Dangerous Dupes

Katina Tsarnas

Degree: BFA

Area: Graphic Design

Thesis Statement

From luxury purses, jewelry, medications, and clothing, counterfeit goods have infiltrated markets and offer consumers designer brand goods for a fraction of the price. The cosmetic industry has recently become another target market for counterfeit goods. These fake products are not regulated and have tested positive for toxic ingredients that pose health risks to consumers.

Counterfeit cosmetic manufacturers are cashing in on the success of the beauty industry by selling products that look identical to top-selling brands. The cosmetic industry has drastically changed in recent years and its demographic now includes a much younger audience. Social media has impacted the cosmetic industry and allowed companies to have their products promoted by influencers who have a wider audience. Young consumers are especially at risk because they are new to the cosmetics industry and may not be aware of where brands allow their products to be sold. Fake advertisements target these young consumers by offering lower prices of products that are unsafe. By analyzing how counterfeiters target specific audiences and how they reproduce these products, I will expose how these producers operate to educate consumers on how to safely purchase authentic products.