Do you user the testers at makeup counters?
Posted in: Choose or LoseDate: March 5th, 2010
Feel free to elaborate on your answer in the comment section!
Sign up for E-Mail Updates:
Follow and Support Temptalia:
Temptalia Features
- MAC & Marcel Wanders Team Up for November
- MAC Viva Glam Gaga & Cyndi Lipglasses
- MAC Fabulous Felines: Look Breakdowns and Q&A
- MAC Venomous Villains Collection for Disney Information & Photos
- MAC Venomous Villains Collection for Fall 2010
- MAC Wonder Woman Collection for Spring 2011
- MAC Fabulous Felines Collection for Fall 2010
- MAC Rodarte: Changing Product Names & $100K Donation
- How-to: Blending
- Tutorial - Smokey Eye
- Tutorial & Reference - Eye Diagram, Parts of the Eye, Basic Eye Makeup
- Tutorial - Cat Eye Liner, Liquid Liner Tips, Neutral Eye
- MAC Cosmetics: Your Guide to Everything MAC Makeup!
- Tutorial - Dewy, Glowy Flawless Skin; Foundation, Blush, Contour, Highlighting
- Your Guide to Upcoming MAC Cosmetics Collections - Updated 6/30/10
Christina
Friday, March 5, 2010Once I saw the MA putting out new testers, they were awful lip colors but they were brand new. Now, I am a germ-a-phobe and I NEVER touch the testers anywhere besides my hand. So I decided to do something that felt so wrong, but so right, and try the ugly colored lipstick tester on just because it was new and clean! Oh if only the good colors werent so mucked up!
Shannon
Friday, March 5, 2010i try blush on my face but everything else of my hand! Except for at MAC, when they dip the lipsticks in alcohol :)
Katie
Friday, March 5, 2010I mostly just use them on my hand or arm, but I try foundation (only from a squeeze/pump tube) on my jaw. I also sometimes use lip products after wiping with alcohol or with a clean doe foot applicator ONLY if the original applicator has been cut off (to ensure that people haven’t been putting their nasty germs back in the tube).
Danielle Sharkey
Friday, March 5, 2010I would still be weary of the l/g with the applicator cut off bc I see people take it out and just use the stick portion as a make shift applicator..it’s weird but people do it…
I’m a true germa-phobe when it comes to make up….there are just so many germs out there…hello..swine flu… you just can never be too careful!
Kelly
Friday, March 5, 2010Only if they are cleaned first or dipped in alcohol and sharpened. I get so upset when I see customers put tester on their hands directly without a disposable applicator. It’s disguisting.
Vijaya
Friday, March 5, 2010What’s disgusting about that? It’s not like they’re going to lick their hands after they put it on there.
Ashley
Friday, March 5, 2010I agree. It’s not like you are going to BUY the tester, so what’s so bad about swatching a tester without a disposable applicator?
It’s not like I’m going to be licking my fingers after swatching the testers, and it’s not like I’m putting it on my face.
Bettina
Friday, March 5, 2010usually just on my hand, but the other day I forgot to put mascara on so I ran into sephora before work since it’s a foot away from my starbucks anyway, busted out one of the little spare mascara wands found a mascara and fixed my flaw LOL
Alicia
Friday, March 5, 2010If it can be seriously sanitized than i may. I usually just buy though to be honest. I dont worry about trying something on because i know it will work for me.
agassodame
Friday, March 5, 2010When i am at a MAC counter, I always just test products on my hand except for lipsticks which my mom gets angry at me for. I figured since they dip it in alcohol, Its pretty much clean.. but as for viruses, uhh I don’t know but I can’t help it. Some colors look different when swatched on my hand and when its on my lips :)
Jo
Friday, March 5, 2010I will on my hands and lipstick if it has been alcohol dipped or today at Chanel they scrape some off for you
LNU
Friday, March 5, 2010Sometimes the products I want to try they never have out as testers so I have to tell the SA and then they put out a new one, so only in that case I would try it on my face!
Ashley
Friday, March 5, 2010On my hands, yes. I would NEVER use something from a tester on my face, even if it was in a hygienic pump (such as moisturizers) because 1) my hands aren’t clean 2) there is no way to ensure that the pump itself is clean.
I always swatch makeup on the back of my hand to see if it has a nice texture or colour, but applying anything from the product to your lips/face is just unhygienic and disgusting.
Candi
Friday, March 5, 2010I swatch them on my hand
BAP
Friday, March 5, 2010Testers scare me. I have a friend who uses them with abandon and every time I see her do it, it makes me cringe. I subscribe to the theory that if you don’t know where something has been, you don’t use it, especially on or around your face. It’s just a little too scary for me.
