Ultimate Guide to Hygiene and Sanitation Practices 2024
Of the many responsibilities you have as a makeup professional, nothing is more important than protecting your client’s health and safety. Never take shortcuts for cleaning and disinfecting; you cannot afford to skip steps or save money when it comes to safety!
Elevate Your Makeup Skills with Proven Techniques
As a professional Makeup Artist, you will be working with many different clients. It is of utmost importance for you to practice sanitary techniques with each individual client. Whether it is before makeup application (preparing your makeup kit), during makeup application (not mixing certain products, using disposable tools, and being mindful of the skin preparation and application), or after (cleaning your brushes and kit for the next client), it is crucial that you follow these steps each and every time you are working. There are no shortcuts to remain sanitary and apply proper hygienic care to each client and the products you use on them to create your artistry. Hygienic care and sanitation will serve as one of the biggest building blocks in your business to create growing clientele and lifelong loyal clients!
Sanitation is the most crucial element of a professional Makeup Artist.
You are working with client's skin, mucous membranes, and body - you must always keep this in mind and follow these sanitation protocols for yourself and client.
Always keep your client in mind, first and foremost.
Products you must have in your kit to remain sanitary:
Paper towels + tissues
Disposable tools (sponges, eyeshadow applicators, lip brushes, mascara wands, cotton rounds, q-tips).
Metal plate + spatula (you will always use this to apply cream product, you will never double dip).
Powder products, use a clean paper towel + alcohol spray to remove top surface layer.
Always close your product after use.
Professional brush cleaner (this is used for quick on set cleaning, you must always do a deep clean on your brushes after use).
Alcohol (70%) - saturate and let sit for 30 seconds and wipe off.
Trash bag (to keep your station clean and sanitary).
Ziploc bags to put dirty brushes in (if there is not enough time to clean on set) - this is a good way to keep your dirty brushes separate from your other items in the kit.
Additional steps to remain sanitary:
In addition to keeping your inside products sanitary, always keep the outside of your products clean.
Be mindful of expiration dates on your products - look on the back of product and look for the shelf life. Make notations on your product of when you opened so you know when the product will expire.
Never keep expired products in your professional makeup kit.
Always be mindful and aware of your client's allergies - most importantly pay attention to ingredients of products if your client does have sensitivity or allergies.
Never use products straight from the tube (a wand, squeeze, or tube) - put on palette and work from there, for mascara and lip use disposables (but never double dip). One and done.
For lotions, primers, etc. - always put on metal palette and not directly on to your hands.
It is preferred to use tools rather than fingers (this will keep your client as well as yourself sanitary).
If you will use your fingers, you must always sanitize your hands.
Professional tip: you can cut off the actual applicators in your product (for lip, cream, eyes, etc) - this way there is no temptation to accidentally dip. If you have double dipped your product in your kit, you will need to throw it away, no exceptions, as there is no way to sanitize it after.
Setting up your makeup station:
As a freelance artist you will need to have a traveling and sanitary workspace. Always clean your surface with paper towels (and alcohol if the finish on the table is OK) to prepare your makeup station space. It should always look clean and organized.
If a client has an open wound or condition (pink eye, etc) that you don't feel comfortable applying makeup on, you can kindly refuse the application.
