By BR Kellie
Straight from the 'shudder' files...
Are you a makeup sharer or more a a makeup 'get your hands away from my pretties or I'll cut them off'erer?
Are you the the kind of person who only swatches testers on their hands?... Or do you go the whole hog and place it on the areas it's designed for... lipstick on lips, eyeshadow on eyes etc.
Sharing makeup is not my speed. If it's sanitised in front of my eyes, I can make force myself to do it. If the person is my best friend and can swear on all things swearable that they're not going to infect me with anything, I'll trust them...
But using makeup that strangers have touched? And there's no way to guarantee that it's goobs-free? In my mind it's a one-way ticket to the land of cold sores. Conjunctivitis. Potential breakouts. And who knows what else...
Which is why this grossed me out:
Welcome to the future, people.
Technically - welcome to now in China.
Businesses have been setting up shareable makeup stations that are basically Tardis-like boxes filled with makeup goodies that you can pop in to (accessed by phone) and either touch your look up or pop on a full face of makeup. For free? Heck no. It's a pay as you play situation - so the longer you're in there, the more it'll cost. According to this Business Times article, one company's makeup station will charge a maximum of 58 yuan - which works out to be around NZ$12.
So what's in these boxes of beauty?
Look at those brands! Dior. NARS. M.A.C. They're not messing around with the quality... or security. These things are securitied up with CCTV to stop people popping a 'spensy foundation in their handbag or a lippy in their pocket.
But just because the brands are good and it's an affordable way to get a fancy face of makeup without spending a fortune at a counter... Does that mean you should put it in on your face?
You could argue the foundation would be good as gold as it's sealed - but would you have to use your fingers? Bring your own sponges and brushes? Lipsticks and eyeshadow/liner, in my opinion, are a no. Not unless there was a sanitiser you could spritz on before use.
But what's to stop a nefarious type, who does not care that they're being filmed, from doing something dodgy with the products ingredient wise... or worse?
Are people into it? Yes. It's seen as a great way to refresh your face during the day. Or to try a brand without the pressure of a counter salesperson. Others, however, are on the no side of the fence and, like me, question the hygiene of a shareable makeup station.
Nope.