IS YOUR MAKEUP ARTIST THE CAUSE OF YOUR ACNE?

There is a horrible side to makeup and that is Poor Hygiene!

I know someone who was queuing to have her makeup done for a wedding on a Saturday. While she sat there waiting, the makeup artist was attending to a client with really bad acne, not the scars but active acne. Now after they finished making her up they used baby wipes to clean the brushes and off they went to the next client (gross!). My friend was so disgusted she just said she was going to her car and never went back. I think it’s important that professional makeup artists use a new set of brushes or an alcohol based cleaner to wipe their tools. This story inspired me to write this post.

Hygiene is the most important thing when it comes to makeup, and its definitely one thing everyone should look for in a makeup artist. Most makeup artists have at least 5 clients on a Saturday, and I will like to say this, before you decide to become a makeup artist you need to make sure you have at least 3 sets of brushes to start with, so while u clean one set you can use another between faces, because if tools are not properly cleaned we know that bacteria can be transferred from one person’s skin to another. If you ever get a rash or a spot after having your makeup professionally done, it could either be a coincidence, the makeup blocking your pores or the brushes have not been properly cleaned.

Now this one actually bothers me…. The Brushes and Beauty blender sponges… the most bizarre of them all (well to me). Every time I get my makeup professionally done (using someone that’s not my regular makeup artist) I am constantly looking at their brushes. We all have our routines for our skin, we put in all that effort to get our skin clean and clear, so the last thing we want is to go to a makeup artist that will keep reusing brushes without disinfecting them properly.

Now when I say properly I don’t mean cleaning with baby wipes, because like I said before bacteria can still be present. Brushes should be cleaned and sterilized between clients, makeup artists should always factor in 5 or 10 minutes of time between their clients so that they can clean all their brushes with an alcohol-based cleaner (Isopropyl Alcohol IPA) which kills any bacteria and makes the brush sterile for the next person.Now when I say properly I don’t mean cleaning with baby wipes, because like I said before bacteria can still be present. Brushes should be cleaned and sterilized between clients, makeup artists should always factor in 5 or 10 minutes of time between their clients so that they can clean all their brushes with an alcohol-based cleaner (Isopropyl Alcohol IPA) which kills any bacteria and makes the brush sterile for the next person.

Now when it comes to your personal kit, the hygiene standards don’t have to be so high, you just have to remember to clean your brushes and have them washed at least once a week.

If you don’t wash your makeup brushes, bacteria will grow which can cause skin irritations, infections, acne and all sorts.

If you do suffer from skin conditions I would highly recommend purchasing an alcohol-based brush cleaner that is quick drying and using it to spot clean your brushes every day.

Now I know someone will say why is she so anal about hygiene, but it’s simply the truth. If you are a makeup artist, when your client comes to you they are trusting you with their skin so you have to do your best to preserve it in the condition you met it. It just takes one use of a bacteria infected brush to ruin your skin.

Please this is so important and I want makeup artists to know that working hygienically and keeping their kit clean is essential when working, to prevent cross contamination.