Why you should never try makeup 'testers' in stores

New York - In-store makeup testers could carry viruses such as herpes and salmonella, experts warn.

It's a good idea to 'try before you buy' but not when you are looking for make-up cosmetics. Using those make-up testers stacked up beautifully on cosmetics stores, increases the risk of contracting herpes and salmonella, a microbiologist has warned.
Make-up testers are used by ample women whilst buying cosmetics and using the same lipstick as other people can mean picking up tiny droplets of their saliva which carry the herpes virus. Meanwhile, mascara wands or eyeliner, whether tried out as testers on make-up stands or shared between friends, may lead to a nasty case of 'pink-eye'.
Other risks from shared make-up include salmonella and e.coli as well as skin flare-ups from bacteria on other people's faces.
Dr Amreen Bashir, a microbiologist from Aston University in Birmingham, was quoted saying in Mail Online: 'Most people would never consider sharing a toothbrush with a stranger, yet they happily use make-up testers. There is a real risk of catching bacterial infections and herpes, as we all have different organisms living on us and one cosmetic tester can be used by 30 or 40 different people, which spreads the risk of infection.'
Recently, a US woman has sued a beauty firm, claiming she picked up the herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores and is carried by more than two-thirds of the population.
When asked Dr Bashir, she confirmed it is possible that the woman might have contracted the disease through a tester and wrote in an article for website The Conversation: 'Herpes causes blisters on the lips and around the mouth that can last up to ten days. Lipsticks and make-up brushes that touch these parts of the face can spread the infection to other people.'
A study of 67 cosmetics last year found three-quarters contained the staphylococcus bug. While this can live harmlessly on the skin, shared make-up could transmit a less friendly version - methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the deadly superbug MRSA.
Also, make-up brushes should not be shared because they gather bacteria including Staph aureus, E.coli and streptococcus.
When it comes to eye make-up, Dr Bashir writes: 'Studies have revealed that 43 per cent of eyeliners and mascara wands contain contaminants. Many have been left with a 'pink eye' after sharing mascara or using an outdated one.'
To conclude these horror stories tells us it's a better idea to stay away from sharing make-up products especially trying testers in cosmetic stores.