Rosanna
Friday, March 5, 2010I’ll test lipsticks and lipglosses on my lips BUT only if the MUA sanitizes the lipstick or uses a sample gloss (they don’t double dip). MAC is awesome for that because I don’t fancy going back to return items.
Everything else (eyeshadow, eyeliner, etc) will be swatched on my hand/arm only.
Silvia
Friday, March 5, 2010If the MUA will sanitize them I try them in the face, otherwise not. But at MAC Counters they do
Tattoo Girl
Friday, March 5, 2010I only swatch on my arm or my hand. I will ususally ask the staff for a q-tip or disposable applicator before swatching anything.
I saw some teenagers at Sephora using eyeliner pencils right off of the display and thought I was gonna be sick!!
Carrie
Friday, March 5, 2010I usually just do my hand, but I sanitize my hands first or swatch with a disposable applicator. I will try on lipsticks at MAC that have been dipped in alcohol and wiped off…for lippies, it’s often too hard to gauge the color without trying it on, I think.
The other day I was at a store and two younger girls were just picking up all the lipsticks and applying them right to their mouths, and a little boy who was touching the floor started sticking his finger in a bunch of products. I try not to think about how that happens, like, every day… :)
The Diva V
Friday, March 5, 2010I only use testers at places like MAC and Sephora where i can get the applicator cleaned off or a new applicator
AnGeLwInGz
Friday, March 5, 2010Shadows/liners/blush, yes, only on my hands and then straight to the purell. Lips, never. I purchse and hope for the best. If I don’t like it I return it.
Vijaya
Friday, March 5, 2010For eyeshadows/blushes, I just swatch on my arms, but for lipsticks I like to try them out on my lips after having them sanitized, and I like to try glosses with disposable applicators.
Cole
Friday, March 5, 2010I hate it when MUA’s try samples on your face and only sanitize the brush..I refuse, but I see it done to so many other girls. So gross!
Liliana
Friday, March 5, 2010I like to try things I am interested in on my face, many things I try on my arm look good and then on my eyes or lips are disappointing and I also hate to bring back to the counter something I opened and tried. In the US the policy is very generous, but living in France made me aware to try things before buying them or get stuck with it. I appreciate the hygiene in cosmetics’ department stores or Sephora, generally SA are pretty good about it when I ask to try something on.
Krystal
Friday, March 5, 2010Only on my arm or hand except sanitized lipsticks and foundations applied by a MA.
Angela
Friday, March 5, 2010If a lip tester looks very new, then I’ll hazard it and try it on my lips OR if it’s a gorgeous colour, then I might grab a tissue and wipe it down a bit.
Joy
Friday, March 5, 2010Never on the face! on the hands I guess it’s ok, but even that I don’t keep on for too long…at MAC they always have the wet makeup removal wipes and simple tissues and I use them both before I leave the store…better safe than sorry!
Katie
Friday, March 5, 2010The only product I’ll ever actually try on my face is a spot of concealer if I need to match a color (and then as soon as I’m home I wash it off) and if there’s alcohol or a tissue to clean lipsticks I’ll occasionally use the lipsticks. I always clean it before I put it on my lips and then again after. Most people who go there aren’t that thorough, but at least I’m less likely to get sick and I’m not spreading my germs.
Katie
Friday, March 5, 2010Everything else I just swatch on my arm. (forgot to add that)
Nicki
Friday, March 5, 2010I’m not at all a germaphobe(I should probably be a little more germ conscious, but I think my lack of it contributes to the fact that I have an Olympian for an immune system), but I still USUALLY just try things on my hand/arm. I always sanitize before and after, mostly to be considerate of others. However, I simply can’t commit to buying something expensive without trying it on my face first (eyeshadows excluded, I just buy those sucker like candy!) But I MUST see how lip colors look on me before purchase. I have a strange skintone and I’ve bought way too many lipsticks that just look horrible on me, despite being a beautiful shade and being creamy/pigmented/LOVELY on the back of my hand. It’s not the same as seeing it on your face. :/
Nic
Friday, March 5, 2010It depends what it is and where I am. I swatch eye products on my hand/arm. Foundations I will try along my jaw, and I have used a clean brush to try blushes maybe a couple of times (I usually just swatch them on my hand). Lipstick I have no problem using if it’s been sanitized. Lipglosses normally only get swatched on my hand, but if I’m, say, at MAC and the gloss is in good condition, I’m willing to try it on with a disposable applicator. All in all, I rarely try anything (besides foundation) on my face at makeup counters, but I’ll swatch almost anything on my hand as long as it’s not completely disgusting.
