Some pathogens spread more easily than others, and they can last on surfaces for varying amounts of time, said Dr. Laleh Gharahbaghian, a clinical professor of emergency medicine at Stanford Medicine. Common cold and flu viruses can cling to objects for hours, she said, while the virus that causes mumps — though rarer — can last on surfaces for several days. Some viruses can potentially last for weeks.
Although respiratory viruses can linger on objects, there’s not a huge risk of transmitting the flu or Covid-19 from sharing something like lip gloss, although transmission is still possible, said Dr. Tina Bhutani, a dermatologist at the University of California, San Francisco. That’s because these viruses mainly infect people when they inhale particles that contain them. There is, however, a larger risk of spreading the herpes simplex virus, which can cause cold sores, Dr. Bhutani said. People with oral herpes are most contagious when they have active cold sores — so if you borrow lip balm from a friend who has the telltale fluid-filled blister, you run the risk of also contracting herpes, Dr. Bhutani said. People can spread herpes even when they don’t have a flare-up, though the risk is lower, she added.
Staph infections are also a concern, said Dr. A. Yasmine Kirkorian, the chief of dermatology at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. Staphylococcus bacteria can cause swollen, painful, fluid-filled sores; the pus that leaks out can be contagious.
Of all the lip products to share, including lipsticks, balms and liners, lip gloss is among the most likely to transmit infections because of its gooey, watery consistency — viruses thrive in moist environments, Dr. Bhutani said. But borrowing cosmetics in general can be fraught, especially if the products come into contact with your saliva or the mucus membranes in your eyes, which are critical for transmitting viruses, Dr. Gharahbaghian said.
Many cosmetic products contain antibacterial and antifungal preservatives, Dr. Zota said, which can help combat viruses and bacteria. But the longer you hang on to a product, the less likely it is that the preservatives will work.
