Beauty tip

Sharing Makeup


When it comes to makeup, it’s best to be selfish and keep your products to yourself. While most cosmetics contain preservatives to help slow the growth of bacteria and fungus, sometimes this isn’t enough to prevent your makeup from getting contaminated. In fact, in one study researchers found bacteria such as staph (which causes impetigo), strep (which causes strep throat) and E. coli (which has been linked to food poisoning) in department store makeup testers. E. coli normally lives in the digestive tract and is found in stool. It is spread when people don’t wash their hands after using the restroom and then touch another surface.

Each time you touch a lipstick or mascara, you are potentially introducing germs to the product. And the more people who use it, the greater the likelihood of spreading infection. Since mucous membranes are more susceptible to getting infected, lip and eye products should never be shared under any circumstances.

While it’s true that makeup artists often use the same cosmetics on different people, several prominent makeup artists that I discussed this with all said that they take precautions to avoid contaminating their products. For example, they use disposable applicators to apply lip gloss and mascara, and disposable sponges to apply foundation and powder. All of the artists also said that they wash their brushes between clients, since, in addition to being more hygienic, clean brushes help makeup go on more smoothly and evenly.

The next time you’re having your makeup done for a big event, or if you’re tempted to get a makeover at the department store cosmetics counter, follow these tips to minimize your risk of catching an infection:

If possible, ask if they can open a new tester, especially when trying lip gloss or mascara with applicators that are dipped back into the container. Otherwise, insist on using a disposable applicator.

Ask what cleaning procedures the makeup artist uses to care for his or her products. For example, some companies have a policy of wiping their lipsticks with alcohol and sharpening their pencils before and after each customer, which helps to reduce the spread of bacteria.

Avoid weekend visits to cosmetic counters, because the stores are busier then, and more people have been handling the testers.

Wash your face as soon as you get home.