How to read a batch code and spot a fake
Counterfeit skincare is a real problem in this market. Three checks take under a minute and catch most of it.
We get asked to verify products bought elsewhere every week. Usually the answer is reassuring. Sometimes it is not, and the tells are consistent.
Three checks
- Batch code: printed or laser-etched, never a sticker over the original. It should match the code on the outer box.
- Print quality: real packaging has crisp registration. Blurred edges and slightly-off brand colours are the giveaway.
- Texture and scent: if it smells sharper or feels thinner than the last bottle, stop using it.
Send us a photo of any batch code and we will trace it for you, even if you did not buy it from us. It costs us a minute and saves someone a bad reaction.
What the code tells you
A batch code identifies when and where a product was made. Brands use it to trace recalls; you can use it to work out a manufacture date. Most brands encode the year and month, and free batch-code checkers online can decode the common formats.
Where to find it
- Embossed on the crimp at the end of a tube.
- Printed on the base of a bottle or jar.
Reader notes