The makeup counter is where you try it before you buy it.

The counters concern Rowan University biological science professor Elizabeth Brooks.

"You can go and help yourself, which is a convenient thing for women, but it also means no one is policing it," said Brooks.

Brooks led a two-year study of hundreds of free of makeup samples. She found contamination common after busy shopping days.

"We found 100 percent of the samples were contaminated," she said.

The samples were tainted with E. coli bacteria.

"And we associate this with human feces," said Brooks. "I've seen it, I'm sure you've seen it. People leave the stall of the bathroom and don't wash their hands. These are the same individuals that are trying on that makeup, and then we come along."

Brooks said the germs she found won't do much harm because you don't eat makeup. But you do put it near your eyes, where there is a threat.

"Essentially bacterial pink eye, because you've introduced that bacteria into your eye."

We collected ten eye makeup samples, and found two contaminated samples and a total of three different germs. Among the pathogens was staphylococcus aureus.

"Under the right circumstances it is an extremely toxic species of stapholoccoocus," said microbiologist Rick Billups.

Staph aureus is most dangerous when ingested. It is commonly found on the skin and in the nasal passages.

Billups said there is also a potential for problems in shared makeup applicators.

Just like on any other sponge, mold spores can go undetected on a makeup sponge.

They can cause an allergic reaction.

"I've seen that with pennicilium spores that (people) are allergic to. They'll puff right up," he said.

Norma Joslin told us what happened to her.

"Obviously I was allergic to something. It could have been the makeup, could have been a dirty sponge, I don't know," she said.

Before getting a business portrait taken, Joslin said a Marietta photo studio made her up with cosmetics which had been shared among the clientele.

"Using a sponge across my eyes, the lower lids started swelling. I got big bags under my eyes."

Norma has never been able to figure out what exactly went wrong with that makeup. Dr. Brooks said you can protect yourself from a similar reaction.

"If you're getting a make over, ask them to clean the makeup before they put it on your face. They have those anti-microbial wipes behind the counter," she said.