Store Makeup Testers Often Contaminated

A new study has found some disturbing evidence lurking at the makeup counter.

A two-year study was conducted on public makeup testers. Researchers who evaluated makeup testers and applicators at cosmetic counters in department stores, drugstores and specialty stores during high-traffic Saturdays found staph, strep, E. coli bacteria on 100 percent of these makeup trials. They also found the catchy cold sore virus herpes and conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye on the testers.

The study reported wherever you see E. coli, you should just think ‘E. coli equals feces. That means someone went to the bathroom, didn’t wash their hands and then stuck their fingers in that moisturizer.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns against sharing any type of makeup, especially eye makeup, according to its Web site. “Don’t share or swap eye cosmetics — not even with your best friend, the FDA warns consumers. “Another person’s germs may be hazardous to you. The risk of contamination may be even greater with ‘testers’ at retail stores, where a number of people are using the same sample product. If you feel you must sample cosmetics at a store, make sure they are applied with single-use applicators, such as clean cotton swabs.”

According to the Times article, there are things you can do to ward off contaminants, such as trying lotion samples in a squeezable tube versus a jar that many people stick their hands into.

You can also clean the surface of the makeup tester with a tissue dipped in alcohol before applying makeup. And always use disposable applicators or cotton swabs, never public makeup brushes. “If the brush is made of animal hair, bacteria can grow into the actual hair and be harder to clean,” Brooks told the newspaper.

She also mentioned that some companies such as Avon and Mary Kay have “one-shot” testers available that are made with just enough product for one-time use by a single person.

Mascara is the most troubling and the researchers advise against using a tester mascara because there could be cross-contamination, and this is your eye — there could be some serious ramifications.