If you ’re one of the millions of citizenry worldwide that use mascara , lip color , or mantrap blenders , then you may require to take a second look at the ware in your make-up travelling bag . Nine out of 10 cosmetic products currently being used are contaminated with potentially harmful superbug , includingE. coliandStaphylococci , with mantrap blenders , mascara , and lip rubric containing the highest levels of bacterium .
While such bacterium may go on by nature on the skin , researcher at Aston University billet that they can do serious malady – from skin infection and pinkeye to blood toxic condition – if they gain access to the body through the optic , oral fissure , or any wounds or sore on the face . This risk of exposure is amplified in individuals with compromised immune system , drop a line the subject field authors in theJournal of Applied Microbiology .
To come to their findings , the scientists studied the microbial pollution of nearly 470 ornamental products that had been used by a consumer , including lip rouge , lip gloss , eyeliners , mascaras , and beaut blender . refinement revealed that between 79 and 90 pct of once used merchandise were contaminate with bacterium Staphylococci , E. coli , andC. freundii , whileEnterobacteriaceaeand different types of fungi were also found in more than a quarter of all products . However , the sketch did not determine how often exposure resulted in an infection .
Because sponge - similar beauty liquidizer used to hold liquid foundation Cartesian product are often left damp after use , they are an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and contained the highest point . Overall , such high levels of bacteria are largely due to drug user either not clean house their products on a regular basis or using them well beyond their expiration date ; 93 percent had never been cleaned and 64 percent had been dropped on the floor at some point . Additionally , beauty store constitution testers were found to provide a road for contamination and infection . Such product are often not regularly cleaned and leave endanger to the surround , with people touching and trying on the mathematical product .
The generator say that their study is the first to look at beauty liquidiser products , which have grown in popularity in late years . In 2016 , more than 6.5 million had been sell across the world . Without sleep with it , makeup substance abuser may be putting themselves at danger .
" Consumers ' pathetic hygienics practices when it do to using make - up , especially beauty blenders , is very worrying when you consider that we found bacteria such asE.coli – which is link with faecal contamination – breeding on the products we tested , ” articulate study generator Amreen Bashir of Aston University in astatement .
" More needs to be done to help educate consumer and the make - up industry as a whole about the need to wash beauty blenders regularly and dry them thoroughly , as well as the risk of using make - up beyond its expiry date . "
Bashir adds that regulatory bodies should do more to protect consumers , such as make expiration dates and cleanup requirements more obvious on packaging .
