Makeup and cosmetics are some of the mediums through which bacteria’s and viruses enter our bodies. The nature of makeup and cosmetics being liquid in nature as well their containers used for packaging are perfect for unexpected germs transmission. Therefore, makeup brushes and applicators should be thoroughly cleaned before use, since they can easily transmit bacteria when applied over pimpled or cracked skin. Sharing them with others makes the situation even worse. So, always try to use your own makeup kit as well as cosmetics and avoid sharing them with others as much as possible.
Cosmetics you must never share with others:
Makeup Brushes
Although you may not realise, the makeup products get accumulated with lots of bacteria over time even if you use them on your own and restrict sharing with others. Most of us use makeup brushes to apply trendy makeup looks. Using them constantly can accumulate bacteria and the worse, build them up. If you share the same brush with the others, your brush might pick impurities, oil and bacteria from other skin as well and eventually make the situation worse for you.
Lip Products
Lip balm and gloss are indeed the most shared cosmetics; however, you must stop sharing them immediately. Passing along the shared lip products in your lips can potentially transfer germs from one to the other. Even a simple lick can leave traces of saliva which may enter your lipstick. Sharing lipstick also increases the chances of getting cold sores on lips.
Hairbrushes
We usually share hairbrushes, particularly when we hang around with friends or indulge in a get-together. Sharing hairbrushes can cause dandruff and excessive hair oil to spread from one person’s hair to another in addition to developing the possibility of having lice.
Facial cleansing brush
If you use a face cleansing brush to remove the dead skin, grime, dirt or oil, you must keep the brush just for yourself rather than sharing it, even with family members. This can potentially transfer dead skin cells through the facial cleansing brush and henceforth create skin issues.
Razors
Razor sharing can increase the risks of genital herpes and warts transmission. Because razors can easily bruise our skin, it gets infected with blood like fluids found in the skin. So, avoid sharing it completely or you may develop some risky blood-borne diseases like staph infection ad hepatitis.
Mascara
It is also important to keep mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow for individual use. Since our eyes are the most sensitive part of our face, sharing products used in it can bring unexpected results such as pinkish eyes.
Jar products
Although it may not sound big, dipping fingers into the jar to scoop a little can even end up mixing unseen bacteria or germs into the formula. Some of the products that come in jars include lip balms, eye creams and face scrubs. You must wash your hands properly before using them, in general, to avoid transferring germs. It’s better if you can use a tool like a spatula to scoop out instead of inserting fingers that can avoid product contamination. And if you share the same with others, just think of the consequences!
Foundations or powder
Setting powder, foundations, powder highlighter and powder brush are some of the items that fall under this category and must never be shared. We also transfer germs between our skins when we share our foundation or powder, just like we do with other products mentioned above. It is best to tell your friend or associates to understand about beauty product safety and germ transmission risks sharing might create.
Reasons why you must never share your makeup with others:
Eye-makeup sharing can lead to severe eye infections
As discussed earlier, our eyes need to be prioritised before anything else during makeup since it is very delicate and gets infected easily. Consider pink eye, flattened warts, and other bacterial growth. This is more certain for people who wear contact lenses since viruses can become caught behind the lens. Bacteria use your eye’s wet mucous membrane as a Privileged entry. It simply lacks the same lines of defence as the skin, making it much easier for pathogens like conjunctivitis to spread. It’s much worse if you wear contact lenses since bacteria become trapped under the lens and are tough to remove.
Viruses may accumulate in makeup at any point
Have you forgotten to reapply your lipstick for a long time? When things aren’t being utilised, germs can accumulate. Fungal spores may be found around and might even be contaminating your makeup. Despite the fact that many water-based skincare products contain bacteria-fighting stabilizers, go the additional mile by wiping your makeup from any damp locations, such as a restroom, and firmly shutting each package.
This could result in a Skin infection
Even though it may not be vulnerable to particular microbial agents, this does not rule out the possibility that you are. Many infections, including Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, may be found in cosmetics. It only needs the appropriate settings and the right combination of microorganisms to start an illness.
It may aggravate your acne
Acne may not be communicable, but that might be irritating. Acne-causing germs can be transmitted by using others makeup brushes or foundation makeup. Essentially, someone else’s pimples, allergens, and germs would be coming into contact with your face. That can’t be healthy for your skin, we all know. While it’s pleasant to share cosmetics, the health risks aren’t worth it.
Lipstick sharing leads to cold sores
Even though the person you share your lipstick with does not have any kind of skin irritation, it can transmit viruses that can mix with other things and develop an irritational condition. Such conditions when get worse can stay with you all your life. Furthermore, if you share your lip balm or lipstick with a person who has the herpes simplex virus that develops cold sores, the virus may stick to your lips within no time. And you must understand that the herpes virus cannot be cured easily. This means, just one incident of sharing and your lipstick can develop a disease that will live with you for a lifetime. Therefore, health experts and dermatologists recommend keeping cosmetics and makeup products by ourselves to prevent diseases and avoid makeup contamination.
