Reports abound of fake Jeffree Star cosmetics

Fashion icon Jeffree Star has warned that fake versions of his lipsticks are being sold online - and could be dangerous.

A customer tweeted the singer-songwriter, make-up artist and model, claiming that copies of his liquid lipsticks being sold via the Wish shopping app. Star responded with a series of tweets, indicating that lawyers for his cosmetics company would be taking action.

It subsequently emerged that a number of cybersquatting sites - including jeffreestarcosmeticsau.com (still up at the time of writing) - were also peddling counterfeits, as well as allegations that the knock-offs were also to be found on other sites such as eBay.

An investigation into counterfeit cosmetics conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2014 found that products laced with toxic materials such as carcinogenic elements (arsenic, beryllium, and cadmium), high levels of aluminium and bacteria.

Counterfeit cosmetics have been linked to the development of acne, psoriasis, rashes and eye infections.