Make-Up: Be Safe, Not Sorry

The chances that you’ll be seriously injured by your makeup are small, but it does happen. Use this common sense advice from the Consumer Information Center (www.pueblo.gsa.gov) to make sure you’re beautiful and safe.

• Never drive and apply makeup. Not only does it make for dangerous driving, but hitting a bump in the road can cause you to scratch your eyeball, which could in turn lead to an infection and serious injury to your eye.
• Never share makeup. Always use a new disposable applicator when sampling products at a cosmetics counter. Insist that the salesperson clean container openings with alcohol before applying their contents to your skin.
• Never add liquid to a product to bring back its original consistency. Adding other liquids could introduce bacteria that can easily grow out of control.
• Stop using any product that causes an allergic reaction.
• Throw away makeup if the color changes or an odor develops. Preservatives degrade over time and may no longer be able to fight bacteria.
• Do not use eye makeup if you have an eye infection. Throw away all products you were using when you discovered the infection.
• Keep makeup out of sunlight. Light and heat can degrade preservatives.
• Keep makeup containers tightly closed when not in use.