What Are We Growing in Our Makeup?

To examine microorganism growth in makeup and possibly identify it as a potential nidus for infection, 19 samples of varying ages and brands were plated on sheep blood agar and incubated for 120 hours. Suprisingly, 6 of 19 makeup samples grew quantifiable bacteria and possible fungi, showing the high prevalence of these unwanted contaminants in beauty products. This study shows that seemingly innocent products often used on a daily basis could be a source of infection.