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Aston University researcher investigates safety risks of secondhand cosmetics sold online

New research explores contamination risks in pre-owned beauty products sold on platforms like Vinted and Facebook Marketplace

Aug 13, 2025

2 min

Dr Amreen Bashir
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As second-hand beauty products grow in popularity, so do questions about their safety. At Aston University, Dr Amreen Bashir, senior lecturer in biomedical science, is leading an academic investigation into the microbiological risks associated with pre-owned cosmetics being sold through online platforms like Vinted and Facebook Marketplace.


The project, which has received ethical approval from the University’s Health and Life Sciences Ethics Committee, will assess the types of bacteria and potential contaminants found in used cosmetics – such as makeup and skincare – when they are resold and reused by new owners. 


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“Second-hand beauty is trending for sustainability and affordability,” said Dr Bashir. “But very little research has explored what’s actually living in those products — and what kind of risk that might pose to everyday users.”





Why this matters

Pre-owned beauty items are often marketed as sustainable and cost-effective, but without careful handling they can harbour microorganisms – from bacteria to mould – that may cause infections, allergic reactions, or worse. Without knowing when a product was first opened or its expiry date, buyers could be unknowingly using unsafe cosmetics.


Dr Bashir’s study will be among the first in the UK to analyse not just contamination, but also expiry timelines, and how low consumer awareness of these dates adds to the risk.


The study will explore:

• Types of microbiological contamination found in used products

• Risks posed by product type (e.g., mascaras vs. powders)

• Storage conditions and packaging integrity

• Expiry dates and consumer awareness, for example:

- Cosmetics have expiry timelines printed as either a date or a small jar symbol with a number (e.g., 6M, 12M, 24M, 36M), indicating months after opening.

- Products can be contaminated long before the expiry date if not stored properly.

- Dr Bashir’s previous research found that many makeup users didn’t know where to find the expiry date on the packaging and often kept products for years past their safe-use period.


Potential to shape consumer safety and regulation

With second-hand beauty sales on the rise, the findings could help shape public health messaging, consumer awareness campaigns, and online marketplace guidelines. Results could also support industry discussions on product labelling, returns, and hygiene standards.


The project bridges the gap between digital consumer behaviour and health science, with implications for how individuals make purchasing decisions and how regulations adapt to a fast-changing beauty market.


⸻


Want to learn more or collaborate?

Updates will be shared through academic publications and public-facing channels once data collection and sample testing are complete.


Click on the icon below to connect with: Dr Amreen Bashir, senior lecturer in biomedical sciences

Areas of expertise: Clinical microbiology, antimicrobial resistance, bacteria found in food, makeup products, food and water microbiology

Connect with:
Dr Amreen Bashir

Dr Amreen Bashir

Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science

Dr Bashir's research interests include clinical and environmental microbiology, IPL, and pedagogy promoting equitable student experiences.

Antimicrobial ResistanceBacteria Found in FoodFood and Water MicrobiologyMakeup Product ContaminationInterprofessional Learning (IPL)
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