Makeup can make you look good, but researchers have found that out-of-date containers of cosmetics can actually make you sick, as they harbor a number of bacteria including a strain responsible for causing meningitis.
For a study commissioned by Escentual.com, an online beauty retailer, researchers from the London Metropolitan University tested five out-of-date cosmetic products and found that they contained unsafe levels of potentially deadly bacteria. Enterococcus faecalis, one of the bacteria found, is the primary cause of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia, a condition that claims the lives of more children under five years old compared with other infections in the United Kingdom.
Other deadly bacteria discovered in the out-of-date cosmetic products include: Staphyloccocus epidermidis, an antibiotic-resistant bug; Propioniacterium, which causes acne as well as other skin conditions; Eubacterium, which causes aeromonas and bacterial vaginosis; and Enterobacter, which causes respiratory and urinary tract infections.
The study used cosmetic products sent in by beauty bloggers and women from all over the U.K. All contained unsafe levels of bacteria, while four – a lip gloss (which was still in-date), lipstick, foundation and blusher – were showing positive for the meningitis-causing enterococcus faecalis bacteria.
Laura Byrne from London sent in a blusher that was nine months out-of-date, while Grace Day from Manchester provided the foundation sample, which was four months out-of-date. The only in-date item in the study, the lip gloss, was sent in by Nikki Capp from Cardiff. Ella Buchan from London parted with her 10-month out-of-date lipstick for the study, while Emma Leslie from Cardiff contributed a mascara that was four months out-of-date.
Specifically, the blusher tested positive for Enterococcus faecalis/faecium, Propionibacterium avidum and Staphyloccocus epidermis, while the foundation registered Eubacterium, Staphyloccocus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis/faecium. Researchers found Aeromanas, Staphyloccocus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis/faecium in the lip gloss, and Enterococcus faecalis/faecium in the lipstick. In the mascara, they found Eubacterium and Enterobacter.
Dr. Susan Mayou, consultant dermatologist for Cadogan Cosmetics, said that makeup is made with preservatives to protect it from fungal and bacterial buildup. However, these preservatives start becoming ineffective once the makeup becomes out-of-date. Bacteria are present on the skin, and is introduced to makeup via brushes and sponges.
"Once bacteria have been introduced to the out-of-date make-up, it can then mature and spread onto the skin," she explained.
Rakesh Aggarwal, CEO for Escentual.com, said that if people wouldn't keep food for months after its expiration date, then the same practices should be followed with cosmetics.
Photo: Maria Morri | Flickr
