Guy: Thanks for the follow-up. I agree with the guidelines to
not allow personal care items to be shared. Since we don't have the means to assure that applicators such as brushes can be fully sanitized, and do not pose a health risk, they should not be shared.
In addition to the health and safety concerns from the sharing of make up, sponges, and applicators, there is the educational and training aspects of our performing arts programs. Integrating safety and health practices into curriculum and production activities, whether these be the wearing of hard hats and other PPE, or having individual make up kits, provides an opportunity for programs to more fully prepare students for further education or future careers.
I can imagine a financial consideration (tight budgets) lending support to purchasing some makeup in quantities to be shared as described. I think this does not model professional practice. And it may be challenging to provide adequate oversight to assure there is no contamination of the stored makeup products.
I recommend following the practices Monona describes: no sharing, small individual quantities of product, and disposable applicators.
Please stay in touch with other S&H questions.
Take care and be well.
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Bill Reynolds (he.him.his)
Lecturer in Theater Safety & Health
Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre
203-314-1543---cell
Bill.reynolds@yale.eduAuthor: Safety and Health for the Stage
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-23-2021 07:58
From: Guy Barbato
Subject: keeping make up sanitized
Bill: Thank you for your contribution to this thread and for sharing your expertise/experience.
Our district purchased a copy of Rossol's book for each of the Theatre teachers a few years ago and it has been very helpful. From the chapter on makeup, which you mentioned:
"Group makeup precautions. Makeup artists need to ensure that their clients' makeup is not shared. Cream sticks and lipsticks can be sliced into pieces and put into small containers, labeled with each client's name. Sponges and applicators should be disposable. Powders can be supplied to each in the smallest possible containers. Eyeliners and mascara should not be shared. The water used to moisten pencils or brushes should be changed for each client. Paper cups can be used to make cleaning water containers unnecessary."
I attended a makeup PD session recently where the importance of not sharing makeup was reinforced. However, they also suggested that in some instances you could use a disposable craft stick to transfer foundation (and/or shadow/highlight etc.) from the makeup container to a separate paper plate for each student, essentially creating individual and disposable palettes. Each student would also be given their own disposable applicator. I am curious what your thoughts are on that.
I was also curious about your thoughts on sanitizing brushes. The makeup artists in the PD session suggested using a 99% alcohol solution to sterilize brushes in-between uses. Any guidance you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Guy
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Guy Barbato
Theatre Teacher/Director
Leonardtown High School
Original Message:
Sent: 02-22-2021 11:09
From: William Reynolds
Subject: keeping make up sanitized
Arden: Great to be concerned about safety and health concerns with shared makeup. I agree with Jerry Onik that makeup should not be shared. Monona Rossol, in her book The Healthy and Safety Guide for Film, TV, and Theater, devotes a chapter to theatrical makeup. Among other precautions, she notes: "Never lend your makeup to anyone and never borrow or accept used makeup.", and "Makeup artists need to ensure that their clients' makeup is not shared."
Take care and stay safe.
Bill
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Bill Reynolds (he.him.his)
Lecturer in Theater Safety & Health
Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre
203-314-1543---cell
Bill.reynolds@yale.edu
Author: Safety and Health for the Stage
Original Message:
Sent: 02-21-2021 23:32
From: Arden Thomas
Subject: keeping make up sanitized
I sent make up kits home with acting students for our upcoming unit on stage make up. The Mehron make up kits will be returned to the school for use with the theater shows. I know how to sanitize the brushes and sponges, but do you worry about germs passing onto the make up as they use it? Like, do they not "double dip" with a sponge or brush? How do you instruct your actors to keep the make up clean? I've never worried about this before but now I'm super germ conscious ... Thanks!
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Arden Thomas
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