Fake CND Products, How To Spot Them: An Updated Guide

Fake polishes of leading brands are an increasingly frustrating reality for industry professionals and spotting them can be very tricky. Despite regular changes made by the brands to the design of their bottles and labelling, fake polish producers can often manage to duplicate these changes very successfully. Nicely Polished only sells 100% genuine products and will continue to do so. So how do you spot fake CND Shellac polish?

There are however a few general tell-tale signs and distinguishable features to look out for in determining between genuine and fake polish. However, CND changes their packaging regularly to avoid fakes, which can make it difficult to find genuine articles. The best way to get a genuine product is to buy from a genuine retailer, like NicelyPolished.

Click here to see our guide for older products.

Here is our guide highlighting the notable features to look out for both on the latest CND boxes and the bottles themselves…

How To Spot Fake CND Shellac:

• The newest variation of CND products has the care advice on the back in three languages. 
• CND produces individual batch codes for each colour or product. These will be placed on the bottom of the box and bottle and all genuine products will have these matching. If they are using the same code of different boxes or bottles they are fake and should not be used.
• The batch code on the bottom of the bottle is written in white text on a black sticker. This sticker should peel back into 4 leaves with the text in the same three languages as on the back of the box, in the same order. If the order is different or the text isn’t in three languages then this product is likely to be fake. Bear in mind they can be difficult to peel apart.
• Newer variations of CND products will have three small ridges at equal points around the bottom.
• The name of the colour should be on the back of the product in capital letters, it should NOT include ‘colour’ on the end.
• Unit measurements on the front of the bottle and box should read ‘0.25 Fl. Oz./ 7.3 mL’. This should be followed by a letter e with the far left and far right slightly coloured in. 
• Make sure the correct ‘Opaque/Semi-Sheer/Sheer’ symbols for the colour are used on the side of the box.
• From 2017 many CND bottles became ‘dipped’ (coloured glass) bottles instead of plastic sleeve wrapped bottles with white bases, both bottle styles are still in circulation.

Click here to browse our range of 100% genuine CND Shellac products. 

 How To Spot Fake CND Top Coat and Base Coat:

• As of 2018 all CND Top Coat and Base Coat bottles have a small etched security code on the front of the bottle below the label, made of four characters. This can be quite difficult to see so check in good light.
• There should be CND batch codes on the underneath of the bottle and on the bottom of the box. Check that they are the same code. This is likely to change with the newest products as with the Gel Polish.
• Other than a possible bottle mould number, genuine bottles should have a smooth base – no ridges or bumps. This is likely to change with the newest products as with the Gel Polish.
• The unit measurements on the front of the bottle should read ‘0.25 Fl. Oz. / 7.3 mL’ with the letter e with the far left and far right slightly coloured in, this should be the same on the box as well.
• Fake bottles are likely to have a slightly different text layout on labels.

 How To Spot Fake CND Xpress 5 Top Coat:

• The unit measurements on the front of the bottle should read ‘0.25 Fl. Oz. / 7.3 mL’ with the letter e with the far left and far right slightly coloured in, this should be the same on the box as well.
• Genuine bottles should be slightly round, fake bottles are likely to have totally flat tops.
• Other than the bottle mould number, genuine bottles should have a smooth base – no ridges or bumps.

Click here to check our 100% genuine CND Xpress 5 Top Coat.

 General Tips:

• The newest boxes will have a straight black band horizontally across the box, slightly older branding will have diagonals. This should match perfectly with other products, e.g. a left upwards diagonal and right upwards diagonal will match on the front and back, the straight black band should match other black bands.
• New products will have ‘CURVE HUGGING BRUSH’ at the top, the size of this varies across changes, however, it should be 6 or 7mm depending on the variation. 
• Newest variations have three languages on the back, they should be English, French and Spanish in that order.
• We hate to say it, but one big tip is to consider the cost. If the cost is massively different from other genuine retailers then it is likely that you will not be getting a genuine product.

Note that fake bottles vary in quality with some exhibiting many of the above points. Some will be exhibiting very few but used as an overall guide this information will help you to form a ‘gut feeling’ on whether your CND is genuine or not. The best way to avoid fake products is to buy from a reputable seller like Nicely Polished. Hopefully, we have helped you spot a fake CND product and if you wanted to find out past variations check out our older guide and if you want even more helpful guides and tips check out the rest of our blog.