Antimicrobial lipsticks destroy viruses on contact

Researchers reporting in the American Chemical Society Applied Materials and Interfaces have found a way to give lipstick antimicrobial properties – by adding cranberry extract to the formulation. The formula, which is a deep red color, was found to inactivate any harmful and disease-causing viruses, bacteria, and a fungus that it encountered very quickly. The research team, led by Ángel Serrano-Aroca, mixed the cranberry extract into the cream base, which contained shea butter, babassu and avocado oil, vitamin E, and provitamin B5. After just a minute the viruses were inactivated, and bacteria, which were resistant to multiple drugs, were also substantially inactivated after five hours.