A microbial makeover.
The saying “try before you buy” may not apply before trying out the in-store makeup samples from Sephora, according to one TikToker’s finding.
TikTok user @howdirtyis conducted an experiment by swabbing the sample lipsticks, blushes, eyeshadows, multi-sticks, and mascara publicly available from the multinational makeup retailer to determine if any bacteria were present on their sample merchandise.
After swabbing the samples and incubating them for several days, the TikToker was shocked to discover the blushes, eyeshadows, and multi-stick samples were the only products to produce microbes.
In an ever stranger surprise, the lipstick, concealer, and mascara samples were clean.
Microbes, also known as microorganisms, are small bacterial agents that live in the water, soil, and air, according to the National Library of Medicine.
The human body is host to millions of these microbes, some important for our health, others not.
Frequently touched objects can contain harmful bacteria that could lead to viruses that could cause respiratory illness, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and staph infections.
In 2015, a California woman sued Sephora, alleging that the in-store lipstick tester she used caused her to develop an HSV-1 infection, also known as cold sores.
“You can get infectious diseases from using testers in makeup stores,” NYC Dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman told TODAY Style. “I don’t ever recommend it.”
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The Dermatologist revealed that people should never share anything that comes in direct contact with someone else’s skin, especially makeup testers like Sephora.
“You never know which makeup products can become contaminated with germs (or) bacteria as we all harbor bacteria on our skin,” the doctor said.
“With brushes, I bring them home, I wash them with dish detergent, not once, but twice,” Lorin Cole, a celebrity makeup artist and author of “The Complete Book of Makeup,” told the outlet. “I use the alcohol spray, and I wipe them off and I rinse them again. I am ultra-careful.”
Nearly all the commenters on TikToker’s video agreed that using in-store makeup testers was unsanitary.
“Major rule at a makeup store. NEVER USE THE TESTERS,” one commenter adamantly wrote.
“Its dirty becuz everyone uses their fingers for those or they test directly to their skin,” one user wrote, talking about the microbe buildup on the powder products.
“I’ll never use a tester ever again,” another commenter revealed.
Some users even gave a little first-hand insight into why they avoid using makeup testers.
“As someone who used to work at Sephora we did clean and replace lipsticks, eyeliner and mascara more frequently [than] powder products lol,” one commentator revealed.
“I work at Ulta and THIS is exactly why I only ever try testers on my hand and make sure to thoroughly wash and sanitize my hands afterwards,” wrote another user whole worked at a rival makeup retailer.
