Update Date: 2010/04/25 17:48 Life Center / Taipei Report

Many female consumers enjoy trying out open-shelf makeup testers, but did you know these products might be teeming with bacteria? A U.S. study found that items like serums and lotions, which are left open for extended periods, can become breeding grounds for bacteria. Applying such testers to your face is akin to smearing dirt on your skin.

Drugstores often display cosmetic testers for customers to try, and many women apply them directly to their skin. However, this habit should be approached with caution, as the study revealed that these shared testers can harbor E. coli and other harmful bacteria.

Dermatologist Liao Yuanli explained, "The skin naturally hosts certain bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus. If someone squeezed a pimple the night before, their skin may have micro-wounds. Applying contaminated skincare products in such cases could lead to infection."

Doctors warn that makeup testers in drugstores and department stores, left open and used by multiple people, are prone to contamination by Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and E. coli. Products like serums, creams, and lotions, often packaged in wide-mouth jars with high moisture and nutrient content, are especially susceptible to bacterial growth. Meanwhile, items like mascara, lipstick, and powder, which contain wax or dry components, have a lower risk of bacterial proliferation—but directly applying them to the face is still ill-advised.

Liao Yuanli suggested, "When using large tester bottles, it's best to pour a small amount onto a clean spatula or tool before applying it to the skin." She also recommended avoiding application near mucous membranes like the mouth and nose, or disinfecting the tester's surface with alcohol first to minimize the risk of invisible bacteria harming the skin. (Source: EBC News reporters Zhai Xuan and Wang Hongnian)

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