Four shipments of counterfeit brand-name anti-aging facial cream and Sharpie pens were seized in Allentown in late February and earlier this month by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, who warned customers of the serious health threats posed by knockoff cosmetics.

Customs reported on March 1 officers seized 60 boxes of counterfeit Estee Lauder Resilience Multi-Effect Moisturizer Tri-Peptide Face and Neck Crème shipped from Hong Kong to an address in Allentown. The shipment of luxury brand facial cream was valued at $8,400, had the facial cream been genuine.

Officials said on Feb. 26, officers separately seized 50 boxes of counterfeit SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 anti-aging cream being shipped to an address in Allentown, and 50 boxes of counterfeit Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum cream being shipped to an address in Whitehall. Both parcels were shipped from Hong Kong and were valued at $7,750 and $5,400, respectively, had the facial cream been genuine.

The following day, CBP officials seized 50 boxes of counterfeit Estee Lauder high-end anti-aging creams shipped from China to an address in Whitehall. This shipment of luxury brand facial cream was valued at $7,000, had the facial cream been genuine.

Also seized that day were 3,000 counterfeit Sharpie felt tip pens that shipped from China to an address in Birdsboro. The Sharpie pens were valued at $1,530, had the marker pens been genuine.

Collectively, the four shipments of counterfeit cosmetics were valued at $28,550, had the cosmetics been genuine.

According to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, some counterfeit cosmetics contain chemicals known to cause cancer, acne, eczema and other health issues. Various levels of urine and other dangerous substances have also been found in counterfeit cosmetics.

In each seizure, CBP officers suspected the shipments to be counterfeit and detained them. The officers submitted product documentation and photographs to CBP’s trade experts at the Center of Excellence and Expertise for analysis. Officials said CBP’s trade experts worked with the trademark holders and verified the anti-aging and facial creams, and the Sharpie pens were counterfeit and subject to seizure pursuant to CBP’s statutory and regulatory authorities.

For more information about the consequences and dangers often associated with the purchase of counterfeit goods visit the Truth Behind Counterfeits public awareness campaign website at CBP’s Fake Goods Real Dangers webpage