Makeup is here to enhance our appearance, not put our health and safety at risk — this means sticking to a few rules and being extra careful when using certain cosmetic products. For one, nobody should be driving and applying makeup at the same time. This kind of multitasking can distract you from the road, raising the risk of an accident. When in a moving vehicle, applying something around your eyes can be quite dangerous as you could seriously injure your eyes if you fail to notice a speed bump. Though well-intentioned, sharing your makeup with your friends is also not a great idea. Products that directly come into contact with your eyes, lips, etc. can easily spread germs. Sharing eyeliner, for instance, may lead to infections like pink eye, while sharing lipstick could leave you with herpes. Of course, this also applies to makeup testers provided at stores — it is certainly safer to apply them on your hand rather than your face. "Never ever trust that in-store makeup testers have been cleaned," Susie Sobol, a professional makeup artist, told Allure. In particular, be careful when testing lipsticks, lip glosses, and mascara since bacteria thrive in moist conditions. "Powder products like blush and eyeshadow are a bit safer to try on — with caution," she added. "Always wipe off the surface of the products with a tissue and use a clean brush." For a similar reason, you should also make sure to get your makeup off before sleeping every night even though it seems like a hassle. Going to bed when your face is covered in foundation and other products can damage your skin — the makeup traps dead skin cells and allows bacteria to accumulate, raising the risk of premature aging and breakouts. And sleeping in eye makeup might be even riskier over time. In one extreme case, a woman suffered permanent scarring and irritation due to her long-term habit of sleeping without removing her mascara. "Sleeping in eye makeup repeatedly may result in the clogging of the tiny hair follicles and oil glands on your eyelids. When these areas become clogged, bacteria can build up and cause inflammation," Dr. Eric Schweiger, the founder of the Clear Clinic in New York City, told Huff Post. And when shopping, avoid counterfeit makeup and other knockoff products. Investigations have found these products may contain dangerous chemicals such as arsenic, mercury, and aluminum. Knockoff eyeshadow and lipsticks may contain up to 15 times more lead than the amount recommended by the Food and Drug Administration. Spend money on authentic products to stay safe and make sure to follow packaging instructions closely when it comes to expiration dates, application tips, temperature and other storage conditions. Source
