Your makeup brushes contain more bacteria and mold than the toilet, the disgusting microscope test

Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerous

Did you know that the brushes and sponges used every day as a complement to make-up products are actually home for thousands of bacteria, fungi and molds? This is what emerges from a fun (but not too much) test conducted on some make-up products used and not washed regularly, how it should be done and like many of us instead do not do for lack of time or desire.





In fact, used daily, brushes and make-up sponges collect dirt, pollutants, but also sebum and dead cells - eventually becoming a breeding ground for bacteria, which proliferate there and also cause skin problems (such as rashes or irritation).

The authors of a bizarre test emptied a common make-up bag, analyzing brushes, sponges and pipe cleaners under the microscope in order to detect the presence of aerobic bacteria, molds and fungi. Surprisingly, the results obtained show that a toilet seat hosts fewer bacteria than eleven of the brushes analyzed.

Index

How contaminated are our make-up products?

Among the make-up accessories object of the study we find brushes for eyeshadow and foundation, beauty blender, eyelash curler, combs for eyebrows, lip gloss and mascara cases. Here are some of the surprising results:

Eyeshadow brush

This is perhaps the most contaminated of the items in a makeup case. The study authors found very high levels of fungi (600) and molds (60). These results are even more important when we consider that this type of brush comes into contact with our eyes, increasing the chances of causing inflammation within the eye rim, swelling of the eyelid, itching or conjunctivitis.

Your makeup brushes contain more bacteria and mold than the toilet, the disgusting microscope test

©Aventus Clinic

Blusher brush

In second place among the most contaminated brushes, this brush also hosts rich colonies of fungi (500) and bacteria (100). Due to direct contact with the skin of the face, the impurities present on the brush could clog the pores, causing rashes and irritation, but also a loss of collagen (resulting in premature aging of the skin).



Your makeup brushes contain more bacteria and mold than the toilet, the disgusting microscope test

©Aventus Clinic

Lip gloss

Lipgloss is the third most contaminated object: over 400 colonies of bacteria and 50 of molds were found on the samples examined by the researchers. Remember that lip gloss is even more loaded with bacteria if you switch from one mouth to the other - a very bad habit even among sisters!

Your makeup brushes contain more bacteria and mold than the toilet, the disgusting microscope test

©Aventus Clinic

Beauty blender

This bizarre shaped sponge ranks fifth in the ranking of dirtiest makeup applicators: according to the data collected in this test, 85 colonies of mold and 35 colonies of bacteria were identified on a dirty sponge. Using an unwashed blender is extremely harmful to the skin - as well as being a leading cause of acne and skin infections.

Your makeup brushes contain more bacteria and mold than the toilet, the disgusting microscope test

©Aventus Clinic

Mascara brush

Mascara is one of the most used makeups by women, even by those who wear little makeup. Well, even among the bristles of the mascara brush there are dangerous colonies of bacteria (60) and molds (3), which bring this make-up accessory to the tenth place in the ranking.

Your makeup brushes contain more bacteria and mold than the toilet, the disgusting microscope test

©Aventus Clinic

(Read also: Magnetic eyelashes: what they are and what are the side effects for the health of your eyes)


How to clean the brushes?

The images of the bacteria and mold colonies shown above are truly distressing - especially when you think that those products are placed on the skin of the face, lips or around the eyes every day. How then to clean brushes and pipe cleaners correctly and minimize the risk of bacterial contamination? Here are some useful tips.

Password: diligence. To avoid huge accumulations of bacteria and other impurities on the brushes, we need to clean them constantly - at least once a week. After soaking the brush or sponge to be washed with water, pour a few drops of mild soap over it (we can also use shampoo) and massage carefully, rubbing any bristles into the palm of your hand.


After having lathered well and having seen the excess makeup settle in the foam, we rinse the accessory with very hot water, squeezing to remove the excess water. Let it dry completely before using again.

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Source: Aventus Clinic

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