Posted on August 09 2025
Why the governments crackdown in the beauty industry is an important reminder for makeup artists.
You might have seen the headlines this week about the government clamping down on what they’ve called the Wild West of cosmetic procedures. The new rules mean big changes for treatments like liquid Brazilian Butt Lifts, fillers and other high-risk injectables. Only qualified professionals in regulated clinics will be allowed to carry them out and that is a very good thing.
Now I know what you are thinking, this has nothing to do with us as makeup artists. We are here to create beautiful looks, not perform medical procedures. But while these changes will not directly affect your work, they are a timely reminder of just how important it is to understand skin, hygiene and the wider beauty industry.
Here’s the thing, while these new rules don’t affect makeup artists directly, they do remind us of one big truth…..we work with people’s faces and skin every single day. And understanding how the wider beauty industry operates, as well as how skin can react to treatments and ingredients, makes us better, safer, and more professional artists.
At the Central School of Makeup, we tackle skin health and hygiene from day one. In our very first lesson, we cover the importance of preparing the skin, understanding sensitivities, and maintaining a spotless kit. These principles are reinforced in every class, from basic applications to complex creative looks, so they become second nature. By the time students reach their final practical exams, hygiene and skin awareness are as much a part of the assessment as technique and artistry. We believe a true professional is not just someone who can create flawless makeup, but someone who can do so while protecting and respecting the skin beneath.
Why It’s Still Relevant to You
Hygiene Is Non-Negotiable
Hygiene is just as important for us as it is for a clinic. We do not need a Care Quality Commission licence to use a blusher brush but we should hold ourselves to the same professional standards. Clean brushes, sanitised palettes, disposables and freshly washed hands are non-negotiable. Safety first at all times. Whether you’re holding a syringe (please don’t) or a lip brush, cross-contamination can lead to infections, rashes, or breakouts.
Skin Reactions Happen
Many clients you work on will have had beauty treatments. From chemical peels to microneedling, or may be mid-course on actives like retinol or acids. These can make the skin more sensitive, fragile, or reactive. Without knowing this, you could accidentally cause discomfort or make irritation worse (think exfoliating lip scrub on freshly lasered skin….ouch).
Know your ingredients
We’re not skincare therapists, but knowing what’s in the products we use, especially active ingredients. For example:
- Retinol + strong exfoliation = redness city.
- Vitamin C + broken skin = stinging and swelling.
- AHAs after sunburn = a bad day for everyone.
A quick pre-makeup chat about skincare routines can save both you and your client a lot of stress.
Professional confidence
When you understand the bigger beauty picture, you speak with more authority. If a client asks why their foundation is pilling after a new treatment, you’ll know it’s not your technique, it’s the barrier cream their practitioner slathered on.
The government’s new rules are about making beauty safer. We might not be the ones holding the needles but we are still part of the same industry. By keeping high hygiene standards and building our knowledge of skin and ingredients we not only protect our clients, we set ourselves apart as true professionals.
If you want to train in an environment where creativity and professionalism go hand in hand, join us at the Central School of Makeup. Our courses will not only sharpen your artistry but also give you the knowledge and confidence to work safely with every client’s skin.
To view our course schedule and book on today visit here
