Contaminated Makeup Applicators: This Week on AOL Health

Most of us have tested makeup at the beauty counter before a purchase, whether it be to match foundation to our skin tone or to find the perfect lip gloss shade. But, did you ever think about the cleanliness of those makeup testers?

A new study evaluated makeup testers and applicators at various cosmetic counters and found that most were contaminated with bacteria and viruses such as herpes, E. coli, pink eye and strep. "Wherever you see E. coli, you should just think 'E. coli equals feces,'" said Dr. Elizabeth Brooks, lead author of the study. "That means someone went to the bathroom, didn't wash their hands and then stuck their fingers in that moisturizer."

The FDA warns against sharing any type of makeup, as germs can easily pass from person to person via applicators. Using one-time applicators, like cotton swabs, are the best options for testing cosmetics.

Find out more details on the study and how to avoid this cross-contamination on AOL Health.

Try ditching cosmetics for the day and get gorgeous sans makeup.