Sharing makeup with your homegirl may seem harmless. Only, in this case, sharing is not caring. Borrowing concealer, mascara, or even neglecting to clean or purge your beauty products on a regular basis, can open the door to a host of skin and health problems. Here’s how:
It’s a breeding ground for germs…
Because cosmetics are often moist and at-times waxy, it’s the perfect breeding ground for germs. Common germs like pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococcus, and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), can cause serious infections or skin woes like severe acne.
In 2015, a young woman became partially paralyzed after borrowing a friend’s makeup brush to conceal a pimple. The infection was caused by the drug-resistant strain of staph bacteria, MRSA.
Think pink eye…
It’s no secret that the eyes are one of the most delicate features on your face. Sharing eye shadow, eyeliner, and mascara can lead to painful eye infections like pink eye (conjunctivitis), flat warts, or the formation of a stye. Sharing eye makeup is especially dangerous for people who wear contacts, as bacteria can get trapped behind the lenses, allowing it to take root.
Conjunctivitis is highly contagious. If you’ve caught pink eye from swapping makeup with friends, you’re going to want to toss it ASAP.