Health & Safety in Make-Up

Good working practices in Make-Up

Makeup can get contaminated through poor handling procedures. This is where working hygienically comes in.
Good working practices and working hygienically can reduce the risk of cross-infection, and help prevent the contamination of your makeup. Unfortunately not everybody in the beauty industry works to a high standard. It is so important to know these basic rules as providing a poor and unsafe service can put your clients and your career at risk. So let's see what are these important rules:

• Wash and dry hands before make-up application and again, after you finished. Be seen to be washing your hands- it's really good for the clients to see that you care about hygiene. Drying your hands is also very very important as damp hands also spread germs. Finish off with sanitizing your hands in front of the client.
• Always ask the client if they have any allergies or known sensitivities. Always do a test patch for substances that are known to cause issues (like latex or hair tint). 
• Do not blow on your makeup or on your brushes. This will spread germs all over them!
• Avoid sharing make-up- Always use a clean spatula to remove a small amount of the product.
• Do not double-dip- This means you're going from a product to the face and than back to the product. It is quite easy to avoid this with cream and liquid products. Just use disposable applicators, a spatula or a cotton bud to remove a small amount of the product onto a palette.
• Sharpen pencils after use. (You can also spray a bit of IPA on it before you sharpen it) Once you're done with the eyeliner pencil, sharpen it to prep the pencil for the next client. 
• Use makeup disinfectant sprays- These sprays can be used on any makeup, creams, powders, pencils or tools. These products are particularly great for pressed powder products, like eyeshadows.
• Use disposable sponges, and clean powder puffs for each customer. 
• Do not share towels- Use clean, individual or disposable towels for each client
• Do not keep makeup beyond its shelf-life- If it smells or looks funny, do not keep it, throw it away!
• Sterilise all brushes and tools after use- IPA is a great way. Also, if something has not been used for a while it is worth to give it a quick disinfect and wipe before use
• Be extra careful when a client has any skin, eye or mouth infection!- Only use disposable tools! Do not double dip! The makeup artist must wash and disinfect their hands before moving onto the next client or touching their own face/skin/hair
• Clean and sanitise anything dropped on the floor!
• If you don't work with cosmetics, and you only use brushes and makeup on yourself, it is still important to wash brushes regularly !

Infectious conditions can be caused by poor makeup hygiene and contaminated makeup products.

Bacterial Infectious Diseases:

• Conjuctivitis- The inflammation of the outermost layer of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids. Red, watery eyes with sticky secretions
• Impetigo- a highly-contagious bacterial infection of the skin. Causes dry, honey-coloured crusty spots with red patches, often found on the face, arms or legs.
• Stye- Is caused by the infection of a gland at the base of the eyelash follicle resulting in a painful, red swelling that develops on the inside or outside of the eyelid.

Viral Infectious Diseases:

• Herpes Simplex- cold sores are small blister-like lesions which usually appear around the mouth area. Cold sores are highly contagious and infection can be easily passed from one person to another by close direct contact.

Common Non-Infectious Conditions:

• Dermatitis
• Psoriasis
• Vitiligo
• Acne
• Alopecia

These conditions are not contagious, however special care should be used when carrying out hair and makeup application to ensure the client's comfort and dignity.

Essential for the make-up artist:

• Personal hygiene and taking care with your own appearance
• Keep nails short and tidy
• Long hair should be tied away from the face while working
• Freshen your breath with mints or spray before working
• Wear clean clothes
• Remove jewellery while working
• Always arrive on time (which means arrive early!!)
• Mobile phones should be switched off while working
• Work as a team member
• No smoking while working
• Make-up kit should be kept clean, sponges and powder puffs should be kept in separate bags
• Keep surgical spirit and IPA in labelled bottles

Preparation of work area prior to make-up application:

• Clean work area before setting up and at the end of the session
• Prepare work area with tissue or a towel to place make-up on
• Set up your area in an organised manner
• Brushes, sponges, tools should be clean at all times!
• Ensure you clean brushes in between each client
• Always use separate, clean sponges and powder puffs on each client
• Adjust the make-up chair to the correct height
• Prepare a bowl of cotton pads, tissues and cotton buds
• Use clean towels or gowns on each client
• Use a small plastic bag or bowl for rubbish

Care of the model:

• Prepare the model using gown/towel/headband
• Prep the skin with cleanse, tone, moisturise routine
• Prepare the lips with lip balm
• Remove any stray eyebrow hairs
• Do not work on broken skin, conjunctivitis, or cold sores. If this is unavoidable, use disposable tools and use the model's own mascara
• Talk to your model and make her feel comfortable

Reference:

Hair and makeup artist handbook.(No Date) Good Working Practices and Preventing Cross-Infection in Make-up.[Online]

Available at: http://hair-and-makeup-artist.com/hygiene-makeup/

(Accessed: 01 December 2015)