Contouring on your commute may save you time, but it’s not just the eyeballing from fellow passengers you need to worry about. Doing your makeup on the tube is a practice riddled with hidden risks. Everything from quick touch-ups to a full face of makeup can expose you to a host of germs and pollutants that lurk in London's underground. That’s why we swabbed all 12 tube lines and measured pollution levels to see exactly what's out there. We also teamed up with microbiologist Jason Tetro, and dermatologist Dina Keen, to further understand how doing your makeup in a contaminated environment can impact upon your skin and overall health.
Makeup station: Hygiene on your London commute
The punch that pollution packs on your skin and eyes
A smoggy outlook: How environmental factors affect eye health
PM2.5
Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs)
What can be done to protect your eyes?
The germiest tube lines
Eye-spy bad bacteria: The impact of tube germs on eye health
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
E. coli and streptococci
It’s not all doom and germs
What the experts have to say
Jason Tetro
What are your thoughts on people applying make-up while on the way to work or a social engagement on the tube?
Which bacteria is most likely to cause damage to the skin?
How easy is it for bacteria to get onto your skin when doing your make-up?
Dina Keen
How does exposure to pollutants and bacteria on the tube impact skin health?
Are there any specific skincare routines or products that you recommend for people who frequently commute on public transportation and may be exposed to pollutants and bacteria?
Meet the bacteria
Methodology
So, while the London Underground isn’t as filthy as people might fear, it’s clear that even with sanitiser and good hygiene habits, the tube is contaminated. Contact lens wearers in particular should be mindful of their eye health with all the potential risks posed by microbial contamination and environmental factors on the Underground. Whether applying contact lenses before or after makeup, it’s best to do it in a clean, controlled space at home. At Vision Direct, you’ll enjoy the perks and accessibility of online contact lens shopping, and find the cheapest contact lenses in the UK with minimal fuss.