A letter to makeup artists and those getting their makeup done... I'm not going to sit here pretending I don't like modelling or isn't awesome because it really is and I do almost always have fun on jobs. Models have it good most of the time, especially in Australia however there are health/hygiene risks involved for models and anyone using testers or getting their makeup done people can overlook. I have just been on a fashion show job for the past 4 days and unfortunately even though I had observed unhygienic practises and confronted the qualified artists (who I will not name) I still ended up taking home a nasty eye infection from fashion weekend. I do feel my safety concerns were dismissed as if it was part of my job to put up with these unhealthy conditions. My message is not intended to critique the women who I trusted with my eye and skin health but to raise awareness of importance of hygiene practises amongst artists. If you are getting your makeup done or using any testers, check everything has been cleaned to your standard even if someone scoffs at your concerns. This is not my first time receiving an ailment from a dirty makeup brush and unfortunately in my line of work I doubt it will be the last but please be aware of this if you ever come close to a makeup kit so you can keep yourself safe and healthy. 💖 Ps - It been diagnosed as a staff infection by the doctor and I'm now on medication 💖💖 #unretouched #nofilter #fuckingsick [1]
After we heard the terrifying tale of Jo Gilchrist, the woman who was paralyzed by a dirty makeup brush [2], we've been much more rigorous when it comes to our tools' hygiene. But disturbingly enough, it seems that story didn't scare enough professional makeup artists into keeping their products clean.
Australian model Anthea Page took to her Instagram feed [3] to announce that she had contracted a deadly staph infection from a dirty brush and is now on medication. "Even though I had observed unhygienic practices and confronted the qualified artists, I still ended up taking home a nasty eye infection from fashion weekend," she said. "I do feel my safety concerns were dismissed as if it was part of my job to put up with these unhealthy conditions."
She made it clear that she was not simply trying to critique the artists who worked with her, but trying to raise awareness of the importance of cleanliness. "This is not my first time receiving an ailment from a dirty makeup brush," Page noted, "and unfortunately in my line of work, I doubt it will be the last." She urged her followers to take the proper precautions so they stay safe and healthy.
To avoid this situation yourself, make sure you always use clean products. Ask sales associates to disinfect any testers you use with rubbing alcohol, and always wash your brushes [4]. It may be a pesky task, but it's worth slogging through it in order to dodge the potential risks.
This post was originally published on October 14, 2016.