A 14-week university study of store makeup counters found high levels of bacteria in sample creams, lipsticks and blushes, including E.coli that came from fecal matter being put on women's faces, according to a Local 6 News report.

Professor Elizabeth Brooks discovered an "ugly side" to getting beautiful as part of a project with her students at Rowan University.

Brooks collected samples from 14 stores with makeup counters in the northeast section of sthe country. She collected the samples "with permission from stores she promised never to identify," Local 6 News reporter Wendy Saltzman reported.

They tested lipsticks, shadows, blushes and creams for bacteria.

"We found bacteria, but what was alarming was the numbers, you know, it was just very, very high bacterial counts," Brooks said. "And more specifically, we did find that E. coli, which does set off the alarm bells there."

Brooks said the E.coli came from one source -- fecal matter, according to the report.

"We're putting feces on our face," Brooks said. "Not a fun thing to do."

Brooks said ask stores to sanitize samples before using them and never put anything near your eyes, nose or mouth that is not sanitized.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.