Any
beauty products that comes in a jar. If you have to dip your fingers into a cleanser,
day or night cream, eye creams, foundation, lip balm, etc., it's best that you
(1) wash your hands before coming into contact with the formula and (2)
keep that product for your own personal use. "You don't want to create a
petri dish out of the cream you're going to be applying to your face," Dr.
Engelman says, especially since your body absorbs 60 percent of whatever you
apply on your skin (and the bacteria that comes with it).
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2.
Mascara. Your
favorite mascara can harbor bacteria and viruses that are easily transmissible,
like conjunctivitis. And since your eyes don't have the same layers of
protection that your skin does, it's more susceptible to infections like pink
eye. "Plus, each time you pull the wand out and push it back in to lube up
the brush head, you push air into the dark bottle's base, feeding the aerobic
bacteria that can survive in an oxygenated area," Dr. Engelman adds.
Basically, the only safe way to share your mascara, if you so desire, is to
practice what pro makeup artists do and never let the wand that comes with it
be used; use only disposable wands to apply it, and never double dip.
3.
Pressed foundation. Dry
powders don't hold onto bacteria the way that wet formulas do, but that doesn't
mean you can't transfer bacteria from one person to another — especially if
you're using a sponge to touch up areas around your mouth or eyes. The only
safe way to let your girlfriend use your pressed powder, should she need to
touch up her shiny forehead in a selfie emergency, is to spray the powder with
an alcohol-based spray, like BeautySoClean Cosmetic
Sanitizer Mist, give
her a clean makeup brush to use, and have her swipe it over pressed powder
once.
Courtesy
Image
4.
Lipstick or balm. Lipstick
and balms are a hard no to sharing unless you stash an alcohol spray or wipe in
your purse to sanitize them. "A large percentage of people carry HSV-1,
but just because it's in your system doesn't mean you ever show signs of it
externally," Dr. Engelman says. "This is referred to as asymptomatic
shedding, where you have the virus but you don't show any symptoms; it's all
based on your immunity and whether or not something like stress can trigger an
outbreak." That's why it's so important to use your own lip products,
because if you pass your favorite lipstick around from girl to girl and you or
your friend has the virus, you could be transferring bacteria or HSV-1 and
never know it. And then you won't know if you have the capability to develop a
cold sore of fever blister until you have it, which is unfortunately too late.
5.Lip gloss.
Again, you're not only pushing air back into the base of your gloss every time
you reapply it, but the moist, dark, gummy formula you're sticking the wand
into is the perfect place for bacteria to breed. If it's your own bacteria,
that's one thing, but you never want to introduce someone else's bacteria into
the formula because HSV-1 and, more frequently, the common cold can spread.
6. Cream
shadows. The
tacky nature of these types of formulas can trap and harbor bacteria, so it's
best not to pass your cream shadow around to your friends while you guys are
getting ready to go out. Especially since you probably use your fingers to
apply this type of product and have contaminated it with your own bacteria.
7. Makeup
brushes. While
acne is an internal skin condition, you can exacerbate the issue by using
someone else's brushes and cross-contaminating bacteria. The only safe way to
share your brushes, Dr. Engelman says — and not to sound like a broken record —
is to use a fresh brush or spray your used brush with alcohol to kill bacteria.
Best practice though, if you are breaking out constantly, is to shampoo them
weekly (and then condition them so they last a long time).
8.
Toothbrushes. Again,
this is a hard no, even though we've all been guilty of doing it. "The
mouth is filled with bacteria — good and bad. The bad ones are called anaerobic
oral bacteria, which are responsible for the smelly volatile sulfur compounds
(VSCs) smell if you forget to brush or teeth, or that heighten when you have an
infection, Dr. Engelman explains. That's why it's so important to (1) brush
your teeth regularly (morning and night and after meals if you're susceptible
to cavities) to keep this bacteria at bay and (2) why you shouldn't be sharing
a toothbrush with anyone.
Have a
live-in partner and want to share the same electronic toothbrush? Get two
different heads to use to keep the bacteria separate.
Ruben
Chamorro
9. Facial
cleansing brush. These
devices are under the personal care product category for a reason:
They're not meant to be shared. Think of all the dirt, oil, dead skin cells,
and bacteria you clean off your face on a daily basis. Do you want to then buff
someone else's grime into your skin? Nope! Again, if you live with your partner
and they constantly steal your facial cleansing brush, like Clarisonic's Mia
Cleansing System, share
the unit by buying several brush heads (They're pretty inexpensive!) so you can
have your very own. That, or you can pickup one of these minis for your man
from Foreo, so he has his own little facial
cleanser.
10.
Razors. Razors
are important to not share, says Dr. Engelman. Even though stainless steel
doesn't carry bacteria for very long, you can still transfer warts or genital
herpes — if you or your friend has either — by someone using your razor or by
using someone else's. Even worse: Razors can nick you and draw blood or fluids,
which leave bacteria on the blade after rinsing, making you more vulnerable to
a staph infection, hepatitis, or blood-borne viruses (like HIV, although it's
highly unlikely).
.
Toothbrushes
It’s not
like sharing a toothbrush happens every day, but even the rare occasion you use
your boyfriend’s because you forgot yours isn’t a good idea. Our mouths are
filled with bacteria - good and bad - the bad of which can make you susceptible
to cavities. Stay out of the dentists’ chair and use your own.
Makeup
Sponges
With
their squishy, porous surfaces, these babies are one of the worst offenders on
our list. "Soft sponges, especially when wet, create an environment that
breeds yeast and bacteria, which can lead to fungal infections, like ringworm,
on the face," says Zeichner. Lower the risk by using your sponge only on
clean skin, washing it weekly (we mean it!) with hot water and a gentle
shampoo, and allowing it to dry in a well-ventilated area. And no matter how
much your bestie wants to test your new Beautyblender, just say no.
