The World Of Online Beauty Swapping: Is It Safe?
Photo by @maraferreira
Okay, so online beauty swapping is actually a thing now, guys—seriously. And sure, buying directly from name-brand stores is still de rigueur, but we’re seeing more and more sites that are entirely dedicated to swapping new and used beauty products.
So, we couldn’t help but ask: How legit is this? After all, ever since “beauty dumpster diving” surfaced, we’ve been a little skeptical of the true safety of buying from non-retailer sources, especially over the Internet. Curious ourselves, we got to the bottom of what’s what with this trend: Ahead, a breakdown on what to know.
It’s nothing new.
Swapping products online has been around for quite awhile. Product review site MakeupAlley recently did away with their swapping forum, which allowed users to trade things they didn’t want in their collections anymore. But, there are still sites functioning with this purpose. eDivv is a community that lets users swap products they haven’t used, create their own “shop” to sell products, and buy others online.
Swapidu, a site that offers swapping and shopping of used products, allows users to post photos of the item along with a short description of its condition, including how much is left, if they have pets, if they smoke, or how much has been used of said product. Beauty sample subscription site Ipsy doesn’t trade used items, but it does have a Facebook forum where users can discuss what they’ve received in their monthly box and if they want to trade.
There’s always a risk with used products.
We’ve all heard the spiel about not sharing beauty products—it’s a recipe for potentially transferring bacteria and germs. Of course, the same may apply for swapping. “I would never use someone else’s product,” says Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, Co-director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington, DC. “Bacteria, viruses and poor storage of products is a problem. How do you know the jar wasn’t left out on the counter in the bathroom with the lid off?” she notes.
We spoke with another expert who came back to us with the same exact thought. “The biggest concern here is the possibility of products contaminated with infectious agents such as bacteria, virus or fungus from another person,” says Dr. Hadley King, dermatologist at Skinney Medspa in New York City. “I would recommend confirming that the seal has not been broken and check the expiration date as well.”
MORE: There’s a Phone With an Antimicrobial Screen in the Works
While she’s never tried it, our own site director Perrie Samotin says she’s been approached for swaps in the past on MakeupAlley and she’s not totally opposed to the idea. “I wouldn’t swap mascara or eyeliner—that, to me, is pretty unsanitary,” she says. “I’d swap stuff that comes in bottles or packaging, more likely.”
Perrie explains she sees the benefit of swapping in cost. “Plenty of people don’t have $48 to drop on a designer lipstick, and if someone else has only used it once and wants to trade, I think it’s fine to swap,” she notes. “Just do your research and know who you’re swapping with. And, if it’s lipstick, always slice the top off with a knife!”
So what about Amazon or eBay?
When it comes to purchasing products through third-party-retailers on these types of sites, Dr. Tanzi still had reservations, stating “buyer beware” and that it wasn’t the best idea. But if you were to pick up an item online, she says you should find out as much info as you can, think a lot about your decision, and make sure the product is sealed and hasn’t been contaminated. She also told us you should find out where the seller kept it, noting you wouldn’t want certain antioxidant products stored on a windowsill that gets ultraviolet exposure.
Interestingly enough, the women we talked to had a changed opinion with shopping through these types of marketplaces. “While these days I’m more of a signature scent kind of gal, I would still consider purchasing scents on Amazon or eBay,” says Jillian, a social media expert from Florida. “The prices are similar to those at brick-and-mortars, but there are often times gift sets are available for the same price as a single bottle.”
Perrie told us she wouldn’t be against it either and has bought sold-out products through third-party-retailers on Amazon in the past. “I’d definitely buy on eBay—often prices are lower, and you can find limited-edition and discontinued products.”
MORE: 10 Places to Buy Korean Beauty Products
The best bet is to cover all your bases.
Even if you know your product is sealed, makeup has a shelf-life and fooling around with expiration dates isn’t a good idea. “My recommendation is to think about this a lot before doing it, since products can get contaminated or expire,” says Dr. Tanzi. “Overall, the small amount of money saved won’t be worth the potential trouble.”
Bottom line? While swapping might save you some cash, it isn’t the easiest option overall for picking up product. You need to be doing thorough research to make sure you have a safe swap, and if you don’t have the time, you should probably be spending your money at the drugstore instead.
