Should We Be Sanitizing Our Beauty Products Now?
The concern over COVID-19 continues to grow. Although many of the brick-and-mortar stores that initially shut their doors have reopened and vaccinations are under way, social distancing and mask-wearing looks like it will be our new normal for the foreseeable future.
There's no denying that the thought of person-to-person contact can be a scary one right now. But as we sit in our homes, trying to balance work and grapple with reality, it's important to maintain a certain degree of normalcy. My way of doing that is with makeup. Though no one really sees me day-to-day (save for a few of my coworkers on Zoom), I still feel the need to get somewhat done up during my work shift, because that's just what I'm used to. But then, anxiety sets in, and I start thinking about all the germs and pathogens that could potentially be around me, which makes me wonder: Should we be sanitizing our beauty products now?
I always give my makeup a wipe down — maybe not as often as I should, but whenever I can remember. I'll spray some rubbing alcohol on my palettes and compacts to clean them a bit. However, in the middle of a pandemic, should I be doing more? To ease my mind (and maybe yours) I reached out to experts to weigh in.
Be diligent if you're sharing — or just stop sharing
"I would ensure that if you are letting others borrow your makeup that you are wiping down the surfaces that they touch," says Amesh A. Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Health Security. He also notes that you definitely should not be sharing your makeup with someone who is actively sick at this time. In agreement is Nada Elbuluk, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Keck Medicine of USC. Elbuluk does not recommend sharing any makeup, particularly during this time period. If the outside surface was touched by someone else then it is appropriate to disinfect the surface immediately after.
"The coronavirus can live on surfaces for various periods of time depending on the surface material. For this reason it would be beneficial to sanitize the outside surfaces of makeup containers." Elbuluk adds.
Cosmetic chemist Ginger King agrees. "It's not a bad idea to disinfect everything. It's better to be safe than sorry." King also reassures us that it is safe to wear makeup at home — just as long as no one has borrowed your beauty products. She also advises that sharing your makeup, in general, isn't something you want to make a habit of. If you want to be better safe than sorry, Adalja recommends wiping down common touch surfaces of the makeup case.
How to sanitize your products
Whether your products are being touched by hands other than your own or you simply want to play it extra safe, there are ways to sanitize your products without affecting the quality or effectiveness of the formula.
"Alcohol is used as a disinfectant, and it evaporates, so it will not interfere with product texture," King says, adding that alcohol spray usually is the best way to apply it to products. "All beauty advisers — I was one with many brands — were taught how to sanitize products at the [store] counter as it's been used by many people. Consumers can surely do that."
King also says whether or not you even need to worry about the contamination of the product it hinges a lot on its packaging. "If you buy products in airless pumps or non-exposing packages, you don't have to worry about anything," she explains. "Most of the cosmetic products have been through micro-challenge testing," which ensures no microbiome growth.
As for the outer surfaces of your products, whether it's a glass jar or a plastic compact, your typical disinfecting wipes like Lysol's will do the trick. Ran out? "Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective for surfaces," according to Stephen Goldstein, a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Human Genetics at University of Utah Health.
Regardless of what is currently going on in the world, you should always clean your makeup brushes on a regular basis. Most dermatologists will tell you to soak your tools, especially foundation and concealer brushes, once a week — minimum — to prevent product buildup. And for the ones who only use their fingers to apply their makeup, which many of our beauty editors do, it's extremely important to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds before and after applying products to your face.
Long story short: If wearing makeup makes work from home days seem shorter and more enjoyable, by all means, wear it. Just be aware of who (if anyone) has been in your makeup bag and sanitize accordingly.
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
More on COVID-19:
Sephora Is Canceling All In-Store Services as a Coronavirus Precautionary Measure
Glossier Announces the Temporary Closure of Its Stores Amid Coronavirus Concerns
Now, watch KJ Apa try nine things he's never done before:
You can follow Allure on Instagram and Twitter, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty.
Originally Appeared on Allure
