The Dangers of Testing Makeup at Counters

Ok, I can only preach so much, but you don't have to take my word for it...it's all over Yahoo's Shine pages...read it for yourself...and be careful out there!

Yikes! Testing makeup at counters can give you herpes and pink eye

by Joanna Douglas, Shine Staff, on Tue Apr 20, 2010

You've read it and heard it a million times—do not share your makeup with a friend. But it's your best friend, and you can't go out without lipstick or mascara, so how bad can it be to give yourself one quick swipe? According to a new article in the LA Times, pretty darn bad. And you can just forget about testing makeup at a department store or your local Sephora. That's like sharing makeup with thousands of people you know nothing about.

"If a woman has a cut on her lip and borrows lipstick from someone who has a cold sore, she'll get a cold sore," Beverly Hills dermatologist Dr. Zein Obagi tells the LA Times. "You can pass herpes [the cold sore virus], conjunctivitis [pink eye] and all sorts of things through sharing makeup." The FDA stresses the importance of keeping makeup—particularly eye products—to yourself. They caution that, "the risk of contamination may be even greater with ‘testers' at retail stores, where a number of people are using the same sample product."

Whether you're tempted to get a mini makeover by one of the makeup counter cosmeticians, or dying to try a new shade of lip gloss or eyeshadow, you might want to think twice. While displays are set up for you to test products, the makeup items are loaded with bacteria and germs. Dr. Elizabeth Brooks, a biological sciences professor at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, conducted a two-year study on the makeup testers and applicators in department stores, drugstores and specialty shops in New Jersey five years ago and discovered some disappointing and scary results. Staph, strep, and E. coli bacteria were all present. "Wherever you see E. coli, you should just think 'E. coli equals feces,'" said Brooks. "That means someone went to the bathroom, didn't wash their hands and then stuck their fingers in that moisturizer." Grossed out yet? According to Brooks, when they tested products on Saturdays—the busiest day at makeup counters—100 percent of the makeup was contaminated.

If you're looking for a safe way to try products, some methods are safer than others. Ask the salesperson for a clean tester, or single-use sample—many stores keep these stocked behind the counter. Wiping off a lipstick, or even disinfecting it in alcohol is not enough to definitely kill all viruses (herpes, for one), so disposable applicators are a must. If you don't see them on display, just ask, because the wand that comes with a mascara or gloss is a breeding ground for ickiness. Lotions that you can squeeze out, as opposed to sticking your fingers in, are tougher to be contaminated.

Brooks says although this information is scary, you shouldn't be discouraged to try items as long as you're smart about it. "Even doing all of this research, I'm not afraid or afraid to send my daughters to the mall," she said. "I just tell them not to put anything near their eyes, nose or mouth and you'll be OK. I want women to be happy that they're women and enjoy makeup, but just be careful." Consider yourselves warned.

Happy Belated Earth Day

Ok, so I know I am late, but in honor of Earth Day, I cannot go without posting my LOVE-LOVE-LOVE-LOVE of Tarte's lipgloss...it's natural, it's shiny, it's sticky-but-not-too-sticky, it's sheer (certain colors), it's opaque (other colors), and it's green. Tarte is such a great company outside of being green, the fact that they are green just makes them that much more cool.

AND -- did we mention that because we love Tarte and Tarte loves brides, upon checkout, all you have to enter is "BRIDE" in the promo code to get 20% off your purchase.

But through Sunday, April 25th, you get 30% off in honor of Earth Day--so stock up at Tarte!  Lipgloss, cheekstain, lipgloss, eyeshadow palettes, lipgloss...uh, did we mention lipgloss?


Here's a post from our sister company's blog about Tarte and how much we love them:

Don't Underestimate the Power of Natural Makeup

Now, I am going to be honest...I love the idea and concept of natural makeup--especially for women who are not able to wear most makeup due to chemical sensitivities, allergies, etc. However, that said, I am one to still love my tried and true chemical makeup products that do the job. My skin is pretty tough--both in terms of being able to handle chemicals as well as tough to find things that work on it the way they're suppose to work. And I have tried some natural/mineral makeup products in the past that were an absolute waste of time/money, so before trying these, I was a little skeptical...although these were from Tarte, which I loved before I knew it was natural makeup.

So I first lined my eyes upper and lower inner rims with the emphasEYES liner in plum. I loved the very thin, no-need-to-sharpen tip that glided on the skin without a tug. It was fairly light on the first application, so I added a couple more layers which intensified the look. This seems like it would be a great choice for those who are afraid of eyeliners, can't draw a straight line, don't like the harsh look of a liner, and those who hate sharpening their eyeliner. I really loved that it went on so nicely without the thick line.


I also used Tarte's Lights, Camera, Splashes 4-in-1 Natural Waterproof Mascara. Ok, this is seriously one cool mascara. Not only is it waterproof and give you added volume and length, it has beeswax and carnauba wax (from a plant) and the packaging is biodegradable and recyclable. And did it mention the super cute anchor/marina theme?



And then around my midday shine, I used their T-Zone Travel Natural Shine Control To-Go Kit. I first used the blotting papers (yes, I did have to use multiple sheets being that my face contains more oil than the Middle East), and then I used the super cute brush to dust my face with the shine control powder. I was seriously impressed that the powder did not make me look like I had flour on my face and it kept my natural glow (a.k.a. didn't interfere with my bronzer too much). I will definitely be using this on a regular basis--not to mention, again--how gorgeous is the packaging? I feel like I want to take this and the mascara out to use in public just so I can show off how cute the packaging is. And did I mention that the powder has a ton of good-for-you natural extracts in it? No wonder Kristen Bell and Rachel Bilson love this so much!

The Knot Live (Season 2, Episode 10)

The Knot Live (Season 2, Episode 10)

See our sister company, MG Hair and Makeup, on the "Sprays for your Day" segment where I talk about the best hairsprays and methods to use them.

To read more about the segment, visit the page featuring the details:

http://wedding.theknot.com/special-wedding-features/the-knot-live/articles/the-knot-live-season-2-episode-10.aspx?MsdVisit=1