Assessing the studios
It is important to carry out risk assessments in the studios. A risk assessment involves looking at the equipment we use on a daily basis as well as our work stations, and identifying whether or not they are suitable and safe to work in. We have to be really careful to make sure that our work spaces are clean, tidy, and won't cause any damage or be hazardous to anyone in the area!
All makeup artists should assess the area they are working in and are responsible for their own work space. This involves using tools and equipment properly, and to act on any hazards or potential hazardous situations they may find.
Here is a risk assessment form that I found online and thought covered the topics necessary;
it is specific to hair and makeup artists and includes the equipment and environment you'd find yourself in in a typical studio. This could be a future document to take when assessing new working environments!
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| Example of an assessment form |
Hygiene is the most important aspect when working with clients!`
Make-up and tools must be used hygienically and should not be shared:
Make up and tools must be used in a hygienic manner at all times; they should not be shared and should be taken with either a clean, sterilised spatula or a brush and placed onto a palette on onto the back of the makeup artists hand (as long as it has been washed!!).
Do not double dip products, whether it is mixing foundations, using moisturiser or any cleansing products, eye shadow palettes, etc.
Washing your hands:
Ensure that your hands are washed thoroughly with disinfectant soap and then dried with a clean towel before working on a client. It's actually quite good to let your client know that you're 'just going to wash your hands' before you work on them; it lets them know you're professional and hygienic. A small bottle of anti-bacterial hand gel is always useful to have in your kit too.
Make up brushes and tools:
The brushes that you use on your clients should be squeaky clean for your next client. You can sterilise brushes using an alcohol mixture that kills any bacteria, but make sure you give your brushes a bath to ensure the bristles are kept nice and soft - they last longer this way too.
If you're using sponges, it is quite often a good idea to use disposable ones so that they don't hold lots of bacteria. If you use an expensive sponge, make sure it is cleaned and dried for your next client. Disposable mascara wands, sponges and puffs are a great tool to have in your kit at all times.
Checking for allergies and if your client wears contact lenses:
You should carry out test patches for any makeup that might have chemicals in (latex etc) - it's better to prevent a reaction than deal with one!
Always ask if your client wears contact lenses. This can be uncomfortable for someone if they have their eye makeup done, or equally if they are having their makeup removed.
Infectious conditions:
Be aware of any infectious conditions that clients may have. You must make sure that you deal with these correctly to ensure that infections do not spread around the workplace, to other clients, or to you! You can use disposable brushes in these cases. Common instances of infectious skin disorders may be simple things like coldsores, which are fine to work with if you're using disposable tools, or in extreme cases could be infections such as impetigo, staph infections or carbuncles. These cases are highly contagious and it is not recommended to have these types of infection in the work space as it could be risk to other clients or yourself.
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| From left: cold sore, impetigo, carbuncles and staph infections |
IDENTIFYING SKIN TYPES:
Finally, we had a chat in lesson about particular skin types and how to identify them. I have worked on the No7 beauty counter at Boots for the last three years and so I was aware of these skin types:
Oily skin:
Often people with oily skin will find it hard to get the feeling of being 'clean'. Oily skin means that the pores can be slightly larger than normal and that the client could be prone to shiny skin/acne/breakouts. It can also mean that their makeup can come off easily so it's important to use a matte primer for this type of skin! Many people hate having this skin type, however it does mean that their skin is well hydrated, and ageing effects will take longer. Less lines and wrinkles!
Combination skin:
Combination skin is a take on oily skin, however it is a mixture between oily and dry skin. People with this skin type can often experience an oily T-zone, but not necessarily on the rest of their face. It can mean you can have open pores in some areas of the face. In cold weather, this skin type may require more hydration.
Normal skin:
A skin type that doesn't feel neither dry nor oily, and quite often feels sufficiently hydrated. This is a great skin type to work with as you can create either a matte look or a dewy look. This skin type must keep up a healthy skin regime in order to keep it balanced.
Dry skin:
Dry skin can often feel very tight and quite uncomfortable after cleansing, and can have a lot of flaky/dry patches on the skin. If you pinch together your skin and you can see fine lines, it is a sign of dehydration. People with dry skin will require lots of hydration and it's not recommended to use a matte primer on a client, but to stick with a satin/dewy finish.
Bibliography:
http://www.nasmah.co.uk/#/health-and-safety/4541326447
