Crest Whitestrips: FAKE vs REAL

HOW do you know if your Crest whitestrips are real or fake? 💬🔍

(And it's not just the 'Made in xx' to spot. Almost all the fakes print the same city and state that the original is made in. Let's go further!)

1. Crest's logo size should be the largest
   
   
   No matter the range, the Crest logo should be the largest among all the other text on the box or the individual packets. It shouldn't be "3D" or "3D White" that's the largest, only the Crest logo. It's in their corporate branding guidelines - so this applies to any Crest product made years ago and likely in all future.  
   
   
   
2. Range name's font is correct
   
   
   Crest's ranges like Glamorous White and Professional Effects are its pride and joy. There is a specific font and style (e.g. the Professional Effects range is only half-bold, in full capital letters with two different fonts) to ensure that the name is the same. You'll notice that the fake strips don't realize this and their fonts are all over the place.
   
   
   
3. Trademark symbols should be at the right place
   
   
   Trademarks are not cheap and it is a legal necessity to include it whenever the name is used. Crest has trademarked its "3D White" and "Whitestrips", and the authentic Crest would always have the trademark symbol above any mention of it.
   
   
   I've noticed that many fake boxes now ensure that they have it on the box, but the individual packets still do not have them. Please check the individual ones!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Orientation of individual packets: Vertical, not Horizontal / Portrait, not Landscape
   
   
   This only works if you can actually see the individual packets inside the box. But hey, that's the beauty of online shopping: the reviewers tend to post pictures! They may be duped to think these fakes are real, but at least their reviews would show pictures of the individual packets itself and help you assess it before buying. This orientation is the easiest and surest way to tell if it's fake, NO MATTER THE RANGE.
   
   
   
5. So... How do you avoid getting duped? 🙅⛔

1. Don't trust the reviews (Yes, don't!)
   
   
   The industry is over-saturated with more fake Crest whitestrips than real ones, and most people don't even know that there's a difference! Their reviews will all show that it works, and of course it does... ANY harsh bleaching agent (even the ones we use to wash the floor) would actually whiten your teeth, just which one at the expense of forever-damaged gums and enamel? 😭😭😭 Stay safe! You only have one set of original teeth.
   
   
   
   
2. Check the price
   
   
   These fake Crest whitestrips are often sold at a slightly more affordable price than the authentic ones, so that it's not low enough for people to be dubious... yet not high enough such that people would choose the original authentic one over it. 
   
   
   
   
3. Buy it from Crest itself or an official retailer
   
   
   This may seem like an obvious thing, but it isn't simply because many people assume it being on Amazon means that it is authentic. Please check the seller on Amazon and only purchase from Amazon's Crest itself. Most fake Crest whitestrips sellers rely on trusted third-party online stores like Amazon and eBay where they can use proof of purchase (e.g. 10,000 people have bought this item) and "it worked" reviews to look authentic. Most people don't realise the damage to their teeth and assumes their over-sensitive teeth post-fake-Crest is normal.
   
   

This is a Public Service Announcement simply because I'm sick of getting cheated by all these fake Crest whitestrips. I was silly once to not be able to tell the difference, and am now suffering from long-term tooth sensitivity and receding gums because of it. Yes, it will whiten, but this is JUST NOT WORTH IT.

Stay safe, everyone! 💗

Love,

Belle