The Occupational Hazard of Being a Makeup Artist

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Being a professional makeup artist in the Philippines has always been seen by the public as a profession that banks on creativity and imagination. But if one will keep a closer eye on this occupation, it will also need good communication skills, patience and concentration, ability to work under pressure, attention to details, and willingness to adopt to change in order to excel. If you think that being a professional makeup artist is all fun and glamour, you have never been so wrong in your life. Being a professional makeup artist, like any other career, has it owns sets of occupational hazard.  While it may be not as dangerous as those of policemen or soldiers who are deployed in the field, makeup artist can still put their health at risk while showing off their craft to the world.

Yes. You’ve read that right. Even a seemingly harmless profession such as being a makeup artist can be a life-threatening work. Makeups and cosmetic products sometimes contain chemicals that can be harmful in huge volume and may have beyond the skin surface effects. The American Cancer Society has also looked into the possibilities that cosmetics may also contain carcinogens that may cause cancer. As makeup artists who use these products as a medium for their work, they tend to be more exposed to the harmful effects of these substances.

Lead, for example, is a contaminant that may be present in over 650 cosmetic products like sunscreens, foundation, nail polish, lipstick, and whitening toothpaste. It has been proven as a neurotoxin that can cause behavioral, learning, and language impairment. Another substance that is present on antifungal agent and antimicrobial creams and lotions, parabens is known to cause breast tumors as they are absorbed through the skin. Ethylene Oxide, an identified mammary carcinogens in animals, can also be found in some personal care products such as shampoos and body washes.  Triclosan on the other hand, is used in antibacterial soaps, deodorants and toothpastes to limit the growth of bacteria and mold. The chemical, which is classified as a pesticide, can affect the body’s hormone systems—especially thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism—and may disrupt normal breast development.

These are just few of the substances that can be found on cosmetic products that can pose hazard to both anyone who will be exposed to them. To keep the public safe from these substance and make sure that products containing these substances won’t reach the consumers, the Philippine Government has passed an act to ensure the safety and purity of foods, drugs, and cosmetics being made available to the public by creating the food and drug administration which shall administer and enforce the laws pertaining thereto also as the Republic Act No. 3720 or Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. One of its provisions is to create the Food and Drug Administration or DFA which is will inspect the food, drugs, and cosmetics.

It is wonderful to think that even though the occupation a being a makeup artist is considerable an art that uses the cosmetics as medium and the human skin as their canvass, the government do not take lightly the hazards that they may exposed with. While this does not mean that they are totally free from any hazards, this is a good assurance that makeup artist can go share their craft to the world knowing that someone got their back.