Brushing Up on Cosmetic Hygiene For Makeup Artists

One of the most important parts of being a makeup artist (or some may argue THE most important part) is the safety and the hygiene towards the client. Especially with the outbreak of the Coronavirus continuing to be a part of our everyday lives for the foreseeable future, it is now more important than ever to stay hygienic with clients. An obvious, yet important, part of hygiene within makeup is the tools and brushes used to apply the products. Research shows that 95% of products in professional makeup kits were found to be contaminated with bacteria.

Makeup artists should be cleaning their brushes between every client to avoid spreading bacteria, or worst-case scenario, even spreading the coronavirus. A good way to keep sanitisation practices strict when working is to treat every client as if they are contagious. This helps MUAs to remember to not be lazy with the sanitisation of their makeup and ensures that brushes are clean at all times, which reduces the risk of spreading bacteria. There is nothing worse than having poor safety and hygiene which has the potential to do serious damage to the reputation of businesses.

The Damage

Dermatologist, Debbie Palmer, states that makeup brushes “accumulate dead skin cells, dirt, oil, pollution, and bacteria”. Makeup brushes are clearly a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Think about every client a professional makeup artist comes into contact with in one day. Now think about all of the built-up molecules makeup brushes from different clients if brushes aren’t cleaned correctly. The mentioned molecules can lead to breakouts, congestion, skin irritation, conjunctivitis and cold sores. 

In a worst-case scenario, this can lead to staph infections which has the risk of the paralysis of legs and arms. Imagine the damage that would do to an individual, and to a professional’s business if knowledge broke that an infection of this height was caused by unsanitary makeup brushes. It is great for a business when a makeup professional goes viral on social media, but no one wants to go viral for infecting their clients with unhygienic products.

In addition to potential infections, using unclean tools can lead to the finished result looking imperfect and flawed, provoking unhappy customers and potential unsatisfactory reviews or an undesirable reputation. Try taking the advice of dermatologist Amelia K. Hausauer, MD who suggests that “we now have more time to learn good habits” so utilise this time wisely to get the best potential from the makeup brushes meaning the best results for customers.

5 Top Tips for Cleaning Brushes

To simplify the process of cleaning makeup brushes and establish confidence in this procedure, there are five top tips that will make a makeup artist’s life easier.

Firstly, separate the brushes into different categories. This step will reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed by the quantity of brushes and will give a clear picture and speed up the time it takes. Next, it may be beneficial to invest in a scrubbing tool to ensure that the brush cleaner is sinking in to the bottom of the bristles and removing every last molecule of makeup. Following this, rinse the brushes completely until the water running is clear to ensure there is no makeup product or cleaning product left on the brush, meaning it is ready for its next use. After washing, lay the brushes flat on a towel to dry to keep the original shape of the brush. There is no point spending hard earned money on brushes to ruin them in the cleaning process – take the time to keep the shape the same!

Finally, do not use heat to dry the makeup brushes in a hope to speed up the process. This will damage the bristles and the brushes will become unusable. Take the time to let the brushes dry naturally, however long this may take.

The top tips and reminders of the importance of makeup brush cleaning above should help any makeup artist in reviewing and remembering the hygiene and sanitation practices expected of them when working with various clients. The procedure of cleaning brushes regularly will reduce the risk of damage to clients and to a makeup artist’s brand. Professionals should keep this in mind if carelessness creeps upon their cosmetic hygiene standards.