When we are getting certain types of services, we have come to expect that those serving us will take certain precautions. We require that our doctors and dentists practice extensive sterilization procedures. When getting our nails done, we look for the autoclave and pay close attention to how instruments are packaged. We see a dirty hair salon or unkept stations and we are out of there. When dining out, although we don't know what is going on in the kitchen, we look for small clues and perform our own restaurant inspections and leave if they do not pass our scrutiny. We should hold the same quality standards when getting makeovers. Some nasty things can happen to eyes and mouths that we don't even think about. Cross contamination of makeup can spread several types of staph and strep bacteria. As a makeup artist, I have learned that there are so many rules to prevent cross contamination. The #1 rule has always been- Don't share makeup with others. With this rule, the question would be, If you are a makeup artist, aren't you sharing makeup with everyone? Well, yes, which is why a makeup artist should take extensive precautions to make sure that even though makeup is shared, harmful bacteria isn't. Below are some things that, as a consumer, you should look for before getting a makeover from anyone. * If the makeup area looks dirty or is in disarray, chances are that makeovers are not being performed in a safe work area. * Your makeover artist should always start with clean hands and keep antibacterial lotions like Purel close at hand. * Cleaning a client’s face with an astringent, isn't just to remove excess oils but also kills harmful bacteria. * They should always be extra careful with anything close to the lash line, on the lashes or on the lips. * Mascara and liquid eyeliner should NEVER be applied with the brush that is provided in the tube. They should be applied with a disposable or fresh applicator and never loaded from the tube. Cake liner or mascara should be used instead. Still, it should not be wet and applied directly from the pod. The artist needs to scrape off some of the dry cake liner or cake mascara with a clean scraping tool onto a clean pallet, then wet and applied from there using clean or disposable applicators. Pencil eyeliner should be sharpened right before the first application in order to shave off any bacteria. * If a used lipstick is rounded, chances are, it has been applied directly on someone's lips which is not acceptable. It is even incorrect if a brush is used and loaded from the stick. This causes cross contamination. The correct way is for the artist to scrape off some of the lipstick with a clean spatula and load the brush directly from the spatula. If more lipstick is needed, the artist must use another clean spatula to reload off the lipstick. * Foundations and powders are not as dangerous as makeup that is applied near the eyes and mouth but some precautions should still be taken. Foundations should be poured or scraped onto a clean pallet then applied from there. Applying it from the actual container and then reloading will contaminate the makeup with a client’s natural oils. If these oils have contaminated the surface and are now laying inside a warm, dark, closed container, well, you can imagine what the artist is applying on their next client! The same stands for powders. * Eye shadow application should be treated the same as the above with the artist using the same scrape method and using a clean or disposable eye shadow brush. * A makeup artist should never use their bare hands or fingers to apply your makeup. Clean or disposable brushes or sponges should be used at all times. Contamination starts when a brush is put into a container, then used on the skin where it picks up bacteria, and dipped back into the container. Even if only one person is using the container, there is still bacterial contamination and growth. The problem is magnified when the same container is used by several people. It is perfectly acceptable to ask a makeover artist if the product has been properly protected against cross-contamination using the proper tools of the industry. In order to effectively reduce the possibility of cross-contamination, the use of professional quality instruments in the proper sequence will insure the best results. Finger marks in the makeup containers are not a good sign. Many makeup artists don't employ the above techniques for several reasons: It is more time consuming and wastes more makeup by scraping off to another surface then applying from there, than just applying it directly from the tube or pod.- They are just not aware that sanitation techniques need to be in place and some feel they don't have to because the consumer isn't educated in the use of proper techniques. Some makeover places don't take the proper precautions to ensure that their clients are not compromised in any way. It is sometimes left up to you as the consumer to keep your eyes open and look for the clues yourself. When choosing a makeover artist, we immediately choose by pictures we have seen of their work. That should not be the end of their interview. You wouldn't overlook the working conditions from a nail salon just because you saw a nice picture of a French manicure they once did. If you have gone to some makeover artists that do not employ the techniques above and have never had any infections, you have been lucky and should not rely on luck in the future. All it takes is for one girl before you, not to tell the makeover artist that she has had mouth herpes or pink-eye. As crude as this may sound, lots of those in the service industry know that by treating all of their clients like Typhoid Maries, ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoid_Mary Read the section on Legacy. ) they are, in turn, protecting us all. I sound like such a germaphobe! I guess I am when it comes to the possibility of aiding in the spread of germs to my clients. As a makeup artist and knowing the dangers that exist out there, I felt it was my responsibility to alert others of the possible risks they may be put through by others not practicing these hygienic procedures.
Vanity Wilde