I attended a wedding where the poor bride had a large cold sore spread over lips, nose and face (Herpes Simplex 1). The makeup artiste (MUA) asked her what it was and the bride told her. The MUA didn’t really understand what a Cold Sore was and went ahead and applied the makeup and did a really fabulous job. The bride looked great and the Cold Sore had decent coverage.
The makeup artiste (without cleaning her brushes) went ahead and did the makeup of the bride’s sister and friend using the same equipment and even applied the lip gloss that she had applied on the bride on the other girls with the same double/triple dipped wand.
Later that evening the friend had a sore on her lips which developed into an awful cold sore the next day. It sadly caused a rift between the friends.
After this incident I became a hygiene freak. I NEVER share my makeup. I don’t touch products at makeup counters on my face. I am ultra scared of catching something. I admit to being OCD about this. I feel sad for anyone with facial skin disorders. I have excema on my face so I’m not judgmental - i just would prefer to be careful for my own health.
I don’t believe that every MUA is going to be fanatical about the hygiene of their equipment. I used to work as a coordinator for fashion shows and I have seen how the same brushes/equipment get used on multiple women. Also, the people at the makeup counters aren’t always practicing good hygiene when applying makeup products on potential customers.
I KNOW THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS PEOPLE: I know a MUA who is crazy about hygiene and regards it as her moral duty to make sure her equipment is CLEAN. But not all are like that. I would have used her but she cannot do asian bridal looks.
Now that I am getting married I have a couple of questions regarding makeup artiste’s and wedding makeup.
Can I request my Makeup Artiste use MY OWN brushes (I have the whole set of professional brushes and will buy what I don’t have)
Can I also request that I purchase my own products that she reccomends?
How would I have a trial using my own brushes/products?
Are makeup artistes understanding when people have strict hygiene requirements/issues?
I bought my own brushes at the time of my wedding. I am OCD about such stuff as well even though I know my MUA and am sure that she disinfects/cleans all her brushes. She told me what I needed and used those. I also took them back for the other wedding days I needed makeup done for.
I am sure any decent MUA will understand your concerns and try and incorporate them into both the trial stages and also the actual wedding day make up. Whilst you are finding potential MUAs you can just ask them and I am sure they will be able to answer your questions.
I bought my own brushes at the time of my wedding. I am OCD about such stuff as well even though I know my MUA and am sure that she disinfects/cleans all her brushes. She told me what I needed and used those. I also took them back for the other wedding days I needed makeup done for.
Oh Shay, that makes me feel better already... What about products, did you buy what she recommended or did you use the MUA's makeup?
I am sure any decent MUA will understand your concerns and try and incorporate them into both the trial stages and also the actual wedding day make up. Whilst you are finding potential MUAs you can just ask them and I am sure they will be able to answer your questions.
Later that evening the friend had a sore on her lips which developed into an awful cold sore the next day. It sadly caused a rift between the friends.
You may want to inform your friends that, based on the timeline and symptoms, it's actually pretty unlikely that the bride transmitted her herpes to her friend. Primary HSV1 infections are usually asymptomatic, and when they do have symptoms, they usually present with a sore throat. Nor does it make sense for her to have developed a sore just a few hours after the alleged exposure. Chances are, the friend had been infected with HSV long before the wedding.
Hmmmm 'unlikely' doesn't mean it didn't happen. I'm not a medical person, but the bride very clearly had open oozing sore's. I totally believe that this girl 'caught' the sore from the bride as she said she'd never had it before and I believe her. Not every person who catches HSV1 gets it via textbook examples and I do know someone else who developed HSV1 within 24 hours of kissing her new BF (he had sores). It's a pretty potent virus, they haven't even been able to develop a cure for it....
Ah well, moving on... Back to the original topic: hygiene issues...
A MUA I spoke to this afternoon said that some people she works with (MAC MUA's in London) keep their makeup brushes that they use on their own faces completely separate from the brushes they use on clients. She said that this was a common practice.
From my own personal experience I remember getting conjunctivitis at 16 after using a mascara that I had had for 6 months (you're supposed to chuck them after 3 months) I didn't know it then but the bacteria can be build up and become very harmful so imagine what other people's germs can do to your skin?
you cannot develop a cold sore the same day you were exposed to the herpes simplex type 1 virus...
the virus takes time....and it may take up to a week or more for the actual symptoms to show..just like janab said...it starts with a sore throat..
I have a sore right now as i type and its been more than a week and a half...my husband has NOT developed one....
your friend who kissed her bf may have already caught the virus (elsewhere..at some other time)...and these sores are generally recurrent...
cold sores are verrry common and...people who are exposed to the virus do not develop a cold sore immediately. The are usually triggered by stress/weak immune system...and in some cases sun exposure...
