FATAZEN Editorial · Brand Journal · Reviewed 14 October 2026
Keep makeup for your own use. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises against sharing it. Borrowing a friend’s mascara and trying a shared store tester both raise hygiene questions; knowing the other person is not a reason to ignore the guidance.
Keep eye makeup personal
The FDA’s eye-cosmetic safety guidance advises against sharing, including with close friends.
Check how a store tester is used
The FDA warns that communal testers can have a greater contamination risk. If you sample eye cosmetics, it recommends an applicator intended for one use, such as a fresh cotton swab. This is a precaution, not a guarantee that the tester itself is uncontaminated.
Ask before sampling: is this an eye-area product, and is a fresh disposable tool available? You can choose to view the shade instead. There is no need to try a shared sample simply because it is on display.
Separate breakouts from contagious conditions
The American Academy of Dermatology’s makeup guidance explains that acne is not contagious. However, shared makeup and tools can transfer bacteria, oil and dead skin cells, and sharing can also spread conditions such as pink eye or cold sores. A friend’s clear-looking skin is not a hygiene test for a cosmetic.
After an eye infection, change the plan
The FDA’s general cosmetic-safety advice says to throw away eye makeup after an eye infection. Its eye-safety checklist also advises waiting until the affected area has healed before using eye cosmetics again.
For everyday use, follow package directions, wash your hands, and keep containers clean and closed. These practical boundaries do not diagnose a reaction or establish that a particular product suits you.
Build the rest of your routine
For your own reusable tools, follow our makeup-brush cleaning guide. For preparation before colour products, see Skincare Before Makeup. Personal-use boundaries, tool maintenance and skin preparation each answer a different everyday question.
Frequently asked questions
Is sharing mascara with a close friend different?
The FDA advises keeping eye makeup personal, even with friends.
Does a disposable applicator make an eye-makeup tester risk-free?
No. The FDA recommends a single-use applicator if you sample eye cosmetics, but shared testers can still be contaminated.
What if I had an eye infection while using makeup?
The FDA advises discarding the eye makeup used when the infection occurred. Avoid eye cosmetics until the area has healed.