Conjunctivitis Causes redness, itchiness and watering, and is spread through use of contaminated eye products and applicators. Blepharitis Bacterial inflammation of the eyelid, spread by dirty hands and contaminated brushes/applicators. Corneal ulcers Bacterial/viral infection that affects vision and can lead to blindness, caused by poor hygiene including the herpes simplex virus. Herpes simplex The highly contagious cold sore virus is transmitted by saliva and easily transferred by dirty lip brushes, lip gloss wands, hands and applicators.

The Pro Hygiene Collection®

Hygiene is an important part of any daily professional practice and for the makeup and beauty industry, just like the medical profession, practitioners should adhere to a high level of hygiene, both personal and client-side. Dangers of cross-contamination through unhygienic application of makeup and through beauty treatments can cause a host of health problems when bacteria and viruses are transferred across products, brushes and skin.

Whether you’re at a beauty counter trying out testers, being pampered at the spa or salon, or even just at home using your own makeup and beauty products on a day to day basis, there are risks that you need to be aware of.

Most of us recognise that the shelf life of products should be respected and a bit of common sense should prevail - if something doesn't look or smell right, throw it out! But for many consumers buying cosmetics at the beauty counter, ignorance is bliss! It’s like a game of Russian roulette. There is a hidden danger lurking behind the shimmer and the shine. The results of a two-year study on public makeup testers by Dr Elizabeth Brooks found that all of the makeup tested contained traces of E.coli as well as the herpes simplex virus (cold sores and, when caught, is with you for life), as well as staph, strep and other bacteria. "Whenever you see E.coli, you should just think 'E.coli equals faeces," said Dr Brooks. "That means someone went to the bathroom, didn't wash their hands and then stuck their fingers in that moisturiser.” In makeup tested on Saturdays, the busiest day at the beauty counter, the percentage of contaminated makeup was 100%!

Across all sectors of the makeup and beauty industries, there are hidden dangers, viruses and infections that can seriously compromise your health. Here are a few examples of the nasties that you can encounter if your makeup or beauty professional is not practising hygienically and safely:

THE RISKS “hidden danger lurking behind the shimmer and the shine”

THE NASTIES “what are you potentially exposing yourself to?”

Impetigo A highly infectious skin disease caused by staphylococcus bacteria, easily transferred through brushes and applicators. Sometimes the infection can spread to the lymph nodes or to a deeper layer of skin. Ringworm Not a worm, but a contagious fungal infection of the skin that can multiply rapidly in products such as blusher and cream-based products. Follicutis Infected hair follicles that become inflamed and sore can be caused by certain hair-removal treatments like waxing. Can leave you with permanent scarring or other changes in skin pigmentation (including vitiligo).

Safe Beauty Watchpoints For Makeovers, Makeup Testers, At The Spa And In The Salon

First impressions count A dirty makeup artist, counter, beauty therapist = dirty products. If the set-up doesn’t look clean, the likelihood is that it isn’t. If the area isn’t clean, the risk of cross-contamination is far higher and you have no idea what has been contaminated and with what.

Watch out for the dirty brush belt They may look professional, but brush belts are breeding grounds for bacteria - like the dirty beauty counter, an unclean brush belt is a sure sign to avoid a trial.

Hygiene ritual – hands up! Did the counter staff sanitize their hands before touching you and the products? Are the counters and products being cleaned regularly? Are customers putting dirty hands all over the products? Insist makeup artists sanitize hands and tools in front of you before they use them on you.

Disposable mascara wands, brushes & applicators Look out for makeup artists using disposables – these are far more hygienic IF they are used correctly. This means no double dipping.

Mono dipping moment Ensure staff do not “double dip” any product with brushes and applicators – every dip needs a new disposable mascara wand or makeup applicator. Double dipping is THE major cause of cross-contamination, so make sure a new disposable mascara wand, lip brush, eyeliner applicator and makeup sponge is used every time makeup goes from product to face, and never allow dirty brushes near you or the product.

Sharpen, sketch and sharpen Are makeup pencils being sharpened before and after each trial? An unsharpened pencil used between clients is just as bad as double dipping, and sharpening with a sanitized sharpener is the best way to clean makeup pencils.

