Can You Get Herpes From Sharing Lipstick?

...The answer is yes. And here's why we're asking:

According to the NY Daily News, Harlem woman Starkeema Greenidge, 28, alleges she contracted the virus when a rep for MAC Cosmetics applied a used tube of the Rihanna-inspired RiRi Woo lipstick to her lips at the singer's recent concert at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

“I wasn’t able to work for two weeks. It cost me a lot of money,” Greenidge, a waitress, told the Daily News on Wednesday.

Now she's suing MAC in Manhattan Supreme Court, saying: "The company should train its employees to use disposable tubes or swabs to apply the lipstick. This is going to happen over and over again if nothing is done."

But while the jury is still out on whether or not she got the virus from a tester at the concert, Greenidge is right in that you 1. can in fact contract the herpes simplex virus from a lipstick that's been infected by it, and 2. that all beauty companies should be mindful of training their employees to use disposable tubes or swabs to apply lipstick to their customers.

As consumers, we should also be looking out for ourselves, double-checking that the lipstick we're about to put on wasn't previously used by someone who may or may not have a contagious cold sore, for example!

"In general, it's a good rule of thumb to not use anyone else's lipstick, toothbrush, what have you," says Larry Beatty, M.D. "If you had chapped lips or a break in the skin and swipe on a lipstick that someone used that's infected with the herpes simplex virus, then you're more susceptible to contracting it. But even if your skin is 100 percent intact, it's still not a guarantee that you'd be protected from getting it; there is still a degree of risk."

The best practices moving forward to avoid getting a cold sore of your own? Don't pull a Starkeema and let a makeup rep swipe you with used lipstick. Instead, ask the sales associate at the beauty counter to shave off the top layer and use a cotton swab to apply the lipstick to your lips. And skip using your BFF's or co-worker's favorite color on your mouth, JIC.

Photo: istockphoto

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Georgia May Jagger and Jerry Hall Dish on Classic Sunglasses and the Power of Red Lipstick

Cosmo: Have you learned any beauty tips from Georgia—especially since she's become the face of Rimmel?

Jerry Hall: "She has me drinking all of these juices to stay healthy [inside and out]. Today we had a blend of spinach, apple, aloe vera, carrots—and she's also introduced me to the new Rimmel red lipstick—it's my favorite!"

class="p1">Cosmo: What's the one beauty product or tool both of you can't leave the house without using?

JH: "An eyebrow brush."

GMJ: "My eyelash curler."

Cosmo: Describe each other's beauty look in one word.

GMJ: "Mum's glamorous."

JH: "Georgia is beautiful."

Cosmo: What are your most favorite fashion moments?

JH: "I actually loved what I wore on the Sunglass Hut job, and it was special to me because I got to model with Georgia."

GMJ: "Mine was the first time I went to a movie premiere, King Kong. I was only 13 and got to wear a Vivienne Westwood dress and it was amazing."

Cosmo: What won't you get rid of in your closets?

JH: "I've got some of my mom's pencil skirts that I absolutely won't get rid of."

GMJ: "I have a hard time getting rid of things, but I'd probably have to say my collection of t-shirts [that I've acquired].

JH: "She's also got a lot of my old Thierry Mugler clothes, too, that aren't going anywhere."

Cosmo: Do you borrow clothes/accessories from your mom a lot?

GMJ: "We borrow stuff from each other all of the time. While I raid her closet for vintage pieces from the '70s, she's always stealing my sunglasses." 

Cosmo: Jerry, since Georgia is following in your footsteps when it comes to modeling, what have you taught her about the business?

JH: "To be on time and be nice to everybody."

GMJ: "I would say in addition to that, to do many things that you love because in modeling, not everyone's career lasts as long as mum's."

JH: "Exactly. Georgia is also a photographer."

Cosmo: What's the best life advice you'd give one another?

GMJ: "It's hard for me to give her advice because she gives me all of the advice."

JH: "Awwww. I think to do a job that you love because it won't be like you're going to work. You'll always have fun."

Cosmo: Since we're here with Sunglass Hut at the unveiling of your joint Mother's Day campaign, what are each of your go-to shades of choice?

JH: "Aviators and cat-eye shades are my favorite, but I like big frames, too."

GMJ: "Round, cat-eye frames, wayfarers, and aviators are my go-tos."

Cosmo: So...what are you getting your mom for Mother's Day?

GMJ: "When we were in Los Angeles shooting the Sunglass Hut Mother's Day campaign, she loved the black cat eye sunglasses by Vogue Eyewear. I will definitely be getting her those."

Stumped on what to get your mom this Sunday for Mother's Day? Take a cue from Georgia May and pick her up a pair of shades. Find out what sunnies will suit your mom's face shape here!

Photo: Matt Irwin courtesy of Sunglass Hut

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Swiped From the Beauty Closet: Givenchy <br />Le Rouge Lipstick

This quite possibly might be the chicest lipstick I've ever laid eyes on: Givenchy Le Rouge in Mandarine Boléro, $36, sephora.com.

