Last month, a California woman sued Sephora after claiming she got herpes from sampling lipstick in a Hollywood location in October 2015.
The woman, who hasn’t been identified, said that the store failed to warn customers of the risks of using unsanitary testers.
According to a new report by NBC News’ TODAY, it’s not just herpes that could be lurking on make-up samples at your local beauty store.
Tester beware: A woman in California recently sued Sephora, making the claim that she contracted herpes from the store’s make-up testers
Not so sanitary: According to a report that aired on the Today Show Monday, make-up samples are riddled with bacteria
TODAY sent samples of make-up testers from Sephora, Ulta and Macy’s to a certified microbiology lab and the results are unsettling.
Make-up from all three stores tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause staph infections with symptoms like boils, pneumonia and food poisoning.
Samples also came back with E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which are bacteria found in the intestinal tract.
‘You could literally be applying and smearing someone else’s fecal matter directly onto your lips,’ New York City-based dermatologist Whitney Bowe told TODAY correspondent Jeff Rossen.
Gross! The report found traces of E. coli and Staph on make-up samples from Sephora, Ulta and Macy’s
Try AFTER you buy: Avoid exposure to harmful bacteria and diseases by taking cosmetics stores up on their generous refund policies
For a more sanitary route, Dr. Bowe recommends swatching products on the back of your hands as opposed to your lips, eyes or face. ‘Those areas are much more vulnerable to infection,’ she said.
You can also ask sales associates to sanitize a product before you test and use the disposable make-up applicators to avoid spreading germs yourself.
Perhaps the safest way to test products is by purchasing them and trying them at home. Retailers like Sephora, Ulta and CVS allow returns on opened items.