So why are there fake Korean cosmetics? As the world of cosmetics grow from South Korea with a global demand – it should be no surprise that there is a lot of money being made. Especially when it comes to high-quality brands (and especially our longtime favourites) such as Beauty of Joseon, Medicube, Anua, TIRTIR and Round Lab. These are loved products that are being bought all the time by lots of people – so it’s not entirely surprising less-than-honest people are getting in on the action. 

Counterfeit products are mostly coming from China, where the manufacturing capacity is beyond our wildest dreams in Australia. Over 5 months, there were 2.25 million listings of Korean products that were found to be counterfeit products, pretending to imitate trusted and high-esteemed brands. And this has only increased, leading to losses from market leaders and an increasing number of disappointed customers. 

So, how can you stay safe? 

Our eyes are remarkable and able to pick up tiny imperceptible differences in color and texture and design. And this was the number one way to originally spot fakes when they first started cropping up – with poor dye jobs, bad logo copies and spelling errors. 

Korean cosmetics, however, were famous for their loose printing of colors from batch to batch – making this an uncertain way to tell if you’ve received a fake. Just because one serum box is more pale than your previous 5 does not mean you suddenly have a fake on your hands. But, this is becoming less common – as Korean companies are being conscious that people have trust in consistent packaging. 

Newer companies, however, often have packaging updates and refresh their design – as they are constantly growing and upgrading their tastes, whilst finding their unique design.

Take these two Medicube Deep Vita C Capsule Creams. Their batch numbers are one batch number apart (3D vs 8D) but they look completely different. Their boxes (and the product inside) are identical – but it has an updated color scheme, which could definitely give someone pause.

But long-standing brands (such as Beauty of Joseon and COSRX) have noted the concern from consumers about these inconsistencies and at Arktastic we have noted that since 2024 - there is a much more solid identity. Cosrx is far less likely to have different shades than previously and Beauty of Joseon has made their packaging immaculate to try sway suspicion.

This means, in 2025, if it looks off - it probably is. Unless a company has revamped their packaging (which you can find out from a Google), it's likely not what you're hoping it is and it can stay on the shelf.

It's time to check a little closer if everything looks alright on the packaging. This is a major market and people know somebody won't be fooled by the dramatic misprints and spelling errors. Fakes are now printing identical boxes to previous iterations - making your job harder. So we have to read the box.

Even if you aren't fluent in Korean - what we just want to focus on is two important identifiers. The Barcode number (which is unique to each individual product) and the Batch number.

Let's zoom in on that Medicube Deep Vita A Capsule Cream barcode. Also known as the product GTIN this will be unique to each product on the market, to avoid obvious confusion when selling products in different markets. A sloppy fake won't have the right GTIN, the barcode will be faded, patchy or poorly printed.

You can always check a products official barcode number on our website - under product ‘Specifications’ and check against its GTIN. It should always match if you've received the right product.

But what about a deeper dupe? For that, you need the batch number. These are 5-6 numerals that commonly contain two letters and 3-4 numbers and should be next to your expiry/manufacturers date.

This is how a company will be able to tell a dupe - as their manufacturer's numbers are only made from batch to batch and are hard to mimic. For some Korean brands (and tons more!) you can check directly on Check Exp.com. Just by putting in the batch number, you can get a verification on your product. Putting in a ‘fake’ code will prompt the tool to tell you the product is ‘unavailable’ which is a key sign it does not match the manufacturer. 

Check out this fake from a well-known, cheap site. It's selling Cosrx Low pH Gel Cleanser for more than the Australian market - and it's actually fake. But it's a perfect fake. It's barcode matches the official GTIN, there is no smudging or spelling errors on the packaging and down to the “official” Cosrx tape - I could have been fooled.
 

If not, for that pesky Batch Code. Just like a Scooby Doo villain - they've been caught! With a Batch code of CP6222, our trusty friend CheckExp.com confirms that this product was never made by Cosrx.

And selling it at a ‘high market rate' is likely both a tactic and because ripping off the packaging so closely probably costs a good coin. In 2025, counterfeiters have access to the same products we do and the fakes are only going to get more and more realistic. Relying on Batch Codes can help in a pinch - but they're not available for all of us on all brands. 

You can submit products for CheckExp.com to review - so if there's something you want more access on, do reach out to their team.

Got a product delivered that you're just not sure about? A sale that was just too good and now you're living in regret? Well, maybe the product is the real deal - and if you're unable to check the batch number online and the packaging holds up - you may be brave enough to test it out.

