How to Tell Original Makeup From Fake in Nigeria, and Where to Buy Didi Beauty Safely

NAFDAC has just published a fresh list of fake and counterfeit products, and it tells shoppers to check registration numbers, batch numbers and expiry dates before paying. Makeup is part of that warning, and the Christmas buying rush is a few weeks away.

Here’s a two-minute checklist, plus the places where you can buy Didi Beauty products without wondering what’s in the box.

How Can You Tell If Makeup Is Original in Nigeria?

Run these five checks before you pay.

First, look up the NAFDAC number on NAFDAC’s official verification portal and confirm the result matches the brand and product in your hand. A number printed on the box isn’t proof by itself, so always verify it.

Second, find the batch number and expiry date. They should be printed into the packaging, not stuck on with a cheap sticker.

Third, compare the shade name with the brand’s own website. A genuine product’s shade names match the ones on the official site. 

Fourth, trust your senses. A change in colour, smell or texture is a reason to stop. A gloss that smells sour or a lipstick that feels chalky is telling you something.

Fifth, check the seller. Online, confirm the seller is recognised by the brand, and look beyond star ratings. A price far below the brand’s own store deserves a question too. 

For more on safe online shopping, read How to Buy Makeup Online in Nigeria Without the Regrets.

Is It Safe to Buy Makeup From Instagram Vendors?

It can be, if the vendor is verified. Some social media sellers lure buyers with photos taken from other pages, so ask for a live video of the exact item and read real reviews.

Our official pages are @shopdidibeautyco for Africa, @didibeautyco for global orders, and @thedididivas for the community. Plenty of Didi Divas order through DMs, and that’s fine when the message comes from one of those handles. If someone from another account offers you “Didi Beauty stock”, ask them to show up on our distributors list.

Where Can You Buy Original Didi Beauty Products in Nigeria?

Online at didibeauty.shop. In person, you’ll find us at Glam Beauty Jay in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, and at House of Tara outlets in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Asaba and Benin etc. The full distributors list is the page to check before buying from anyone else.

Starting a lip kit? The Lip Vault Bundle puts liner, lipstick and gloss in one order from the source.

Buying Makeup in Bulk for a Team or Group?

Bulk is where fakes hurt most, because one bad supplier means twenty bad gifts. We run two official routes.

The tiered corporate discount gives 12%, 14%, 16% or 18% off, depending on order size. Discount 4 My Squad gives a 15% total cap: 5% each for a squad of three, or 3% each for a squad of five. Both are set up through the team on our contact page. A code from anywhere else didn’t come from us.

If you missed the details, start with the Group Gifting Voucher post and the Squad and corporate reform post.

What Should You Do If You Think You Bought Fake Makeup?

Stop using it. Keep the packaging and the receipt, take clear photos of the batch number and NAFDAC number, and report it to NAFDAC. If it was sold to you as Didi Beauty, send us the photos and the seller’s details on our official handles.

How do I check if a cosmetic product is NAFDAC registered?
Find the registration number on the packaging, enter it on NAFDAC’s official portal or app, and confirm the product name and company match what you’re holding.

Can fake makeup carry a real NAFDAC number?
Yes. A copied number can sit on a counterfeit box, which is why you compare the lookup result with the product itself.

Where can I buy original makeup in Lagos?
Buy from the brand’s own store or its listed partners. For Didi Beauty, that’s didibeauty.shop, Glam Beauty Jay in Lekki, and House of Tara.

Is Didi Beauty available in Abuja?
Yes, through House of Tara outlets. See the distributors list for current stockists.

Is Didi Beauty vegan?
Yes. Every product is vegan, cruelty-free and paraben-free.

Can my company buy Didi Beauty in bulk for staff gifts?
Yes. Use the tiered corporate discount for one company order, or Discount 4 My Squad when each person shops for herself. Start on the contact page.

Browse the full range in the Lips collection or the Bundle Deals and Gift Boxes.