A shell company is promoting and selling an under-eye skin firming cream using images a surgeon and a licensed aesthetician say are stolen—and falsely claiming to have performed millions of dollars worth of charity work. Consumers who’ve fallen prey to the sham company and product variously suggest it did nothing at all for them, or was dangerous and damaged their skin, and that refunds were impossible to obtain, despite a promotional 60-day money-back guarantee by Cëlyn.
For the second time in four months, concerns have been voiced publicly over a cosmetic company using false results to promote a sell its under-eye firming cream.
The results shared are actually the results of a facial plastic surgeon’s work, an esthetician’s own skincare routine, and of another reputable cosmetic company’s facial cream.
False Ads Suggest Surgeons and Derms Endorse Cëlyn Cosmetics. They Don’t.
Deceptive Editing, Stolen Footage: This compilation image, composed of screen shots from Cëlyn advertisements and videos on TikTok is representative of its deceptive practices. Cëlyn video editors altered original content by dermatologists and doctors, to make it appear as though they endorse its products.
Here’s What These Surgeons, MDs, and Dermatologists Were Actually Saying
- Dr. Mark Storm was reviewing a Peter Thomas Roth under-eye cream.
- Dr. Amir Karam was discussing nonsurgical treatments.
- Dr. Muneeb Shah was discussing under-eye use of vaseline.
(See also: TikTok Scam, Doctor’s Duet Stolen to Peddle Weight Loss Coffee, and Ads Used Surgeon’s Work to Sell Non-Surgical Devices.)
Fraud Alert: Dr. Kami Parsa, MD, a Beverly Hills board-certified plastic surgeon said Saturday that Cëlyn Cosmetics was fraudulently using pictures of his patients’ surgical results to advertise and sell its under eye skin firming cream, which is available for sell on WalMart.com and Amazon, he warned.
Cëlyn Cosmetics Used Image From Reputable Firm, Whose $1M+ Charity Work it Also Claimed Credit For
Cëlyn Cosmetics’ now defunct website uses the image of a woman whose face and likeness are seen on the website of Fièra Cosmetics.
Fièra, a reputable New York-based cosmetic firm, is not involved in this scam, but is one of the victims of it, whose work and website layout has been stolen.
A reverse-image search with Google Lens finds the above image is actually from Fièra Cosmetics, as seen here. An Internet Archive search supports that the image originated from Fièra Cosmetics.
Cëlyn Cosmetics’ now-defunct website also included a claim that it had donated more than 2.8-million meals to charities, including to Food Rescue US.
These charity meal donations were actually the work of Fièra Cosmetics, as acknowledged by donation recipient Food Rescue USA.
(See “Fièra Cosmetics Donates One Million Meals to Food Rescue US and Second Harvest Canada,” published by Food Rescue US on June 7, 2021.)
At present, that number is now 3.04-million meals, courtesy of Fièra Cosmetics:
Surgeon says Cëlyn Cosmetics Stole Surgical Before/After Images
Beverly Hills board-certified plastic surgeon Kami Parsa said Saturday morning that Cëlyn Cosmetics had usurped before and after images from one of his patients, falsely claiming a Cëlyn face cream was the source of the results.
“Cëlyn is selling a fake product that use my before after surgical results to sell you an eye care that does not work. They are not only doing this on TikTok and IG but also on Amazon, Walmart… everywhere.”
Kami Parsa, Beverly Hills board-certified facial plastic surgeon, whose patient’s before-and-after images are seen in Cëlyn advertising.
Esthetician says Cëlyn Cosmetics Stole Her Likeness to Scam Consumers
In October 2023, The Skin and Lash Lady, a “60-year-young licensed esthetician” with 315,000 TikTok followers, says she was alerted by a follower that a company was using a picture of her face in social media posts that claimed she was using Celyn Cosmetics skincare. She does not, she said.
“Not only are they profiting off of my image, but that’s actually false advertising,” she said.
“You [Celyn Cosmetics] are claiming I used your product to get the results of no under-eye bags, and I do not use your products at all.
Licensed esthetician, The Skin and Lash Lady, on TikTok, October 2023.
The licensed esthetician says she has never even heard of the company Cëlyn Cosmetics, though the two reside in the same city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, she said.
@theskinandlashlady False advertising #celyncosmetics ♬ original sound – Lic. Esthetician Amy
“Not only are they profiting off of my image, I’m more concerned that there’s no truth in advertising here,” she shared on video.
“I am not endorsing their product at all; they put their own captions over my photo.”
On video since seen by 13,400 viewers, the licensed esthetician bears a striking resemblance to the woman seen in the false advertisement. It is her.
Sold on Amazon.ca and MalMart.com, Product Has Poor Ratings
Cëlyn Cosmetics products are being sold on Amazon.ca and on WalMart.com, the board-certified plastic surgeon points out.
There, customers say the products failed terribly in living up to advertised expectations.
On Amazon.ca, the Cëlyn Cosmetics product seen in misleading ads is rated 1.9 out of 5 stars, with these being the customer reviews:
- “This product is false. It does nothing. Don’t waste your money.” – Reviewed in Canada on Dec 31, 2023
- “This product is absolutely garbage. That’s why I’m calling it snake oil. It’s crap.” – Reviewed in Canada on Dec 19, 2023
- “This cream did absolutely nothing at all. Not as advertised as all and waste of my money. I have requested a refund but apparently it has to be approved by the seller. I’ll be very disappointed if I don’t get my money back. Don’t buy this product!!!!” – Reviewed in Canada on Dec 18, 2023
- “Seemed to be taking puffiness under my eyes ,was so excited,then 1 of my eyes after using for 4 days was itchy and looked like I had a black eye😥 – Reviewed in Canada on Dec 27, 2023
- “I didn’t like it at all it doesn’t do as they say no instant tightening at all used it fir 2 weeks and I don’t see any results.” – Reviewed in Canada on Dec 6, 2023
- “This product does not work at all. I have been using it for 3 + weeks and see no results. Definitely no instant tightening of the skin.” – Reviewed in Canada on Dec 1, 2023
Cëlyn Cosmetics could not be reached for comment, and a website with its name was unavailable early Saturday.
A Times review of earlier iterations of the Cëlyn Cosmetics website suggests the company is reportedly based out of Singapore, at an address listed as “NSAL PTE. LTD., 112 Robinson Road, 03-01R, Signapore (Not a return address).”
On TrustPilot.com, All 5 Ratings are 1-Star
A TrustPilot profile claimed by the company, lists its support email as support@celyncosmetics.com, and its address as being in the Netherlands: Bredeodelaan 6, 5702 DB, Helmond, Netherlands.
There, all five of the company’s reviews are 1-star.
“It does not say what what the product contains on the tube. My guess is lots of horrors. I would strongly discourage people to buy it.”
TrustPilot Review, posted Sat. Jan 13, 2024.
Cëlyn Cosmetics’ website homepage said Saturday that the company was “opening soon,” and invited viewers to “be the first to know when we launch.”
A Times email to the company was not answered.