Dangers of Sharing Makeup

Risk of Sharing Makeup

Have you ever been in a situation where you were sharing makeup with another person? It can be at a store, at a friend’s, or at a makeup artist’s studio. While it can seem harmless, sharing makeup is actually quite risky to your health.  

What Causes Infections? 

 Makeup is a perfect breeding ground for microscopic organisms. This is especially true for liquid makeup but applies to all kinds. For example, mascara is among the worst culprits for breeding bacteria and fungi thanks to the dark, moist interior of the packaging container. Studies have shown that 43% of mascara and eyeliner wands carry contaminants. 

 What Are the Dangers of Sharing Makeup?  

When it comes to the dangers of sharing makeup, the eyes are the most vulnerable. The skin around the eyes is very sensitive, making it susceptible to infection. Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is extremely contagious. People often don’t know they’re developing it and can pass it on simply by sharing their mascara, eye shadow, eyeliner, or even concealer wand.  

Other infections that can transfer through eye cosmetics are styes, staph, warts, and eyelash lice.  

Your lips are also quite susceptible to infection when you share lip products. Swapping lipstick or lip gloss is extremely risky if your friend (or a random person who used a tester before you at a cosmetics counter) has herpes labialis, which leads to cold sores or fever blisters on the mouth. 

What Should You Do? 

 If you have developed an infection, throw away your eye makeup and restock right away. Make sure to replace all your cosmetics every three months or as directed.  

If sharing makeup is unavoidable, make sure you protect yourself by: 

• Wiping off the top layer of the product 
• Swiping eye shadow and lipstick with a tissue 
• Sharpening eyeliners and lipliners  

Otherwise, always carry your own cosmetics and use single applicators where possible. 

Something you can share with others is the VisionCheck smartphone vision test. The VisionCheck device comes with an easy–to–disinfect silicone eye cup so you can safely share it with members of your family (ages 18+). With the VisionCheck, clear vision can be accessible to everyone!