A beauty expert has shared how to accurately check whether makeup will suit you without putting it near your face, as testers can harbor harmful germs like Staphylococcus, E. coli, and the herpes simplex virus. These bacteria spread easily when multiple people touch products with unwashed fingers or apply them directly to skin.
Lena, who posts on social media as @lenkalul, was reposted by Huda Beauty, who captioned the video: "NEVER swatch makeup testers on your face. @lenkalul shares how to safely swatch makeup in-store before buying."
Lipsticks
Swatch lipstick on your fingertips and "hold up next to your lips to see if you like the colour," Lena advised.
Concealer
"Swatch in the corner of your hand, that way you can see how the concealer creases," she said. This also helps decide if it's suitable for spot concealing or under-eye highlighting.
Foundations
Apply foundation under your jaw and on your neck rather than on your face. "Make sure you allow the foundation to fully dry, and make sure to check the colour in natural light," Lena recommended.
Eyeshadow
Swatch eyeshadow on the middle of your finger knuckle to "see how the eyeshadow behaves on skin that has movement, just like your eyelids."
Highlighter
Swatch highlighter on the edge of your hand, running down past your little finger, because "the curve of your hand will help you to see how reflective the highlighter is."
Blush
Swatch blush on your palm underneath your thumb. "Hold it up next to your cheek to see if you like the colour," Lena said.
"And that's how you safely swatch makeup before buying," she concluded. Commenters thanked Lena for the "great advice."
