Happy new year!! May 2011 top 2010 for everyone!!! I can't believe I'm blogging again today since I blogged yesterday! This is one of my goals...to blog more but...I'm realistic, I can only try my best! ^o^
This post is inspired by a recent conversation I had with my sister-in-law during her visit over Thanksgiving, and also my partner's fraternity brothers who were visiting town recently. The core of what led me to write this post is unsanitary practices I've witnessed in the past - and also, I become really surprised when models (who get makeup done all the time for their jobs) would compliment me for being super sanitary and when I pull out my disposable mascara wands, they say to me: "Oh it's so good you are careful (with mascara) and use disposables!" My reaction on my face is: "You mean...you've worked with OTHER ARTISTS WHO DON'T USE DISPOSABLES WITH MASCARA!??!?!" But most people don't get their makeup done everyday (unless you are a reality tv star! ;P) and so I'm wondering if clients who are searching for their makeup artists, or go to a trial session know how check these things. I've had my makeup done for my brother-in-law & sister-in-law's wedding (it was nice to receive makeup application for once!!!) but I was freaking out the whole time...I can't help but wonder how these artists get away with those things.....freaks me out.........so how do you separate a good professional makeup artist, and....not? These are 100% my personal opinions and sentiments~ although they are shared by many artists out there!!!
Before I get started, I highly recommend the following blog posts by makeup artist Jessica Jean Mayers:
What you should know (or find out!) before hiring a Makeup Artist (abbreviated as 'MUA') / Indicators of professionalism
1. Does the artist practice proper sanitation?
...Basic, but can be overlooked. I've seen scary stuff in person, and especially on youtube...*shiver...* gives me the CREEPS.
Good sanitation practices to look for:
- Does the artist use clean brushes and sanitize the brushes in between clients?
- Does the artist wash hands or use hand sanitizer before touching your face? Does the artist wash/sanitize hands in between clients?
- Does the artist use palette knifes or disposable spatulas to remove cream/liquid products from a jar onto a clean surface (clean hands or clean palette) and using a clean brush or clean fingers to apply it on your face?
- Does the artist clean the implements in between dipping into products (aka: not double dipping and preventing cross-contamination?) Does the artist use disposable mascara wands?
- Does the artist disinfect tweezers and scissors with proper disinfection solutions?
- Does the artist bring clean implements (tweezers, lash curler) and disposables in a clean or separate container, free from exposure to moisture and bacteria?
- Does the artist place soiled items in a designated bag (for reusable items) and throw disposables/trash away?
Bad, unsanitary practices to look out for:
- Does the artist use products straight from the tub of product and on to your face? or straight out of a mascara tube?
- Does the artist apply lash glue straight from the tube?
- Does the artist uses a lip brush straight from the tube and then double dip on to the lipstick to apply more lipstick on your lips?
- Does the artist BLOW on the lash glue or the eyeshadow brush OR the blush brush!?!??! Do you like spit on your face? or near your eyes on the false lashes?!?
- Does the artist have a habit of touching his/her face and hair before touching your face?
Unfortunately you can only find out these things from either former clients, or meeting them for a trial session. If they don't practice good sanitation habits on you, they probably didn't on their other clients..and round and round the germs goes...! I can't stress how important it is...I'm probably considered very strict on even the little-st things, but I know artists who are as strict as I am - and I can tell you that if the artist doesn't practice sanitation practices, you can get:
- Pink-eye (conjunctivitis) or Staph (MSRA) infections in the eye area
- Herpes Simplex (cold sore) - can be spread from mouth, to the nose area or even eyes
- Exposure to blood-borne pathogens: HIV virus, Hepatitis, etc.
- Actually - there are many more communicable diseases you can catch...Tetanus/Diptheria, food poisoning, tuberculosis, strep throat, blood poisoning, pneomonia, typhoid fever
What!? HIV? from makeup application? lol Yes chances are lower than say a bacterial infection - but sometimes when you tweeze brows or if their skin have open sores/abscess where blood comes out (including acneic pustules or just injuries where there might be blood), and let's say they use a dirty/contaminated brush or implement, and then apply it onto YOUR face and you just happen to have open skin (think cuts, sores, or open skin from acne) then bam! You are exposed to blood-borne pathogens..Do I look like I'm joking around here? In Asia it's common to use a blade to groom brows - but if you are not careful, you can easily CUT - no matter how small the cut is - and if you don't dip that implement into approved disinfection solution for 10 minutes (immersed), and then cleansed before using it on the next client, you are exposing all of your clients to potential blood borne pathogens.
How do you know the MUA is doing all of this behind the scenes or even in front of me?
YOU as the consumer and the client are RESPONSIBLE for preventing unsanitary practices from happening to you. If during the trial session, the makeup artist comes at you with the mascara straight out of the tube, it is YOUR right to DEMAND a fresh tube of mascara and using disposables and PROTECT YOURSELF from getting pink-eye or staph infections! If at ANY TIME you are uncertain, it is your RIGHT to stop the artist from using contaminated materials on your face.
Of course, hiring a 'true professional' and not a hobbyist will make a difference, but how can you REALLY tell before meeting them? You still have to be vigilant and protect yourself!!! I went to a reputable spa one time to check it out as a potential work place (No I don't want to work there after my experience...) but at the end of the service, the esthetician FORGOT to put sunscreen on my face, and when I asked the front desk to ask for me, she confirmed this and then told me I can use the 'mineral makeup with SPF' with the kabuki brush on the counter - first of all, the brush is obviously exposed to germs and not covered, and second of all, IT WAS DIRTY. I demanded a brush cleaner and thankfully the receptionist brought it over quickly - this is my right - I ain't gonna expose myself to unnecessary germs and definitely not going to expose myself to UV rays after a facial!!!! I haven't really gone to another spa since~ but I'm sure other spas are not like this! Unacceptable in my books. I had this conversation with my friend who is a dentist - and we were both like "EWEEEE!!!!!! THAT'S DANGEROUS & GROSS" lol...but really, you don't have to be in the medical profession to spot bad sanitation practices and appreciate good sanitary makeup artists!!!
Please click to read the rest of this blog~ and see #2-4 and my conclusion to this post! :)
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