The saying goes “sharing is caring.” For most people, sharing everything from clothing to food with close friends or family members is part of their everyday norm. But should we draw the line when it comes to sharing beauty products?
I got insight from makeup artists and a dermatologist to bring you the details on whether it’s safe to share everything from your favorite eyeshadow palette to that go-to lip liner. The response was clear: “Just because a product looks clean doesn’t necessarily mean it is,” says MarQuis Ward, lead artist and educator at LYS Beauty.
So, here are all of the beauty products you should stop sharing ASAP.
What beauty products shouldn’t be shared?
When it comes to your makeup bag, Ward says to refrain from sharing “anything that comes directly in contact with the eyes or lips, especially mascara, liquid liner, lipstick, and lip gloss.” Tools such as “makeup brushes and sponges, razors and dermaplaning tools, tweezers, or extraction tools that haven't been disinfected” also fall in this category, according to Angela Lamb, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Celebrity makeup artist Jenny Patinkin agrees, adding that “the same goes for skincare products where you touch either the cream itself or the applicator with your fingers.” In addition to that, she also does “not recommend using the testers in stores when you can avoid it.”
What are the dangers of sharing beauty products?
Both makeup artists and dermatologists agree that sharing beauty products can have consequences. “Our skin naturally carries bacteria, and when products or tools are used on multiple people, you can transfer that bacteria without even realizing it,” Ward says.
Sometimes it can be serious. “The largest danger is potential infection,” Dr. Lamb says. “For example, with lip products if someone has active herpes simplex and shared their gloss with you, then you could get it. Also, for razors, if someone has a resistant bacteria like MRSA, it can easily be transferred.”
Patinkin notes that when sharing other “tools like brushes, puffs, and sponges, you could be spreading all sorts of germs and fungi in addition to oils that can cause skin irritation or breakouts.” Similarly, “if you use skincare products that come in a pot or dispense onto the fingers, there's a risk of E. Coli contamination,” she adds.
Is it possible to share beauty products safely?
While you should always exercise caution, there are ways to share some products safely. “You must be mindful of how you're using them,” Ward advises. “I recommend dispensing [liquid and cream] products onto a clean palette and using a fresh applicator for each person instead of applying directly from the original packaging.” For powder products, he suggests to “make sure you’re using a clean tissue to wipe off the powder and use a clean brush or applicator for each person.”
Items that come in direct contact with your eyes and lips should ideally be new and unused if you plan to share, but if you choose to share a previously used product, you’ll want to disinfect it first. “If I’m sharing a lipstick, I’ll remove the top layer and lightly spray the exposed lipstick with 70% isopropyl alcohol, then let it completely dry,” Ward says. He also advises to “never put a used applicator back into the original product.”
Ensuring your hands are clean and sanitized can also help to minimize the possibility of contamination when sharing products, according to Patinkin. “Washing your hands very, very thoroughly before sharing skincare products can help, but it's better to use a clean spatula to get product out of jars or to dispense onto instead of skin,” she says.
That said, if you don’t have the option to share products in a safe way, it’s best to refrain from sharing altogether.
