Beauty junkies love a good deal — honestly, who doesn't? Sales and special offers of our favorite makeup brands don't come often enough and we're always on the lookout for the best prices on makeup and beauty products. But sometimes, our bargain-hunting takes us too far, to mysterious stores that sell all our favorite products...at suspiciously low prices. Is this too good to be true? Chances are, it is — and you may be in danger of purchasing fake makeup.

Counterfeit cosmetics has been a growing problem in the industry. Parent company Estee Lauder recently launched a series of investigations to crack down on sellers of fake M.A.C. products. Even Homeland Security got involved, forming Operation Plastic Beauty to prevent the entry of counterfeit beauty products in the country.  

There is real danger in buying and using fake makeup. It is not as simple as buying a knock-off Chanel bag — because you are actually applying these products on your skin. And with fake makeup and skin care, it is highly unlikely that they're made with the same safe ingredients as the original. Sure, it looks like the real thing, but it could contain horror story-worthy contaminants like arsenic, rat droppings and human urine (yes, really). You don't know what the effects may be — you may even have extreme allergic reaction due to fake beauty products. You wouldn't be the first: A beauty blogger even got an eye infection from using a fake Urban Decay eyeshadow palette. Yikes.

So, do yourself a favor and don't be swayed by the cheap price! Avoid fake makeup and skin care at all costs. Here are some tips on how you can figure out if your latest deal is actually counterfeit.

Image via Imaxtree

Yes, there are lots of great deals at Sephora, Ulta and other retailers. But that doesn't mean that a M.A.C. foundation would suddenly drop to a drugstore price. Since manufacturers regulate their pricing, it is highly unlikely that they would mark it down too low. If it seems suspiciously cheap, then it is most likely fake.

Image via Imaxtree

Most counterfeit beauty products imitate the original packaging, but they might not be so great with spelling. Check the product with the brand's official site and compare labels to make sure everything is spelled correctly and is in the correct order. These little details come in handy to help you know if you're about to buy a fake beauty product.

For K-beauty lovers, the influx of fake Korean beauty products has been a big problem. This is even more problematic since these products come from overseas and it's difficult to know if what you just bought is the real thing. Thankfully, Korean cosmetic brands have teamed up with developers like Hiddentag and Brandsafer to let consumers authenticate their products using an app. An authenticating sticker is placed on each product, which you can scan to verify.

Image via Imaxtree

If you don't have the time to scrutinize every single detail of every product you buy, here's a fail-safe technique: buy the product in authorized retailers or at the company store. Trusted stores such as Sephora and Ulta partner with the brands themselves, so you are sure that what you're getting is 100% legit. Always be careful when buying on Amazon or eBay, as these accept third-party sellers who may not be carrying genuine products.

Image via Getty