Since the pandemic began makeup artists are researching the best practices for properly sanitizing their cosmetics. While it may seem that researching the best products is a step in the right direction, that is not enough to ensure proper sanitizing.
Let’s first define what “sanitizing” means:
Sanitizing involves using your 70% isopropyl alcohol to kill germs, bacteria, and some viruses. This chemical process will reduce the number of less harmful bacteria to a safe level. The CDC recommends a 5 minute dwell time for 70% isopropyl alcohol.
Some examples of sanitizing during an application are:
- Sanitizing your spatula with alcohol to ensure you have eliminated most bacteria before you dip it into your cosmetics.
- Sanitizing all cosmetic packaging.
- Sanitizing your brushes during an application.
- Sanitizing your hands with hand sanitizer.
Now let’s talk about what disinfecting means:
This involves using Lucas-Cide, or another hospital grade disinfectant. This chemical process is able to kill more harmful bacteria and blood-borne pathogens such as staph, MRSA, HIV and hepatitis. Effective disinfection takes place when dwell time directions are followed according to the product’s label.
Some examples of disinfecting during an application are:
- Disinfecting brushes after they have been cleaned and free of debris.
- Disinfecting tools like your metal cup, pencil sharpener, tweezers, scissors or grooming tools.
- Disinfecting your station or other surfaces you and your client may come in contact with.
Here is what we recommend:
- Disinfect all your cosmetic packaging.
- Disinfect all tools and brushes between each client.
- Disinfect your work station before and after each client.
- Sanitize all cosmetics before and after depotting.
- Sanitize your hands often.
Here are products commonly used for sanitizing during a makeup application:
- 70% Isopropyl Alcohol
- Beauty So Clean
- Makeup Sanitizing Spray by Cinema Secrets
- Hand Sanitizer
Here are products/tools commonly used for disinfecting makeup tools:
- Barbicide
- Lucas-cide
- Sterile-Light (code sc389 for $210 off the Beauty Edition Illumicide Disinfecting Case)
Don’t let artistry before health ruin your career
In all facets of makeup, it seems as though beauty comes before health. Oftentimes, you’ll find artists apply makeup to a consumer and use that same brush to try the foundation on another consumer. Artists are not aware that there are bacteria that live on there, mucus membranes, blood-borne pathogens, and so it really doesn’t matter which area of the industry you take a look at. There is no makeup sanitation standard, until now.
Certification & Training Sanitation Standards 2.0
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