Women are advised: Keep an eye on your makeup

By Liz Szabo

As an optometrist, Andrea Thau often advises her patients about preventing eye infections. And as a spokeswoman for the American Optometric Association, she frequently speaks about eye health on television.
But Thau says she learned one hygiene lesson the hard way: She developed a sty after a TV station artist did her makeup. Thau says she most likely developed the sty — a small lump on the eyelid near the lash line — because of bacteria from the makeup artist's hands or supplies.
Thau now brings her own makeup artist before going on the air.
Though few of her patients have to worry about TV appearances, Thau says many unknowingly expose themselves to germs while sampling products at department store makeup counters or undergoing makeovers from saleswomen.
Marguerite McDonald, an eye doctor and spokeswoman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, agrees. Consumers should never put their fingers into display products or use cosmetics that other customers may have touched.
McDonald, a former model, says she never has had a store makeover.
Pinkeye, which can make the eye red, swollen, tender and full of pus, is extremely contagious. Like colds and flu viruses, it's especially common this time of year.
Though there's no solid research exploring a link between makeup counters and eye infections, McDonald says she has treated many patients who developed pinkeye after visiting such counters at the shopping mall.
The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association says its members take safety seriously.
Clinique employees, for example, are told to sanitize their hands before touching clients, says Susan Kasziba, Clinique's executive director of global education development.
Product samples "should never touch a customer's skin," Kasziba says. "If someone has used it, we would throw out that tester and create a new one."
Thau says customers should use common sense, but they shouldn't worry about contracting a dangerous disease. Most eye infections clear up within a week or so, even without treatment.
"People have enough neuroses," she says. "They don't need to get totally crazed."


CLINIQUE PUTS CLEAN FACE ON SAMPLING PRODUCTS
Clinique's Susan Kasziba says the company instructs salespeople to follow basic rules when they are demonstrating products:Mascara. Cosmetics consultants should use a new, disposable brush for each customer. Eye shadow. Salespeople should scrape the pigment onto a tissue, then use a disposable wand to apply it to the eyelid. They should not place the applicator directly into the sample shadow.Eyeliner. Consultants should disinfect eyeliner pencils with alcohol, then sharpen them to pare away any surfaces that have come in contact with skin.

Fonte: www.usatoday.com - 03/01/07