Share and share alike??

I think a lot of people think it's ok to share makeup. What's the harm in letting your sister use your mascara when she can't find hers or letting your best friend use the awesome new concealer you just bought, right? You'd be surprised. While some products are ok (but still not ideal) for sharing - like shadows or loose powders, here is a short list of things you should never share, not even with your BFF:

- MASCARA. Please, please, please do not share your mascara, no matter how much your friend begs to borrow it. Most people do not like to think about this little tid bit, but there are actually micro-organisms living in your eyelashes (yes, i know it's gross, but they are harmless and there's nothing you can do about them - EVERYONE has them, even sweet beautiful Emma Watson), so as much as you love your friends, I'm going to assume you do not love their micro-organisms enough to let them live on your mascara wand.
- Concealer. Especially if it's something you apply directly to your face, from a wand that goes back into the tube of concealer. A lot of this is common sense...oils and bacteria from your skin go back into that tube when you close it, and while it's fine when it's your own, it's best to steer clear of letting a friend use it on a blemish and then let that marinate in the tube for your next use. Ewwwww, huh?
- Eyeliners. This one is iffy...if you do let a friend use your liner, have her sharpen it before and after using it, which will remove that "layer" of the pencil from her use. You certainly don't want to make your friends feel like a leper, but things like pink eye spread quickly and easily from sharing products that you apply directly to your eyes.

Basically, keep in mind that you don't want anyone using a product of yours that you would apply directly to your skin. Things like loose powders, lipsticks, shadows - those are safer to share because you don't necessarily store the applicator within the actual product (like a mascara wand or concealer wand). Just use your best judgement, and if a friend asks, just say, I'm sorry, I don't share mascara/eyeliner/whatever.

Ever been to a MAC store and watched one of the artists apply makeup? They use about a zillion applicators and they do not ever put a mascara wand back into the tube once it's been on someone's eyes. It may seem wasteful and kinda silly, but think about how many people use those sample products - that is a pink eye extravaganza waiting to happen. But, MAC artists (and most other makeup artists, too!) are well aware of the germ/bacteria issue and do their best to make the process as sanitary as possible. I'm not saying you have to be that anal about it, but do remember that while sharing is always a nice gesture, it's not always the best idea.