10 Things Your Makeup Artist Should Never Do

Sometimes when you dip your brush into blush, eyeshadow or powder, you pick up too much--it's just the nature of makeup. The only way excess product should be removed from a brush is by tapping. Never, ever, ever should a makeup artist blow excess product off of a brush or tool. Not only does it potentially spread bacteria but it's a makeup rule that should never be broken and illustrates an unprofessionalism that you shouldn't be paying for. 

The only thing worse than blowing on brushes is blowing on your client's face. 

It sounds disgusting, but it's been seen before. Licking a cotton bud and using it to fix makeup mistakes is a habit you may use on your own face in the privacy on your own home (though you should use makeup remover or water instead), but no makeup artist should ever put their saliva on your face...ever! Unprofessional doesn't even describe this makeup crime.

Doing makeup is an intimate business. Touching products, tools and someone's face and then products,tools and someone else's face, then doing it all over again and again without washing hands in-between is unsanitary and disrespectful. Clean hands are imperative. Don't trust someone who doesn't wash their hands before getting started.

Using dirty brushes can spread infections, viruses and bacteria. It's not that hard to catch a cold sore or pink eye from dirty brushes. Need we say more? 

Freelance makeup artists rely on word of mouth and good recommendations for their businesses. Good makeup artists arrive at their jobs early, and wait outside if necessary until it's time to work. It's always better to be early than run the the risk of being late. Just ten minutes can delay the schedule and cause the day to go completely awry. 

Mascara is something that should only be used on one pair of eyes, unless disposable mascara wands are being used. The dark, gelly environment of a tube of mascara is the perfect breeding ground for conjunctavitis and other eye infections, so it's good sanitary practice to use disposable mascara wands for each client. 

And mascara should never be double-dipped!

There's nothing less attractive than bringing a plume of cigarette smoke into the room. Even worse? Having someone with ashtray fingers touch your face. 

Professional makeup artists should be just that: professional. Doing someone's makeup isn't a time to air out their dirty laundry, talk about themselves or discuss their relationship issues. Usually getting your makeup done is on a special day or big occasion, so it should be about you, not your artist.