Accept no imitations | Pocketmags.com

COPIED
2 mins

Accept no imitations

Image Skincare UK’s Graham Clarke explains how you can warn clients about unauthorised online skincare retailers

Unfortunately, unauthorised online sellers have grown at an exponential rate during the covid-19 crisis and while this is not a new problem, it is really affecting our industry’s businesses on all levels.

The unauthorised sellers out there obtain products and imagery from a number of sources without the brand’s permission and prove difficult to stop. In some cases, they remove the brand from one site, only to sell on a sister site. This year at Image Skincare UK, we began a national campaign to minimise the impact of this on our partner network and business.

To discourage your customers from purchasing clinical skincare from unauthorised sellers, there are a few key points you should discuss with them. The first is expired products, as many active ingredients found in skincare products can break down over time, and authorised resellers rarely take care to follow best practices when it comes to storage. The introduction of oxygen can decrease the effectiveness of skincare formulations, but that’s the least of the dangers; bacteria, mould, yeast and dust can also cause serious allergic reactions or far worse.

It is also possible that the item your client has their eye on is discounted because it is counterfeit. Purchasing a knock-off bag or pair of shoes is one thing, but when it comes to skincare this can be very dangerous. The people who are making the products are likely taking shortcuts in how they are made; they may be adding harmful ingredients, making the products in unsanitary conditions or, even worse, there may be child labour involved in the making of some counterfeit items.

If the price seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Encourage your clients to purchase direct or from your own official trusted site. For the entire Image Skincare UK partner network, we’ve launched an authorised retailer’s logo, which is digitally watermarked to prevent improper use. We’re also moving through a process of education and social posts to educate our network and our public audiences to only shop where they see this logo.

While we are more than aware this will not completely stop unscrupulous resellers, the hope is that via constant education we can stamp this out as much as possible and minimise the impact on our professional partner network. We know this is not unique to Image Skincare UK, and we are also seeking to form a group of industry leaders to tackle this issue together.

Graham Clarke is sales director at Image Skincare UK. Having worked with multiple international beauty brands throughout his career including Space NK, Sothys and AVED, he moved into the cosmeceutical skincare field in 2019 when he joined Image Skincare UK.

This article appears in October 2021

Go to Page View
This article appears in...
October 2021
Go to Page View
WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF AESTHETIC MEDICINE
If you’re picking up this copy at Aesthetic
Meet the experts
The Aesthetic Medicine editorial board includes some of the leading names in aesthetics. Their clinical expertise and diverse range of specialties help ensure the magazine meets the needs of its readers
NEWS AND ANALYSIS
Evidence review suggests serious toxin complications widely under–reported
Wise choice
All you need to know about LED light therapy so you can make the best buying decision
Ask Alex
Clinic digital marketing specialist Alex Bugg answers your questions
Duty of care
Employment law and health and safety expert Nick Babington explains the Government’s new policy on sexual harassment in the workplace
Meet the patients
Cosmetic doctor Dr Gareth O’Hare shares his advice on successfully introducing new brands to your patients
Generation next
How DEKA is taking laser hair removal to the next level with AGAIN
Where we’re at
Clinic business coach Alan Adams shares his five steps to re–evaluating your business for future success at this point post–pandemic
Stick to the schedule
Social media expert Debbie Lewis outlines how to create a workable social media plan you actually have time for
Accept no imitations
Image Skincare UK’s Graham Clarke explains how you can warn clients about unauthorised online skincare retailers
Winter ready
Help patients get their skin ready for winter with ZO Skin Health
Pieces of the puzzle
Focusing on patient–practitioner compatibility can give a better insight into patient psychology, says Dr Nestor Demosthenous
State of emergency
Dr Martyn King, medical director of ACE Group World, shares the organisation’s latest guidance regarding emergency kits
Mantra for success
Dr Melissa McKay on why BELOTERO ® is her product of choice in her clinic
An apple a day...
Jennifer Irvine shares nutritional advice to support patients in a healthy, fast recovery after invasive procedures
On the spot
Laser specialist Kerry Belba explores the best options for treating acne and acne scarring with laser
Skin deep
An innovative device for the treatment of autoimmune skin conditions
PRODUCT NEWS
Croma–Pharma Juvenus is a new polynucleotide-based injectable moisturiser
Beauty sleep
We take a look at Dr Steve Harris’s anti–ageing sleep mask – his first product launch which has been six years in the making
Defining feature
Dr MJ Rowland–Warmann presents a male jawline treatment using collagen–stimulating filler
Inside job
Could a nutraceutical supplement really treat a patient’s cystic acne in three months? We explore this clinical trial from Totally Derma
Looking for back issues?
Browse the Archive >

Previous Article Next Article