Some knock-off items are really well done, to the point that it can be confusing to tell them apart from the authentic brands. This poses a danger to us consumers, especially for those who unknowingly spend money on things that are of poor quality. To avoid being duped, we gathered these tricks that could help you determine if a branded product is genuine or counterfeit.

1. MAC Lipstick

• The first thing you can check is the color of the applicator. A real MAC lipstick would be shiny, since it is made from aluminum and steel. Meanwhile, a counterfeit version would be more dull. Because of the alloy material, MAC lipsticks should also feel heavier than a fake one.
• You should feel a slight bump when you run your fingers through the silver ring that separates the cap from the applicator. If it feels smooth, it’s most likely fake.
• Turn the lipstick all the way up so that the plastic ring that holds the lipstick is exposed. That part should be clear or transparent. An imitation lipstick would have a white or opaque one instead.

2. Gold jewelry

• Another way to check the authenticity of gold jewelry is to drag your piece across an unglazed ceramic plate. Make sure to apply light pressure. If you see a gold mark on the ceramic, the gold is real. If you see a black mark, then it’s fake.

3. Toms espadrilles

• Next, you can check the back of the espadrille to look at the logo. The letters of the original brand are perfectly balanced and square. However, the letters of the fake brand are pointed and unbalanced (note the odd shape of the letter “O”). Also, the stitching around the label appears thicker on the fake ones.
• You can also check the sides of the shoes to see if any glue is discernible. A reputable brand would never allow something like this, but a copy would probably have glue all over it.

4. Ralph Lauren polo shirt

• The most important detail of Ralph Lauren products is the embroidered logo. The embroidery on the original items is done very carefully and you can easily distinguish even the smallest details: the mallet, the rider’s helmet, and the horse reins. Moreover, the rider is embroidered with a second layer on top of the horse. In replicas, the embroidery is messy and all the small details merge together.

5. Guess handbags

• Next, you need to check the lining of the bag. Original Guess bags have an apparent soft lining, while fake ones sometimes have no lining. And if they do, it is very thin, like a sheet of paper.
• Finally, you can check the metal of the bag. The metal applications of a genuine Guess bag are sturdy and shiny, with a smooth surface. Counterfeiters, on the other hand, use a cheaper material that may appear dull and even have surface marks.

6. Hermès handbags

• Next, you can check the leather strap of the bag and inspect the stitching. On a genuine bag, the stitching looks much more elegant and flawless. In contrast, the stitching on the fake bag is not as elegant and, in some areas, looks thicker than that of the original bag.

7. Air Jordan

• The sneakers, or their toes, shouldn’t be bulky when in profile.
• The embossment of their wings logo won’t be as prominent on the fake pair.

8. Jacquemus bag

• Metallic letters with the brand name should be neat and more raised. For replicas, they are usually flatter and inferior in quality.
• Another way to verify the authenticity of a bag is to check the stitching. The stitches should be the same length, and the seams should be strictly symmetrical. Thick thread holds all the pieces together, whereas the sewing on the fake bag is sloppy and asymmetrical.

9. Levi’s

• In addition, the color of the stitching is traditionally orange on original jeans, while many fakes use white thread.
• The third sign of a fake pair of Levi’s jeans is the red tag on the back pocket. An original pair has “Levi’s” written on the red label, while a fake pair has a plain red tag with the letter “R.”

10. Nike t-shirts

• Next, the label inside the T-shirt should be checked for misspellings. The original brand would never misspell words, but counterfeit products may have one or more errors.
• You will also need to look at the labels inside the shirt, near the bottom. Nike’s usually have two or more labels sewn in, while the fake ones usually have only one.