We know exactly how to wash our hands, and weve got hand sanitizer at the ready for use at any time of the day. But most of us arent aware that cosmeticsespecially our owncan harbor harmful germs.
Dermatologist Leslie Bauman, M.D. has some smart and surprising tips to avoid bacteria in beauty products:
1. Avoid reusable face loofahs. Acne bacteria can spread from the loofah to other parts of the body. Use disposable cleansing wipes instead.
2. Dont leave jars of cream in the shower. Humidity can bolster the development of fungi.
3. If youve got a cold sore, throw out your lipsticks and glosses.
4.Never use saliva to wipe makeup out of your eye. Bacteria from your mouth can cause an eye infection.
5. Wash your makeup brushes once a month to stop the spread of bacteria. Use warm water and liquid soap.
6. Dont ignore makeup sponges, either. They should get a once-a-week wash. Dry them thoroughlyand routinely replace them.
7. Dont put dirty fingers in your jars of cream.
8. Wipe tweezers with alcohol before using them.
9. Get rid of old productschances are youll never use them anyway. Preservatives become weaker as the products get older. Natural and organic products, which don't have any preservatives, may go bad sooner.
10. Weve saved the most important tip for last: Never, ever share makeup with anyone. Shared mascara can lead to conjunctivitis, and shared lipstick to the herpes virus.
