Skin troubles after using sunscreen bought on Coupang... It turned out to be a counterfeit

[The Financial News] A sunscreen from a well-known cosmetics brand purchased on Coupang has been revealed to be a counterfeit product, sparking controversy.
According to reporting by The Financial News on the 17th, a man in his 40s, identified only by his surname A, claimed he fell victim to a counterfeit product even though he had been buying the same brand of sunscreen on Coupang for four years.
“The scent and texture of the recently purchased sunscreen were noticeably different from the product I had been using,” A said. “After using it several times, I developed severe skin troubles,” he added.
A’s purchase history on Coupang shows he bought the sunscreen a total of eight times between June 14, 2023, and February 17, 2026. The product later confirmed as counterfeit was purchased on December 29, 2025, and he began using it in February 2026, after which he experienced skin problems.
When A contacted the brand’s headquarters to verify the authenticity of the product, he was told, “We are unable to confirm the production lot number.” This meant the product was a fake.
A immediately filed a complaint with Coupang and received a refund. The problematic product was removed from sale, and the seller’s account was also deleted.
“When I checked my purchase records, I found that although it was the same product, the seller was different every time,” A pointed out. “Because it is difficult for consumers to verify the authenticity of products sold on online platforms, stricter oversight is needed,” he said. He went on to express concern, saying, “There are probably many consumers using counterfeit products without realizing it. If it’s their first time using the product or their skin isn’t sensitive, they may never notice.”
A representative from Coupang commented, “We apply a zero-tolerance policy to the distribution of counterfeit goods,” adding, “If a product purchased by a consumer is confirmed to be counterfeit, we immediately refund the full payment. If a report is filed and we determine that an infringement is clear, we take measures such as suspending sales and blocking exposure of the product.”
Cases of counterfeit products being sold as genuine on Coupang and other online marketplaces continue to occur, and consumers are being urged to exercise particular caution.


gaa1003@fnnews.com Reporter An Gaeul Reporter