Here’s The (Gross) Reason Why You Shouldn’t Store Your Makeup In Your Bathroom

How clean is your makeup? Literally – is it dirty? If you’re storing it in the bathroom, it very well could be.

London dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto has warned against keeping your makeup in the bathroom, citing a study that found that nearly 79-90% of all used makeup products were contaminated with bacteria.

“Not all bacteria are bad or harmful to our heath, and there are acceptable safety limits of levels present in cosmetics applied around the eye versus those elsewhere,” Dr Mahto wrote on Instagram. “However, some microbes are known to be potentially harmful to us (known as pathogens) and should never be found in our skincare.”

Researchers tested five types of products – lipstick, lip gloss, eyeliners, mascaras, and beauty blenders – and found that out of all of these categories, beauty blenders and lip glosses were most likely to be contaminated with bacteria or fungus.

What’s more, the study revealed that 93% of the beauty blenders tested had never been cleaned, with 64% still used after being dropped on the floor. Ewww.

“Many products were being used or stored in the bathroom. Not only is there a risk of cross-contamination from faecal bacteria by storing products here, but heat and steam from the shower may also produce an environment where microbes can thrive.”

Oh yeah, she dropped the ‘faecal bacteria’ bomb. To keep your beauty bits as clean as possible, Dr Mahto recommends that you avoid sharing your makeup, wash your brushes and sponges thoroughly once a week, and be vigilant about product expiry dates.

She also advises to “exercise caution” around beauty counter testers, wash your hands before you apply your makeup, and of course, avoid storing your products in the bathroom.

We’re off home to scrub every single item of makeup that we own. Thanks, Dr Mahto!

• Beauty
• Makeup