If you've known a product a long time and think it's the real deal, you can perform a spot test on the back of your hand. If it feels itchy or burning, immediately discard the product. Do not use it on your face, call it a loss and let the rest of us know on socials. Fake cosmetics are only going to get bolder - but if we hold them accountable, you can stop others getting tricked!

When supplying real Korean cosmetics – as a business we can’t just run away and do whatever we want with the products we represent. In fact, we have a pricing model that we are expected to follow to keep in line with the brand expectations. A brand doesn’t want their products being sold ‘on the cheap’ and will complain or withdraw their products entirely if it’s not respected on the market.

So, if you know that your favourite Medicube serum costs $39 and you see it for $20? You should genuinely hesitate. Where has this serum likely come from? A respected partner with the brand or somewhere disreputable... 

Having a great deal or sale with a respected seller is great – but if you are reaching for something in your cart that feels too good to be true, maybe dig a little deeper. Make sure the reviews are airtight, don’t buy from a known cheap brand and even if they say it’s 100% authentic – unfortunately that doesn’t mean it is. 

Our company only communicates and accepts products from trusted suppliers directly from Seoul, Korea to avoid the dangers of false products entering the supply chain. We're worked hard to maintain these trusted connections and absolutely do not accept products from outside of Korea to ensure our standards are kept and our customers are receiving what they pay for.

It's actually infuriating the effort that counterfeit artists put into ripping us off - and a lot of them do it to our face. So, we come to our final tip.

Make sure you only buy your cosmetics from good places. As proven before, the prices in Australia are genuinely competitive. You're likely to get a better deal from a genuine Korean beauty supplier than you are from Shein or Temu, And it will be real.

There are definitely things you can gamble with - that two day old fried rice in the fridge? The chance you won't get a parking ticket 5 minutes over? Whether or not someone will walk past the tea room to see you take the last donut? Sure. 

But don't gamble on dodgy skincare. I would rather you always visit the chemist and buy the cheapest face wash imaginable than to buy something online that's pretending to be something it's not. It can destroy brands, wastes your money and nobody knows what is being put in there. Be safe, be smart and only shop on legitimate places that are known for their honesty and reliability. 

So, can you always spot a fake? Not with your eyes! Packaging is becoming so advanced and counterfeit artists will always want your money. In summary -

- Be Smart
- Shop in Safe Places
- Check your Barcode Numbers
- Check the Batch Numbers Where you Can
- Don't Trust Dodgy Products

And together, we can enjoy what Korean beauty is meant to be about. Natural, authentic products that help us feel our cutest.

Concerned about a fake product? Check the GTIN/Barcode on Arktastic. Select the similar product and check ‘Specifications’ to start your detective journey and uncover the truth.

Where Do Fake K-beauty Products Come From? 
Statistically, the majority are coming from China at the moment. This is just due to China’s massive manufacturing capabilities and technology that makes mass producing cosmetics and look-alikes a breeze. As the technology of counterfeit artists increase, it actually rivals that of the company they base their products on, and it becomes far harder and harder to spot the difference – so always be careful. 

Are Fake Korean Cosmetics Cheaper? 
The idea behind duplicates is that they are marketed far cheaper to draw people away from genuine sources. This can absolutely be the case, especially in marketplaces or on platforms where who you are buying from is not clear. It’s important to be a detective and be suspicious when you’re approaching a new platform. Fancy fakes, however, are actually priced to be similar to real, genuine products – so don’t always take the price as a verified sign. 

What’s Bad About Fake Korean Cosmetics? 
It’s a rather scary market, actually – where your hard-earned money is being squandered on a far cheaper product that is likely to actually harm your skin, may contain damaging compounds (or worse) may contain products that can trigger allergies or lasting injury to skin. It damages the brand you wanted to buy from (after all, you think you were receiving a genuine product), it damages you directly and it creates poor trust in the market as a whole. Any cosmetic – genuine or not – that causes any damage to your skin, should not be used. Be careful and safe. 

What is the Best Way to Avoid Fake Korean Cosmetics? 
Buy from reputable sources. If you buy from an open market (or especially from an overseas based company that has a vague source of their products), there’s a much higher chance a counterfeit product enters circulation. Having analyzed fake Korean cosmetics – the higher-level duplicates are so advanced you cannot tell with your eyes what is real and what isn’t. Don’t buy from large marketplaces with unknown suppliers and definitely don’t buy from places that are known for fake products (i.e. Shein or Temu).