A good makeup artist takes sanitary precautions before applying makeup on their clients. Not only is it professional, but it also shows that the artist cares about their clients’ health. From years of working backstage and at photo shoots, I’ve picked up a couple makeup artist habits that I’ve learned from the pros that are beneficial for everyday use to keep you healthy.

MAKEUP ARTIST HABITS SUMMARY

1. Read Ingredients

Studies have shown that women absorb up 5lbs of damaging chemicals a year due to beauty products.  Look for natural, organic extracts and vegan. Avoid parabens and talc – 90% of all cosmetic brands contain some form of Paraben. Read more!

2. Carry Hand Sanitizer and Hand Wipes

For quick touch-ups during the day, hand sanitizer and hand wipes are handy when a sink is not accessible to wash your hands. Before touching up your makeup, apply hand sanitizer for a clean makeup application.

3. Place your Brushes in a Travel Case

Avoid throwing your brushes in your makeup bag. It’s worth investing in a travel brush case to keep your brushes clean. You can also place them in a Ziploc bag to help protect them.

4. Clean your Lash Curler, Brushes and Sponges

Once a week, clean your brushes with a professional brush cleaner or baby shampoo. Place water and shampoo/cleaner into a bowl and  swirl each brush in the bowl to get bristles loose. Let brushes soak for 5-10 minutes. Then, place them at the edge of the sink for the bristles to dry. Clean your lash curler once a week with a hand sanitizer wipe, then rinse with water. Dry before use.

5. Sanitize Makeup Pencils by Sharpening

Before using your eye pencils and lip pencils, sharpen them for a clean application.

6. Use a Spatula when Applying Creams

One huge makeup artist habits item, Instead of dipping your fingers inside a jar of cream or liquid foundation, use a tiny spatula and scoop out the formula on the top of your hand. This will keep your formula free of germs and bacteria.