Personal Health

Many cosmetics are contaminated with bacteria and fungi

Studies show that very few people pay attention to the expiration date of Make-up. Also brush and cosmetic sponge eke out a shadowy existence, when it comes to cleaning. So it is hardly surprising that, of the surveyed 467 used products up to 90 percent of bacteria were contaminated.

In the study from the UK has been tested, whether used cosmetics such as lipstick (96 pieces), lip gloss (107), Eyeliner (92) and Mascara (93) were found to be contaminated with bacteria. It showed that 79 percent to 90 percent of all the products contained bacteria, including the pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Citrobacter freundii. The higher the water content of the article was, the more likely a contamination.

Particularly negative is the 79 tested egg-shaped cosmetic sponges that have become popular in recent years and are noticed: The sponges had the highest Rate of fungal infestation, and a quarter of the Enterobacteriaceae, a family of bacteria that live predominantly in the gut contained.

In Makeup-Schwämmchen many fungi and bacteria

The Team also conducted a survey to study the dressing habits of the users of these products. Hardly surprising: Hardly anyone noticed the expiry date, 97.9 percent used in the cosmetics well then. 93 percent of the respondents had washed their cosmetic sponge never. 64.4 percent stated that they use more after they had fallen to the ground.

The authors of the study advise to clean the sponges regularly with warm soapy water. It is also important to dry them thoroughly, since residual moisture would breed bacteria even stronger. They also recommend to pay attention to the expiration date of cosmetics and not to buy counterfeit article.

ZOU