Seriously though, it's freaking amazing: Its formula is moisturizing, so even though it's heavily pigmented, it won't dry your lips out, its texture allows it to go on smoothly, and its semi-matte color will definitely get his attention, stop traffic, you get the jist!

Even the packaging is sexy: It's effing encased in leather, people. And, to pull it out of its casing, you gently tug on two silver studs located on both sides of the bottom of the lipstick. I mean...

To top it all off, the Givenchy logo is embossed into each bullet, which comes in 12 shades, one of them being a orange-coral color that is so on trend it hurts. It's my fave, naturally. I'm into trying daring beauty trends, so when it saw it, I knew it was right up my alley.

Basically, if you're looking for a lipstick that you'll want to actually reapply at the table, instead of excusing yourself to go to the bathroom, then this is it.

My suggestion: Swing by Sephora or take the plunge and order it online to see for yourself. You'll fall in love. Hard...just like I did.

Let me know if you pick it up and what your thoughts are. I'm dying to know!

Photo: Sephora.com

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From Cosmopolitan.com. Visit Handbags reviews and advice for best reference here

Swiped From the Beauty Closet: Givenchy <br />Le Rouge Lipstick

This quite possibly might be the chicest lipstick I've ever laid eyes on: Givenchy Le Rouge in Mandarine Boléro, $36, sephora.com.

Seriously though, it's freaking amazing: Its formula is moisturizing, so even though it's heavily pigmented, it won't dry your lips out, its texture allows it to go on smoothly, and its semi-matte color will definitely get his attention, stop traffic, you get the jist!

Even the packaging is sexy: It's effing encased in leather, people. And, to pull it out of its casing, you gently tug on two silver studs located on both sides of the bottom of the lipstick. I mean...

To top it all off, the Givenchy logo is embossed into each bullet, which comes in 12 shades, one of them being a orange-coral color that is so on trend it hurts. It's my fave, naturally. I'm into trying daring beauty trends, so when it saw it, I knew it was right up my alley.

Basically, if you're looking for a lipstick that you'll want to actually reapply at the table, instead of excusing yourself to go to the bathroom, then this is it.

My suggestion: Swing by Sephora or take the plunge and order it online to see for yourself. You'll fall in love. Hard...just like I did.

Let me know if you pick it up and what your thoughts are. I'm dying to know!

Photo: Sephora.com

Follow Carly Cardellino on Facebook and Twitter.

From Cosmopolitan.com. Visit Amazon Beauty Center here

Swiped From the Beauty Closet: Givenchy <br />Le Rouge Lipstick

This quite possibly might be the chicest lipstick I've ever laid eyes on: Givenchy Le Rouge in Mandarine Boléro, $36, sephora.com.

Seriously though, it's freaking amazing: Its formula is moisturizing, so even though it's heavily pigmented, it won't dry your lips out, its texture allows it to go on smoothly, and its semi-matte color will definitely get his attention, stop traffic, you get the jist!

Even the packaging is sexy: It's effing encased in leather, people. And, to pull it out of its casing, you gently tug on two silver studs located on both sides of the bottom of the lipstick. I mean...

To top it all off, the Givenchy logo is embossed into each bullet, which comes in 12 shades, one of them being a orange-coral color that is so on trend it hurts. It's my fave, naturally. I'm into trying daring beauty trends, so when it saw it, I knew it was right up my alley.

Basically, if you're looking for a lipstick that you'll want to actually reapply at the table, instead of excusing yourself to go to the bathroom, then this is it.

My suggestion: Swing by Sephora or take the plunge and order it online to see for yourself. You'll fall in love. Hard...just like I did.

Let me know if you pick it up and what your thoughts are. I'm dying to know!

Photo: Sephora.com

Follow Carly Cardellino on Facebook and Twitter.

From Cosmopolitan.com. Visit Handbags Review Center here

Swiped From the Beauty Closet: Givenchy <br />Le Rouge Lipstick

This quite possibly might be the chicest lipstick I've ever laid eyes on: Givenchy Le Rouge in Mandarine Boléro, $36, sephora.com.

Seriously though, it's freaking amazing: Its formula is moisturizing, so even though it's heavily pigmented, it won't dry your lips out, its texture allows it to go on smoothly, and its semi-matte color will definitely get his attention, stop traffic, you get the jist!

Even the packaging is sexy: It's effing encased in leather, people. And, to pull it out of its casing, you gently tug on two silver studs located on both sides of the bottom of the lipstick. I mean...

To top it all off, the Givenchy logo is embossed into each bullet, which comes in 12 shades, one of them being a orange-coral color that is so on trend it hurts. It's my fave, naturally. I'm into trying daring beauty trends, so when it saw it, I knew it was right up my alley.

Basically, if you're looking for a lipstick that you'll want to actually reapply at the table, instead of excusing yourself to go to the bathroom, then this is it.

My suggestion: Swing by Sephora or take the plunge and order it online to see for yourself. You'll fall in love. Hard...just like I did.

Let me know if you pick it up and what your thoughts are. I'm dying to know!

Photo: Sephora.com

Follow Carly Cardellino on Facebook and Twitter.

From Cosmopolitan.com. Visit Handbags Review Center here