Makeup products may make you look and feel prettier, but little did you know that they might even make you sick?
According to an investigation by WCNC, makeup samples in cosmetic stores, such as mascara, lipstick, eye blush and shadow, were tested positive for potentially deadly diseases, including sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
The Charlotte-based news station collected 10 makeup samples from cosmetic stores in the area. The samples were then placed in Petri dishes of agar, a jelly-like substance that is used to find out any microorganisms in the samples.
After five days, they took the Petri dishes to an infectious disease specialist and the findings were appalling.
Infectious Disease Specialist at the Piedmont Medical Center Dr. Arash Poursina said, “Some of these are molds” after examining photos of the dishes and recognizing what could be E.coli, herpes, staph, and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Staph and MRSA are potentially deadly if you have them in your bloodstream, and herpes has no cure, said Dr. Poursina.
The doctor said, “Even sexually transmitted diseases can be transmitted by sharing makeup.”
He explained that the lipstick and eye shadow were amongst the grossest of the samplers, but recommends against touching any makeup samples.
Dr. Poursina said, “Avoid the testers at all costs unless you were the very first customer and they have just opened up a brand-new sample.” Health officials have been warning about the adverse effects of using old makeup as well. For instance, an Australian woman wore eye makeup that was 20 years old and had to lose her vision.
