The Problem With Makeup Testers

So my last post I did really gave me some inspiration for something to write about. I'm pretty sure anyone who's been in a makeup store like Boots or Superdrug really knows what I am talking about. And it's nothing to do with the staff, but much to do with a number of customers who shop there.

You can probably guess what i'm talking about, this certain type of customer who treats the testers like they are there own personal stash. People who insist on trying the makeup on out of the testers and see no problem with doing it. You people are a complete menace and the reason why nasty skin infections like impetigo and conjunctivitis exist.

Now I understand that not all makeup shoppers are the same and thankfully there are many that when using a tester just swatch on the back of the hand or arm. If they want to try anything on they just get the staff on counter to do it or ask for some applicators. That is completely fine and nothing wrong with that. But seriously why do some shoppers insist on grabbing a lipstick and just shoving it straight onto the lips without even cleaning it first. You don't know where that tester has been or who's mouth it has been on. To the person who went shopping and was like 'I have to try that color, so i'm going to put it straight on my lips.' Guess what. The person 10 minutes before you did just the same thing and they had a nasty cold sore on the face and what's even better, you're going to have it too.

Yesterday I had a look at the shiny new NYX counter that has opened up in Boots in Queen Street. The counter looks fantastic and has loads of colors to play with. The thing that really bugged me wasn't the crowds of people or how hard it was to get past everyone. No, it wasn't even spending a lot of money there or the heavy rain shower that just went by. It was the stupidity of a small number of people shopping at the counter. One of them grabs a lipstick and is directly putting it onto her lips like it's her own lippie. Her friend went and did the same with another color. These people are the scourge of beauty counters, they spread infections and make the tester all nasty and grubby. It's thanks to them infections are spread easily. And what happens when they get impetigo, they go to a solicitor and try to sue the makeup company. When it wasn't the fault of the company but their own stupid behavior. If those people had one brain cell it would be lonely.

There is a very good reason why when you get your makeup done at a counter, the brushes are always cleaned before. It's to stop cross contamination. As a makeup artist myself I know the importance of keeping your products and tools clean. If I had a client that had a nasty cold sore, conjunctivitis or even impetigo, I wouldn't even bother doing their makeup as it's just not worth it. 

One of the big makeup counters where people like to apply lipsticks to themselves is at MAC. Now I have seen people going up to some of the products and applying them straight on, but if any of the staff at MAC see you doing it they will rightfully disinfect the product first so it is nice and clean for you. This is just how it should be and i'm pretty sure if the staff at NYX saw some of the customers yesterday they would insist on it too. This only really happens at manned counters where you get staff keeping an eye on everything. Cleaning products first is never heard of at Rimmel and Maybelline, unfortunately. 

Talking about MAC, some woman in America claimed that she got an infection from a lipstick she had tried on at a Rihanna concert. Apparently the person who put it on her didn't use a disposable brush. If this was true it's really bad practice especially from a company like MAC, which is probably why they do get quite fussy about hygiene as getting sued really is no fun.

So although it may seem harmless just grabbing a tester and just putting it on your lips, it really isn't worth it. I honestly don't know what goes through some people's minds.