
xoxo