Source: blackdoctor.org

Sharing makeup with your homegirl may seem harmless. Only, in this case, sharing is not caring. Borrowing concealer, mascara, or even neglecting to clean or purge your beauty products on a regular basis, can open the door to a host of skin and health problems. Here’s how:

It’s a breeding ground for germs…

Because cosmetics are often moist and at-times waxy, it’s the perfect breeding ground for germs. Common germs like pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococcus, and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), can cause serious infections or skin woes like severe acne.

In 2015, a young woman became partially paralyzed after borrowing a friend’s makeup brush to conceal a pimple. The infection was caused by the drug-resistant strain of staph bacteria, MRSA.

Think pink eye…

It’s no secret that the eyes are one of the most delicate features on your face. Sharing eye shadow, eyeliner, and mascara can lead to painful eye infections like pink eye (conjunctivitis), flat warts, or the formation of a stye. Sharing eye makeup is especially dangerous for people who wear contacts, as bacteria can get trapped behind the lenses, allowing it to take root.

Conjunctivitis is highly contagious. If you’ve caught pink eye from swapping makeup with friends, you’re going to want to toss it ASAP.

It gathers bacteria at any time…

Even products that aren’t being used can gather germs. Forget to tighten the lid on your mascara? Lipstick hanging around without a cap? Well, you’ve just invited all those lingering fungal spores to have a seat and they are everywhere! The bathroom, where many opt to beat their face to the gods, is moist and let’s face it, not exactly the cleanest place in the crib – making it a great hang out spot for bacteria.

Get the most out of your makeup by examining how you store it. Experts suggest stashing your cosmetics in a container ensuring that the lid is tightly secured each day.

There’s a whole lot of cross-contamination going on…

When you give the green light to your friend to borrow your cosmetics, all the germs from their hands and face are then transferred to whatever gross bugs were already present on your beauty products. All it takes is one use with a dirty brush to contaminate your go-to powders (think bronzers, loose foundation, blush) for good.

Germs multiply over time…

Pay close attention to the expiration dates at the bottom of your products. They indicate a batch number and the date created. Adhering to expiration dates for every beauty product is crucial for decreasing your risk of infection and illness. Here’s a quick breakdown of when to purge:

Two to three months:

Mascara

Face masks

Nail files

Loofahs

Six months to one year:

Concealer

Face wash

Liquid eyeliner

Liquid foundation

Serums (think under eye)

One to two years:

Cream-based eye shadows

Eyebrow gels and fillers

Jarred face cream

Lip gloss

Lip liner

Lipstick

Powder foundation