Labubu Variations, Rarity, and How to Spot the "La Foo Foo" Fakes

I still remember when Kasing Lung first introduced The Monsters. Back then, they were niche art toys for serious collectors. Fast forward to now, and thanks to a certain Blackpink member posting an Instagram story, getting your hands on a Labubu—specifically the "The Monsters: Tasty Macarons" vinyl face plush—is like trying to buy concert tickets during a presale. It’s brutal out there.

If you’ve been scrolling TikTok, you’ve probably heard people calling them lola boo boo or la foo foo. It’s hilarious, but it’s also confusing a lot of new collectors. Are these different dolls? Are they knockoffs?

Let’s cut through the noise. I’ve spent way too much money on these little monsters, and I’m going to break down what’s actually rare, what’s fake, and the truth about the spinning heads.

First off, if you see listings for real la boo boo dolls or hear someone screaming about la foo foo on a livestream, they are talking about Labubu. It’s just a viral mispronunciation that stuck.

The main obsession right now is the Labubu The Monsters: Tasty Macarons Vinyl Face Blind Box. These are the plush pendants with the hard vinyl faces and jagged teeth.

There are two main "generations" you need to know about: 1. V1 (Macarons): The OGs. Soymilk, Lychee Berry, Green Grape, etc. 2. V2 (Have a Seat): The newer release where they are in a sitting position.

I actually picked up my first one from the LABUBU collection right before the prices skyrocketed, and the difference between the V1 and V2 is mostly in the pose and the face expression (V2s look a bit cheekier).

Not all Labubus are created equal. If you are buying blind boxes, you are playing the odds.

In the Macaron series, you have your standard colors like Soymilk (the cream one), Lychee Berry (pink), and Green Grape. These are "common," but because demand is so high, even the commons are reselling for $30-$50 depending on the day.

Every series has a "Secret" or "Hidden" edition. * Ratio: Usually 1/72 or sometimes 1/144 boxes. * Value: If you pull a secret (like the Chestnut Cocoa in the Macaron series), you are looking at a figure worth $150+ easily.

I’ve opened probably 20 boxes in my life and never pulled a secret. It’s tough. If you really want a specific one without the gambling anxiety, browsing a full LABUBU collection online is usually safer than buying random boxes from sketchy sellers.

This is the number one question I get in my DMs: do real labubu head spin?

Real Labubu Macaron plush pendants have a joint inside the neck that allows the head to rotate 360 degrees. The arms and legs on the V1 Macarons also rotate.

However, here is where it gets tricky. There is a viral search term right now: fake head turns out to be real.

Here’s what happens: Sometimes, Pop Mart’s quality control is... tight. Literally. I’ve had authentic dolls where the head was so stiff I thought I was going to snap it off. People assume if it doesn't spin freely like a fidget spinner, it's fake. That's not always true.

* Real: The head turns, but there is a slight resistance. It feels mechanical and smooth. * Fake: The head is either completely loose (wobbles like a bobblehead) or it’s just glued on and doesn't move at all.

If you have to force it to the point of breaking, stop. But generally, yes, the ability to pose the head is a key feature of the authentic product.

The "Soymilk" and "Toffee" colors are the most counterfeited because neutrals are trendy. If you are looking at a fake brown labubu, here are the dead giveaways I look for:

On the real Macaron plush, the tag attached to the face is an off-white, creamy color. On fakes, it is often a stark, bright printer-paper white.

Check the bottom of the feet. * Real: The "Pop Mart" and copyright text is embossed clearly. The font is crisp. * Fake: The text looks melted, faint, or the font is just wrong. Sometimes they spell "Monsters" with weird spacing.

This is the biggest tell. Real Labubu fur is dense and matte. Fakes often have this shiny, synthetic sheen that looks greasy under direct light. I once saw a fake "Lychee Berry" that looked like it had been dragged through a car wash.

Fakes often get the color of the Labubu on the box wrong. The brown might be too red or too grey. Also, check the foil bag inside. Authentic Pop Mart foil bags have a specific matte silver finish, not a super shiny kitchen-foil look.

If you are hunting for real la boo boo dolls (I can't believe I'm using that keyword, but hey), you have to be careful.

* Official Pop Mart Channels: The safest bet, obviously. But they sell out in seconds. * Reputable Toy Stores: Stick to shops that specialize in designer toys. * The "TikTok Shop" Risk: I see so many people buying $10 Labubus on TikTok. Listen to me: If it is $10, it is fake. Retail is usually around $17-$20 USD. No one is selling a real one for half the price when they could sell it for double on eBay.

If you're expanding your collection beyond just the monsters, I actually recommend checking out the SKULLPANDA collection as well. The artistry there is insane and, in my opinion, the quality control is slightly better than the plush series.