Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1545716
82 ASCP Skin Deep Summer 2026 W hen it comes to devices and skin care tools, determining what's real and what's a waste can seem an impossible task. A quick internet search can turn into an onslaught of ads and infl uencers wreaking havoc on your algorithm with a frenzy of fakes. Your clients look to you for advice, but the task of wading through the dupes and false information is daunting and can feel more like playing a game of "Whack-a-Mole" than research. You want to help, but so many dupes look and sound the same as the originals, and the only diff erence appears to be price, so your recommendations shift toward something budget-friendly. Even a top-10 list of recommendations in an online beauty article can be fueled with affi liate-driven links and short-term marketing trends. This can lead back to where you started, and the cycle resumes. So how do you tell the diff erence, and does it matter? Are all skin care tools the same, just marketed diff erently? What are the downfalls and repercussions of dupes and fakes? Who benefi ts? Who gets hurt? WHAT ARE DUPES? You've probably seen a dupe before but you didn't know what it was or what to call it. A dupe is a product or tool that attempts to mimic Knockoff tools and products hurt the industry by Cecily Braden Beware of Culture Culture DUPE a popular product or tool in name, packaging design, ingredient mix, or some other form in order to confuse buyers and gain market share. They can be created to appeal to consumers who don't have the money to invest in a trend, device, or high-end product and who don't fully understand the risks associated with sacrifi cing quality for a cheaper price tag. DOES IT MATTER? The short answer is yes, it matters that the dupes fl ooding the market are hurting small businesses while padding the pockets of those who steal information from the original creators. Those original creators invested their time, expertise, and often money into the design, research, and development of the product. Imitation isn't the sincerest form of fl attery. It's cheap, lazy, and a quick way to harm small businesses and innovation. Supporting small businesses and purchasing from original creators and authorized retailers is the purest form of admiration—and it's the lifeblood of small businesses and helps sustain ongoing education, customer support, continued innovation, and meaningful product improvements.