It's *NOT* Okay to Share Your Makeup With Your Girlfriends—Here's Why

Have you been stuck (willingly) in an endless exchange of makeup with your girl gang? That's cute, but NO. You've got to stop sharing and borrowing beauty products with other people. Like, for real. A presumably harmless activity—on the 'face' of it—the regular practice of trading makeup can do some serious damage to your skin. Pink eye, bacterial infections, even herpes. Gross. And, sharing makeup tools? Let's not even go there.

We hope we've scared you enough. But just in case we haven't, we will now. Below, two experts reveal a few (of the many) reasons why you should *totally* avoid using someone else's makeup—basically, beauty products in general. Take note, ladies. 

 

Breeding Ground For Bacteria

 

You should clean your makeup brushes and sponges at least once every two weeks (MINIMUM). So, do you? Let's say you do. Do you know if your friend does? The point we're trying to make is that you can never know how another person stores their makeup. Chandni Goyal, Training Manager, Anastasia Beverly Hills India, says, "While the product might appear to be visibly clean if stored in warm and moist conditions, or left open for a long time after use, there's a chance that it may have become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. "Plus, using someone else's lipstick, mascara, or even kajal, can give you staph infection, topical dermatitis, cold sores, or any sort of an allergic reaction. And sharing eye makeup, in particular, may cause conjunctivitis," adds Nidhi Shah, Sr. Product Development Manager, MyGlamm.

 

Mould and Fungus Growth

 

Apart from products, you should avoid sharing makeup tools as well. According to Nidhi, unsanitary storage and handling of makeup can cause fungus growth on the surface of the product. And, sometimes, you may be unable to discern the fungus on the product—often found in the case of mascara, lip gloss, etc. "Unintentionally applying 'fungus'ed' makeup can cause an adverse reaction on the skin." #WorstNightmareComeAlive.

 

Good Ol' Acne

 

Since your makeup and tools may become the breeding ground for germs, Chandni considers it highly probable that they give rise to breakouts. "Avoid using any makeup product that comes in direct contact with someone’s skin or mucus membranes. For instance, sharing eye makeup can lead to eye warts or red-eye infections. Similarly, since lipsticks are home ground for catching any bacteria or virus a person might be carrying, it can end up badly for you too," she explains. "Plus, if your friend has acne-prone skin, and you use their makeup or applicator, it can cause acne-causing bacteria to grow on your skin and also contaminate your makeup," says Nidhi. 

 

And Then, Some More Infections

 

Let's face it, many of us don't bother to regularly clean our makeup tools—I mean, why go through so much effort. Right? Wrong. Nidhi informs, "This can lead to contamination of your makeup products as well as your skin, spurring skin infections such as topical dermatitis and maybe, worse. As we mentioned previously, you can never really be sure of how your friends treat their beauty products. So, better to be safe than sorry. Plus, if your friend is a sucker for Ayurvedic stuff, infused with natural ingredients and essential oils, you can't be sure that it'll suit your skin too. Chandni puts forth, "Potted products that require to be applied with your fingertips can also become a carrier of infections. Hands are a carrier of bacteria, and ideally, you should never share such products with anyone."

 

In conclusion, if your skin has been acting out lately, cut back on trading beauty products for a while, and wait to see the difference.