Decant, decant, decant Ensure products are sampled out with new clean spatulas into clean dishes or tissues and no double dipping. Never let the counter staff take product from the display testers with fingers or with dirty brushes.

Beware of latex Beware of latex makeup sponges at the counter – you might be allergic.

Think where you test a tester Never opt for a quick lippie touch-up from the selection on display at your local high street chemist – these displays are unmanned and testers will have touched hundreds of dirty hands, faces, lips, eyes and skin. Try out colours on the back of your hand or on your wrist, but never be tempted to use the tester products as a quick makeup fix!

Double dipping: this is a term that all makeup users and beauty professionals should be aware of. It means reloading the same mascara wand with mascara by dipping it into the tube more than once. Double dipping applies not only to all kinds of makeup applicators and tools, but beauty, hair and nail tools and implements too, and results in cross-contamination of both products and customers. Cross-contamination: hygienic beauty practice applies to all beauty products, treatments, makeup and makeup tools and, just as importantly, the application procedure. It’s no good if the beauty practitioner or makeup artist is using a disposable mascara wand, but is cross-contaminating products by putting that disposable back into the mascara tube. Contaminated brushes and products breed micro-organisms that can cause a whole host of health problems. Bacteria hot-spots: bacteria and lash mites live in all our lashes and using mascara, whether on yourself or as a professional makeup artist on clients, means that mascara tubes are hot-spots for bacteria. The moment the mascara wand touches the lashes, bacteria are transferred to the wand. Once returned to the product tube the bacteria thrive in the warm, dark environment. Once this happens, bacteria flourish in the mascara tube and eye infections will be prolonged and even worsened with further use. If your makeup artist or beauty therapist is double dipping without decanting or using a disposable tool, you are exposed to risk.

So how can you, as a consumer, avoid exposing yourself to the potential dangers associated with makeup application and beauty treatments? Here are our top tips for counters, salons and at home.

THE KEY CULPRITS “contaminated brushes breed micro-organisms”

“SAFE BEAUTY” WATCHPOINTS!

@ THE BEAUTY COUNTER Watch out for the following when you visit a department store or chemist beauty counter:

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When considering any kind of treatment, ask to see qualifications and insurance certifications – if they aren’t insured it is a sure sign they are not committed to practising safe, hygienic and professional treatments. Don’t risk your health and safety by visiting unregistered salons

Most local councils require businesses including tattooing and piercing studios, beauty salons, barber shops, chemists and jewellers (offering ear piercing), mobile hairdressers, and therapists/artists working from home to register their business premise and practitioners. Registered businesses will have been inspected by local councils to ensure that premises, practitioners and equipment comply with minimum hygiene requirements. If the salon you visit can’t show you valid certification confirming their registered status – stay away!

Know the risks It is the job of any beauty professional to assess the risks of treatments to their clients. Have they asked you if you’ve had this treatment before? Have they checked if you are allergic to any ingredients in the treatments they undertake? Salons should ask you to fill out a customer information card or questionnaire so they are aware of any requirements or allergies you may have.

What’s in the products? Be aware of what’s in the products being used, regardless of whether you’ve had the treatment before or not. Sometimes you can develop allergies to ingredients you previously had no reaction to, so always demand spot-tests before full treatments - you are entitled to be safe.

Hygiene ‘101’ Is the salon and treatment room clean? Has the equipment been appropriately cleaned, sanitized or sterilized between clients? Has your beauty therapist washed or sanitized their hands? These are basic, but essential requirements for any beauty salon to abide by.

Should you pop-in to a ‘pop-up’ salon? “Pop-up” salons can be found in department stores, shopping centres and even train stations. But stop and think – where is the running water for cleaning hands and equipment? Where are the bins to dispose of clinical waste? Think twice before you use one - busy environments are far less sanitary than well kept salons.

Think it through Don’t be tempted to have a quick beauty treatment, teeth-whitening or lip-filler just because you spot a pop-up salon. Many pop-ups rely on consumers buying these treatments on impulse and may inflate prices so they can then offer you what seem like very cheap ‘one-off’ rates. These kinds of treatments should only ever be carried out after consultation at a registered, quality salon or by an appropriate medical practitioner.

Know the law Though it is now illegal for under-18s to use sun beds, many salons are still allowing children to have sun bed sessions. If a salon is breaking this law, think what other safety rules and regulations they may also be ignoring.

