Your make-up sponge could be making you ill – the shocking truth will have you reaching for the soap ASAP
A HYGIENE expert has left people horrified after testing how much bacteria is on her make-up sponge.
Pamela Pedrozaa swatched her sponge and rubbed the Q-tip petri dish to see how much bacteria would grow.
A petri dish is a type of culture plate used to hold the growth of cells which can be cultured, bacteria, fungi and small mosses.
After two days, a host of bacteria and funguses had grown on the dish.
Make-up fans were so horrified they said they wanted to “wash their eyes” and forget they’d ever seen Pamela’s video.
One microbiologist previously warned that the contents of your make-up bag could be making you unwell.
Expert Amy-May Pointer said that make-up tools, hairbrushes and eyelash curlers could all be harbouring potentially harmful fungus.
She added that trendy items like jade rollers need to be cleaned after each use after Staphylococcus aureus was found on tools the expert tested.
It can be found on skin and strains of S. aureus such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus) can pose a health risk.
There is also evidence of S. aureus’s pathogenicity causing acne.
Medics at the American Academy of Dermatology said you should be cleaning your brushes and sponges every seven to 10 days.
The experts warned: “Dirty makeup brushes can wreak havoc on the skin.
“In addition to collecting product residue, dirt and oil, makeup brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria.
“This could compromise your complexion — in the form of acne breakouts and rashes — as well as your health.
“Dirty makeup brushes can cause an infection, such as a fungal infection, E. coli, or a staph infection, which can be very serious.”
Pamela recently revealed the gross truth behind make-up testers in shops by swatching public samples in Sephora.
She tested a Fenty Beauty blusher and Charlotte Tilbury lipstick.
The result left people “disgusted”, with many vowing to never touch a make-up tester again.
Using make-up testers directly on your skin can cause breakouts or more serious issues like impetigo.
Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.