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Unless you’re hell-bent on catching herpes simplex, you’d avoid laying a smacker on someone with a cold sore, right?
But you probably wouldn’t think twice about sharing your lipstick or lipgloss with a girlfriend on a night out.
RELATED: Here’s how fast germs go from the toilet to your desk to your mouth
Sure, sharing is caring, but there are a few big no-nos when it comes to potentially germ-infested beauty products and tools. Here are the six you should avoid sharing. Just say no.
1. Tweezers / nail clippers / nail files.
The thought of unsterilised nail clippers or tools at the nail salon is enough to turn you off your pedicure, but the same goes for sharing beauty tools with friends. If the person who used it before you had any kind of cut or open wound, chances are you’ll get bacteria, fungus or a nail infection as a result.
It’s only worthwhile to double check the tools at your local nail bar uses proper sterilisation methods, otherwise you could end up with a hepatitis C or staph infection. No $20 pedicure is worth that.
2. Lipsticks and lip glosses.
Your mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria as it doesn’t have the same epidermal layer of skin the rest of your face does. As lip gloss is more moist than lipstick, viruses like herpes simplex 1, which is responsible for cold sores, can live in the sticky gloss and be spread by the applicator.
3. Mascara/eyeliner.
Any eye makeup product like mascara, eyeliner and eye pencils are not a good idea to share as they come in close contact with the eye membranes. The obvious potential infection here is conjunctivitis, but a bottle of mascara can also house herpes simplex and keratitis (an inflammation of the cornea). Since a person can remain germy for weeks after the infection has cleared up, pass on sharing your wands and pencils.