CAROLINE
Friday, March 5, 2010Generally I test products on my hand (especially at drugstores!!) but I prefer actually doing lip swatches (only for lipsticks) ’cause it gives me a better idea of what the colour looks like on. Foundation too, of course, the back of my hand is way tanner than my face. But for all of these, I get the MAs to sanitize everything first, especially the lipsticks!!
karen
Friday, March 5, 2010I test eyeshadows, liners and lipglosses (from Sephora or Ulta) on my hands. At MAC I don’t mind testing lipstick or lipgloss on my lips. Foundation only goes on my face if a MA puts it on with their brushes. Mascara I don’t go near at stores.
Christy
Friday, March 5, 2010Just on my hand! I don’t even like getting makeovers at the counter much because I’m afraid of any potential bugs that may get picked up and put on me.
Hend
Friday, March 5, 2010just on my hands! ..
you never know how tried these products before !
vel
Friday, March 5, 2010No, not really only on my hand I don’t even get my makeup done I’m kinda afraid especially the lip products … cold sores are contagious? I think!
inuchan
Saturday, March 6, 2010I always use the tester on the back of my hands (i always carry a pocket sanitizing gel, so i can clean it off after swatching the products). I alow testing on my face only on special occasions, like when i got a Dior free makeup at my local beauty stores, and that the brushes and products are sanitized.
It just grosses me out to see someone test a lipstick on her lips, then put the tester back on the display….
Irene
Saturday, March 6, 2010whenever possible i usually ask the SA to sanitize the tester before i try it on my face. but most of the time they’re quite busy so I try the tester on my face right away. sometimes the color will look different from the swatches on ur hand once u put it on ur face. i like to be sure before i buy something. if it is a lip product, i’ll try it on my lips. it’s not like i’ll be wearing those tester on my face for long. i always clean it straight after i see the actual color on my face.
francesca
Saturday, March 6, 2010Only after they they’ve been sanitized for me!
Miss_M
Saturday, March 6, 2010I always swatch makeup on the back of my hand. Sometimes I use a tissue or clean disposable e/s applicator if a tester looks a bit nasty. In that case I refuse to put my fingers in it.
I always use a disposable doe foot applicator when I want to test a lipgloss on my lips, but that happens very rarely.
Christina C
Saturday, March 6, 2010It depends on how they are able to sanitize the product. If they aren’t able to sanitize it, I just swatch on my hand.
Potatisbruden ~
Saturday, March 6, 2010I always swatch testers on my hand/arm, I want to atleast have a clue how the product looks on my skin.
I swatch a little bit on my face if it’s foundation, blush or something, just so I know how it would work on my face.
When it comes to lip products, it depends on where I am, the environment, who’s there with me and how the products look/are.
Eyeshadows, eyeliners and stuff I swatch on my hands/arms.
That’s pretty much how I do it
Diana
Saturday, March 6, 2010I usually do eye stuff on hand/arm and then lipsticks I’ll do on my face when you can sanitize with alcohol. Lipglosses are nice cause they have the disposable wands, but I doubt people use them regularly to keep it clean.
Bridgette
Saturday, March 6, 2010I swatch everything on the back of my hand! I wouldn’t say I am a germaphobe but there are times when I can be one and the make up testers are one of them! I just don’t want to get a disease or a virus!!! Your health and safety is more important :)
Nicole
Sunday, March 7, 2010It depends. I test eye products on the back of my hand, lipsticks on my lips, because they are well pigented and some colors don’t suity my skintone and teeth. Foundation and powders always on my face, except I repurchase a product.
Marjo
Sunday, March 7, 2010I only use testers on the back of my hand.. I have seen so many ignorant person that come to my MAC store and pick a lipstick from the stand and apply directly on the lips. That is so gross.. Seriously digusts me. I don’t want anybody’s germs on my lips, I don’t use lipstick even if they rub with alcohol. I’m a biologist, alcohol doesn’t kill viruses, it only kills bacteria. So it doesn’t kill herpes simplex virus obviously, once you have the virus, you can’t get rid off it, it keeps pop up once your immune system is stressed. (it causes herpes on lips)
Nepenthe
Sunday, March 7, 2010They’re convenient to use, and I think so long as there is some way to sanitize it.. it’s worth it. It always makes me cringe though to see people mindlessly putting testers on though.. like contamination isn’t even considered.
Eek.
Emily
Sunday, March 7, 2010I do use testers, but I prefer to only try them out on the back of my hand. It kind of grosses me out how unsanitary testers must be if everyone else has been using them too, so I’d rather not use any of the products on my lips/face. The only exception is at MAC, when I will try on lipstick colors since the lipsticks are sanitized first.
Linda
Monday, March 8, 2010Usually I try testers only on hands, but if they sanitize products or have disposable wands and so on, I try them on, because a swatch sometimes isn’t similar at all to the result on my face. It’s especially true for the lipsticks, because I have very red coloured lips.