Sharing your beauty products with your BFFs, cousins and sometimes even with your office buddies may seem like no biggie. But, you couldn’t be farther than the dirty truth. Yes, your girls seem perfectly clean and you’ve known them for years. You still don’t know if there could be an infection or two brewing under that beautiful face. Gross, but true. Here are some common mistakes we all tend to make.
Eye products Conjunctivitis anyone? Don’t know what that is? You probably know what a pink eye is and sharing products that are meant to touch the eyes is an absolute no-no. The eyes are like magnets to all kinds of nasty infections and irritants. Always keep your own liner and mascara handy for touch ups. This can go both ways and you may actually be harbouring some bacteria on your own products that you don’t want to expose your dear friends to.
The sneaky one No one suspects the little bottle that contains eye-drops to be able to cause any harm, but the next time someone is applying a few drops, watch them closely. Some people don’t hold the bottle at a safe distance from their peepers and the mouth of the vial comes in direct contact with their lids. Do not share this product. Ever.
Lip products Sure you may want to try out your buddy’s hot, new, red lip gloss, but have a bit of a think first. Our mouths can carry a host of unpleasant bacteria that can result in cold sores (no one wants those) and even colds. It won’t necessarily happen every time, but why risk it?
Products in a pot or jar Unless you make someone rub down their hands with an anti-bacterial solution first, never let anyone dip their fingers into your jars that contain creams, foundations and lip balms. The germs on fingertips can contaminate the product and cause you to breakout as a result. It’s just not worth it.
Brushes The make-up kind, we mean. Using them after someone else has is just asking for it. You’re basically brushing your face with their dead skin cells and dirt. If someone has gone ahead and used yours, give them a thorough cleansing before letting them touch your face.
The rest Never, ever share face towels for very obvious reasons. Even worse? Never borrow someone’s razor or vice versa. They are stocked full of germs that the blood from nicks and cuts can leave behind. Anyhow, the idea is straight up revolting.