I did take my very own utensils and makeup...etc (to pakistan) for my Nikah. I had my makeup done by Arsh at New Look, and she was totally understanding. The moment I sat down, she whipped out new sponges, cleaned the area...with a smile.
when you go for consultation, insist on hygiene and hopefully the will get your point :)
I'm a fanatic.. I purchase disposable sponges/applicators/mascara wands/lip brushes..they're great.. I buy them in bulk and they're wonderful! I sanitize my hands and usually blend foundation with my fingers! The blush brushes I soak in warm soapy water and leave them on a towel to dry.
Professionals usually have heated disinfecting cabins..
U can take u're own brushes and makeup.. just ask u're MUA's for the colors. The only issue is that MUA's' have a LOT of different colors and correctors, which u won't really be able to buy (it's also a one time use so no point buying it) they use upto 5-6 shades for contouring and concealing.
I have SUPER sensitive skin, to the point where I can't share ANY makeup with anyone. Anytime in the past when I have shared lipstick or lipgloss, within a week I had a cold sore or pimple type thing at the top of my lip.
I'm definetly going to buy my own brushes, makeup. Not taking any risks. The cost will be much higher to do this though....
you cannot develop a cold sore the same day you were exposed to the herpes simplex type 1 virus...
the virus takes time....and it may take up to a week or more for the actual symptoms to show..just like janab said...it starts with a sore throat..
I have a sore right now as i type and its been more than a week and a half...my husband has NOT developed one....
your friend who kissed her bf may have already caught the virus (elsewhere..at some other time)...and these sores are generally recurrent...
cold sores are verrry common and...people who are exposed to the virus do not develop a cold sore immediately. The are usually triggered by stress/weak immune system...and in some cases sun exposure...
Hi Chanda, I'll take your word for it since I don't have any first hand experience. It makes sense that viruses have an initial incubation period - I am not educated on what that is for HSV1...
I'm a fanatic.. I purchase disposable sponges/applicators/mascara wands/lip brushes..they're great.. I buy them in bulk and they're wonderful! I sanitize my hands and usually blend foundation with my fingers! The blush brushes I soak in warm soapy water and leave them on a towel to dry.
Professionals usually have heated disinfecting cabins..
U can take u're own brushes and makeup.. just ask u're MUA's for the colors. The only issue is that MUA's' have a LOT of different colors and correctors, which u won't really be able to buy (it's also a one time use so no point buying it) they use upto 5-6 shades for contouring and concealing.
Hi Gina, I was hoping you'd respond... Wish you were here for my wedding - your advice is very sound.
I think I would buy the products required. What would your top 3 or 5 wedding day makeup products be?
I am guessing that correctors, contour shades, primers and foundations are very important...? I use Bobbi Brown stick, do you think that would be a good wedding day cover?
Primer (illuminous one preferablly)
Full-coverage foundation ( I love bobbi brown)
Bobbi Brown eye brightner.
The rest depends on the color of u're dress :)..esteem just purchase the exact same color foundation and powder and let u're MUA use her's for contouring and highlighting... u won't be able to buy all the colours used for concealing/contouring and highlighting..but u sure can purchae the basic products.. they can be used after the wedding too Inshallah.
@bride2be: you sound like me totally prepared!! LOL I heard Ardell eyelashes are supposed to be the top brand in US, I think I'd love to bring along my own pair - although I don't have a problem with the MUA using ones she likes...
@Gina: I'll have to source some primer for my general use... I heard that MAC Prep+Prime is good and Smashbox Photo finish is good... I have the BB eye brightner... it's really good :)
If you think that the MUA's contouring/concealing/highlighting products will be fine, I'll be happy to use hers... i heard that powders don't carry bacteria the way liquids and creams do... as always thank you for your advice :)
Liquids creams dont get contaminated because they are being dispensed from a bottle onto a sponge or brush or palette. Powders are being reused out of the same container.
I'm a fanatic.. I purchase disposable sponges/applicators/mascara wands/lip brushes..they're great.. I buy them in bulk and they're wonderful! I sanitize my hands and usually blend foundation with my fingers! The blush brushes I soak in warm soapy water and leave them on a towel to dry.
Professionals usually have heated disinfecting cabins..
U can take u're own brushes and makeup.. just ask u're MUA's for the colors. The only issue is that MUA's' have a LOT of different colors and correctors, which u won't really be able to buy (it's also a one time use so no point buying it) they use upto 5-6 shades for contouring and concealing.
Hey!! Gina can u plz do my make-up on my wedding...