As a follower of VR I’m pretty sure you know by now that sharing make-up is NEVER a good idea.  Illnesses such as cold sores and eye infections can be passed by sharing make-up.  Yet as a beauty industry insider, I can’t tell you how many times I see consumers sample cosmetic testers without using a new mascara wand,  lipstick/lip gloss without a new applicator or eyeliner without cleaning the tip.  Each time I see it, it makes me want to cringe.  

Would you eat directly from a stranger? Would you use public restrooms without seat covers? Why would you share make-up that thousands of completely strangers have sampled? What if one of those persons didn’t wash their hands after the restroom and passed along E.coli?  What if you had a cut on your lip and one of the many samplers had herpes? Or what if a sampler had pink eye?

1. Ask for an individual tester.

2.  Don’t test make-up on your eyes, mouth or nose.  Use your hand instead.

3. Make sure you always clean the surface of make-up testers when you’re about to sample, with a tissue or a tissue dipped in alchol.

4. If you’re sampling lipstick always use a disposable applicator.