Online Company Sells Used Cosmetics For A Discount, But Is There A Health Risk?

(CBS) -- Is buying used high-end cosmetics online a bargain or a health risk?

CBS 2's Marissa Bailey reports the website Glambot buys specific high-end brands for people who want to sell their makeup and then sells them for a discount. Items must be at least half-full and not expired.

"We try to provide a safe platform for them to buy discounted, authentic name brand quality makeup," said Glambot founder Karen Horiuchi.

Glambot sells the makeup for at least 20 percent below retail. But products on the Glambot website can still be expensive. For example, a Chanel lipstick originally $35 is 33 percent off but it was still priced at $23, and that is for something pre-owned.

Glambot says they have strict quality control. Once a product is accepted, it's cleaned and sealed.

"We do use different alcohol solutions and oil emollients that clean the outer container, and we also remove the top layer of the product," Horiuchi.

Kendall Rae is a customer.

"It just looks new. It smells exactly like the company's does," Rae said.

Look online and there are a lot of positive reviews, but not everyone is happy with Glambot.

"Oh my God, I get an eye shadow with mold?" one customer said.

Doctors we talked to have concerns.

"I know some of these products they're cleaning with alcohol, they're heating the products, but that's not really sterilizing it," said Dr. Howard Sobel.

Dr. Carolyn Jacob worries about bacterial and viral infections.

"We need to know more about how they're actually cleaning these products and the containers that they come in," Dr. Jacob said.

Says sharing makeup is common for women.

"People have had really used makeup on when they have their makeup done for weddings, when they have the makeover at those physical stores and so Glambot is actually that but better," said Horiuchi.

"I think it would be problematic it reuse someone else's makeup, especially not knowing where it came from," said Dr. Jacob.

Products with reuseable applicators like mascara or liquid eyeliner can only be sold if they've never been used. Lip gloss is never accepted.