Speak up If things go wrong, get in touch with the salon. They are obliged to deal with any problems arising from their treatments, whether simply sorting out a haircut you aren’t happy with or providing assistance for a bad reaction to the products they have used on you.

@ THE NAIL BAR Is it registered?

Nail bars and salons are subject to specific safety regulations which are in place to protect the health of both customers and workers. If a nail bar isn’t registered, they are likely not to be adhering to these regulations.

Breathe easy Nail bars should have the proper ventilation systems. They are needed to draw away dust created by nail services which can cause asthma and chest problems. Through draughts should also be in place to make sure that solvents and acrylic systems are not inhaled in dangerous amounts.

Single use Sterile and single-use instruments should be used wherever possible. New nail files and emery boards should be used for each person, and cuticle trimmers and nail tools must be sanitized between clients.

Don’t allow drilling Cheap nail bars and inexperienced technicians may drill nail plates to create a rough surface for false nail glues to adhere to. NEVER allow a technician to drill your nails – it can permanently damage the nail bed, cause bleeding and lead to the transference of blood-borne infections.

Stick with EMA Ethyl methacrylate (EMA) is a common false nail adhesive. Make sure your nail technician is using EMA and NOT Methyl methacrylate (MMA) - a cheap and dangerous glue that should never be used for nails. It creates a hard and brittle adhesion which is very difficult to remove and can cause natural nails to lift off the nail bed – this is incredibly painful and causes permanent damage.

@ THE SALON

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“Clean is Beautiful” is common sense and, as a consumer, you have a right to receive best practice in this industry – this means having a beauty therapist or makeup artist who is trained, experienced, qualified and insured. Always demand clean tools, sanitized products to trial from and basics such as clean hands and work areas. If they can’t offer you these things, walk away.

Bride-to-be If you’re hiring a mobile hair and makeup artist to do special occasion or bridal makeup, always ask for evidence of training and experience, a trial session and certification of insurance – an uninsured makeup artist is an unprofessional makeup artist.

Pampering parties Increasing numbers of companies offer consultations or pampering parties for you and your friends at home. Always check these consultants have the right hygiene equipment, disposable brushes/tools and insurance.

Throw it out Bacteria thrive in dark, warm environments and within three to six months a mascara tube will be overrun with bacteria. Respect the use-by dates printed on all of your personal makeup and cosmetics and replace them regularly, depending on your usage.

Not for sharing While you may want to share your makeup and cosmetics with friends, be on the lookout. A friend who is prone to cold sores could transfer the herpes simplex virus to you and your products.

Keep it clean Makeup bags and brushes harbour germs and should be washed regularly. Even if you are not sharing brushes, it is important to clean them – dirty brushes can cause breakouts and aggravate acne-prone skin.

@ THE HAIRDRESSER

@ HOME

@ THE BROW BAR

Qualification and registration Hairdressers are required to register with their local council who check they abide by local by-laws so make sure your hairdresser is both registered and properly qualified.

What are the risks? Cuts, nicks and grazes from scissors or razors and burns from hot hair glue or styling tools can be painful and, if not attended to, can become infected. If a trainee stylist is cutting or colouring your hair, they must be properly supervised at all times.

Chemicals and dyes Hair dyes should ALWAYS be spot-tested before use. While it may seem a burden, it is something your hairdresser should always offer. Look out for PPD (p-Phenylenediamine) – it’s a key ingredient in many best-selling hair colourants but has recently been linked to severe allergic reactions, even in people who have previously shown no signs of an allergy during previous treatments.

Threading Any therapist offering threading must have the proper training – bad threading practice can be very slow and painful, cause ingrown hairs or nick the skin and cause bleeding. When done correctly it should be a quick treatment with minimal damage to the skin. The technique requires the therapist to hold the thread in their mouth, so make sure a clean thread is always used on you to prevent cross-contamination from saliva.

Waxing Waxing can aggravate and damage top layers of skin, increasing risk of infection especially when treatment rooms are unclean, if beauty therapists haven’t sanitized their hands or have double dipped applicators in the wax pot – make sure a new, disposable applicator is used on you every time wax is applied.

For more information on The Pro Hygiene Collection® visit: www.theprohygienecollection.com or www.divaprofessionalbeauty.com

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