Safety · 7 min read
Fake Cosmetics in India: What the Latest Seizures Show
Suspected counterfeit L'Oréal and Matrix products were seized in Ahmedabad. What's reported, what isn't proven, and how to check a cosmetic before you buy.
Festive sale season is also when counterfeit and unlicensed cosmetics are easiest to sell. Recent reports from Gujarat and Maharashtra show what enforcement is finding. This page sets out what has been reported, what isn't yet known, and what you can check before you buy or use something.
We have kept to facts from news reports. Where something is only suspected, we say so, and we haven't tested any product ourselves.
Ahmedabad: suspected counterfeit hair and beauty products
According to Gujarat Samachar (16 October 2026), Ahmedabad's Crime Branch Special Operations Group seized about 1,221 suspected counterfeit products, valued at roughly Rs 6.9 lakh, from two shops on Gheekanta Road. The products were described as imitations of L'Oréal and Matrix brands. The action followed a tip-off from a person described as an authorised representative of L'Oréal, and cases were registered under the Copyright Act.
Two points matter. First, the report calls the goods "suspected": samples are being sent for laboratory testing, and nothing has been proven in court. Second, the brands named are the ones being imitated, not parties accused of wrongdoing.
Maharashtra: unlicensed and misbranded stock
Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration has also been inspecting cosmetic sellers this year. The Free Press Journal (9 October 2026) reports 29 inspections between June and August, with three licence suspensions and one cancellation. In June, Pune Pulse reported that stock worth about Rs 34.6 lakh was seized in Karad and Mumbai. Some of it was described as misbranded because bottles lacked batch numbers, manufacturing dates and manufacturer information, and some products carried misleading claims.
The same Free Press Journal report notes that the FDA had earlier declared several creams "not of standard quality" after finding mercury and lead above permissible limits, and that CDSCO issued an alert on two imported creams in September. We cover that notice in our CDSCO explainer.
What these cases have in common
- Missing or vague label information: no batch number, manufacturing date, or manufacturer details.
- Sales outside authorised channels: small shops, wholesale markets and online sellers with no brand link.
- Big claims: miracle results and "whitening" promises.
- Prices well below normal.
None of these proves a product is fake, but together they're the reason to look harder.
How to protect yourself
- Buy from the brand's own store, an authorised retailer or a platform's brand-run storefront. A very low price on a popular product is a warning sign.
- Read the label on arrival. You should find the manufacturer or importer's name and address, a batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates, and an ingredient list. Compare the printing, font and packaging with a product you know is genuine.
- Check the batch code. Our batch code checker reads the manufacturing date on many brands. A valid-looking code tells you a date, but it can't prove a product is genuine, because codes can be copied.
- Look at the product itself. A broken seal, odd smell, different colour or separated texture means don't use it.
- Keep the invoice and photos of the pack and label. If something looks wrong, contact the seller and the brand, and you can use the National Consumer Helpline (1915) or consumerhelpline.gov.in.
- Stop using a product that causes a reaction. Rash, swelling, burning or other symptoms need a doctor, and the pack is useful evidence.
The longer version, with what to do if you've been sold a fake, is in how to check if a cosmetic is original. If you're shopping the sales, see our ingredient-first sale guide, and check expiry on clearance stock with our batch-code guide.
Hair products too
The Ahmedabad report involved hair and beauty products. Counterfeit hair colour and treatments carry their own risks, since dyes can cause allergic reactions. If you colour your hair, read how to check a hair colour label and patch test every time.
Quick answers
How can I tell if a cosmetic is fake?
No single test works. Check the seller, the label details, the batch code and the product itself together.
Does a batch code prove a product is genuine?
No. It tells you a manufacturing date. Counterfeiters can copy codes.
Where do I report a suspected fake?
Tell the brand, the platform where you bought it and the National Consumer Helpline (1915). Your state drug control department handles cosmetics enforcement.
This is a summary of news reports and regulator notices for consumer awareness. We haven't tested any product. Allegations in the reports above are unproven. Not medical advice.