Sanitation, Safety, and Professional Ethics
Infection control basics
Makeup artists work with broken skin barriers and shared tools, so hygiene is a professional duty. Know the difference between cleaning (removing visible soil), sanitizing (reducing microorganisms), and disinfecting (destroying most pathogens). Wash hands before and after each client. Use single-use applicators where possible: mascara wands, lip wands, sponges. Never double-dip into cream or liquid products; use a spatula and palette. Sharpen pencils before use and wipe the blade. Disinfect metal tools with an approved product at the correct contact time. Porous items such as sponges and natural-hair brushes cannot be reliably disinfected and should be replaced or assigned to one client.
Safety and contraindications
Screen for allergies, skin infections, cold sores, and recent procedures. Do not work over active infection or open lesions. Patch test adhesives and color products where risk exists. Keep a first-aid kit and know the signs of an allergic reaction. Ventilate for aerosols and airbrush work.
Ethics and professionalism
Ethics covers informed consent, confidentiality, honest scope of practice, and respectful treatment of all clients regardless of skin tone, gender, age, or ability. Do not diagnose skin conditions; refer to a medical professional. Do not make claims about products curing conditions. Respect the client's boundaries and privacy, including photographs. Charge and contract transparently.
Traps
Questions often present a scenario where an artist is tempted to use a product on a client after it touched another client's skin; the correct answer discards or assigns it. Another trap is disinfecting a porous sponge, or working over a cold sore. Watch for answers that diagnose or promise medical results.
Rule of thumb
If it touches skin, it is either single-use, client-assigned, or disinfected with a product proven for that material. When in doubt, discard it.
Worked example
A client arrives with an active cold sore. Correct response: do not apply product to the lesion, reschedule or work only if the service can avoid the area and the client consents, sanitize all tools, and refer the client to a pharmacist or doctor.