This Woman Got Herpes… And I’ll Never See Makeup Stores The Same Way Again

Do you try on makeup testers when you’re at cosmetic stores?

I have…. and I’m REALLY rethinking my life choices right now.

According to this:

A California woman is suing Sephora after claiming she contracted herpes from using one of the cosmetic store’s lipstick samples.

The woman said she visited a store in Hollywood back in October 2015 and used one of the sample lipsticks on display.

She claims she ended up with the incurable disease on her lip, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.

The woman, who hasn’t been identified, says doctors diagnosed her with the STD.
She said she did not have herpes before going to the Sephora store.

The lawsuit claims Sephora failed to warn her, as well as other customers, of the dangers of using lipstick samples.

She said other cosmetic stores offer individualized samples or help from staff to avoid contracting diseases like herpes.

The woman is suing the company for an unspecified amount for causing emotional distress due to the ‘incurable lifelong affliction’.

Sephora has not yet commented on the lawsuit.

So… I have a few questions.

Did she contract Herpes Simplex 1 or Herpes Simplex 2?

To be clear:

Herpes simplex viruses — more commonly known as herpes — are categorized into two types: herpes type 1 (HSV-1, or oral herpes) and herpes type 2 (HSV-2, or genital herpes). Most commonly, herpes type 1 causes sores around the mouth and lips (sometimes called fever blisters or cold sores).

HSV-1 can cause genital herpes, but most cases of genital herpes are caused by herpes type 2. In HSV-2, the infected person may have sores around the genitals or rectum. Although HSV-2 sores may occur in other locations, these sores usually are found below the waist.

Herpes simplex type 1, which is transmitted through oral secretions or sores on the skin, can be spread through kissing or sharing objects such as toothbrushes or eating utensils. In general, a person can only get herpes type 2 infection during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. It is important to know that both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be spread even if sores are not present.

Pregnant women with genital herpes should talk to their doctor, as genital herpes can be passed on to the baby during childbirth

Here’s the thing… MOST adults have HSV-1.

According to a recent report by the World Health Organization, 2 out of 3 people under the age of 50 have Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1), more commonly known as oral herpes. That’s a staggering 3.7 billion people with a (currently) incurable virus.

And the vast majority of people don’t really know if they do or not.

Do you know for CERTAIN you don’t have HSV-1? Unless you’ve been recently tested, you probably don’t. If you’ve ever had a cold sore… you’ve got the herp.

HSV-2 is the one you REALLY don’t want….but unfortunately that’s getting really common, too.

Meanwhile, another 417 million folks in the same age group have HSV-2 itself. One study of New York City (from 2008) suggests that urban rates may be much higher: That survey found that more than 25 percent of the people they tested had HSV-2, with especially high rates for women (36 percent) and non-hispanic black women (80 percent).

…YIKES.

SO… if basically everyone have HSV-1, how can she realistically point out how she got it?

IF she contracted HSV-2 from the lipstick…. well, that really, REALLY sucks… but you don’t usually get that from anything BUT sexual contact.

SO… is this valid? Or is she trying to make a buck off Sephora?

Will it change the way you shop for and test makeup at cosmetic stores?

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