Used Cosmetic Products Found to Be Crawling With Infectious Bacterial Contaminants

sciencealert.com ^ | 12/03/2019 | MICHELLE STARR

[BenLurkin]

The higher the water content, the higher the likelihood of contamination.

Of particular note were 'blender' sponges, a type of egg-shaped makeup applicator that has become popular in recent years for applying foundation and contouring. These were the worst offenders, with the highest rate of fungal contamination.

In total, the team examined 467 products - 96 lipsticks, 92 eyeliners, 93 mascaras, 107 lip glosses and 79 blender sponges.

Makeup doesn't go 'off' like food. But the use-by dates aren't just there for funsies; the date on the packaging indicates the length of time preservatives in the product are expected to keep bacterial contamination at bay. How this information is conveyed varies regionally; the US, for example, has no regulations requiring expiry information on makeup packaging.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

What about the users of same?

[DivineMomentsOfTruth]

When it comes to makeup.. Less is more.

[PeterPrinciple]

EVERYTHING is “crawling” with bacteria......................

[tired&retired]

When Tammy Faye Baker took off all her makeup, they found Jimmy Hoffa!

[thirst4truth]

One of my favorite episodes of Myth Busters is when they experimented with tooth brushes. They put them everywhere in the house, in the kitchen, in the bedroom, of course in the bathroom.

After a week or so they tested all of them for fecal matter, every toothbrush tested positive for fecal matter, Jamie exclaimed, "There is poo everywhere".

[spacejunkie2001]

my mom used to wear this t shirt with a big blob of color across the boobs and it said ‘I ran into Tammy Faye at the mall’ LOL

[Zuben Elgenubi]

has no regulations requiring expiry information

When did "expiry" replace "expiration date"?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

When did "expiry" replace "expiration date"?

When Millennials started graduating with "journalism" degrees and lazy became the norm.

[NativeSon]

Why is this surprising to anyone? Users are inoculating the products on a daily basis with fresh bacteria.

I should conduct a “Dangers of eating peanut butter via double-dipped spoon” investigation.

But the Peanut Cartels would have me on a hit list.

[Disambiguator]

When did "expiry" replace "expiration date"?

The first time I heard it was dealing with Canadians. So my takeaway is that it's a Canadianism that took hold down south, eh?

[bgill]

We’ve known this for decades and decades.

Then there are all those eyebrow bugs crawling around. And pink eye. And contact lens ickies. And dog kisses. And kitty head bumps. And little kid snot. And elevator coughers. And...

[cyclotic]

So how bad is using the same plastic dental floss thing for weeks until the string breaks?

Asking for a friend

[Svartalfiar]

After a week or so they tested all of them for fecal matter, every toothbrush tested positive for fecal matter, Jamie exclaimed, "There is poo everywhere".

Well yea. In order to smell anything, small particles of it have to enter your nose. Every time someone farts, you fill the room with those particles. And everyone farts I think a couple pints or so a day, whether they're noticeable or not. So it's pretty expected that fecal matter would show up almost everywhere.

[xp38]

It’s all Lorne Greene’s fault. Once he came down to the US and took over the Ponderosa ranch as Papa Cartwright there was no turning back. Why do you think immigrants apply for a green card eh?