Alarming TikTok Showcases Dangers of Applying Tester Makeup

Have you ever walked into Sephora and thought, “You know, I could totally put on a full face of makeup right now with just testers.” We’ve all been there. You’ve probably even seen videos of users testing out products across the black-and-white aisles. But, while a Sephora makeup tester is there to help you shade match and swatch, this viral TikTok showcases the dangers of using the testers at beauty stores on your face.

TikTok Explodes Over Possible Herpes Case From Sephora Makeup Tester

Last week, TikTok user @jessebs9 posted a word to the wise about Sephora testers, after using an eyeliner tester resulted in a large, puss-filled stye on her lower lash line. “It’s lowkey still there four weeks later,” the user wrote in the caption. Viewers were equal parts shocked and concerned, with hundreds taking to the comments to hypothesize about what the creator could have caught from the Sephora eyeliner tester.

- Advertisement -

Despite the jarring reality showcased by @jessebs9, other users, like @mahaaa.c, have garnered millions of views by visiting beauty retailers to apply a full face of makeup with only in-store testers. A real threat to health and safety, Mike Agruss, managing partner and personal injury lawyer at 844SeeMike issued a word of caution to impressionable TikTok users.

“Think twice before you try out beauty product testers at retail stores such as Sephora,” Agruss says. “You don’t know who has used it before you or if they’ve applied the product directly on their eyes or lips, which could lead to serious issues. Communal cosmetic testers can contain a bounty of harmful bacteria and viruses such as E. coli, staphylococcus, herpes simplex and even MRSA. These pathogens can cause painful skin conditions and eye infections resulting in costly medical bills, and it is strongly advised that shoppers avoid using these samples.”