5 Tips for Getting Your Makeup Professionally Done When You Have A Fragrance Allergy

Call me basic, I don’t care, but there are few things I love more than getting my makeup professionally done. What’s not to love? You get to learn new techniques and test drive the latest beauty finds, all while getting absolutely pampered – my dream.

However, if you’re like me and have a fragrance allergy, then you know all too well that having someone else do your makeup is not that simple; there are a lot of elements to consider.

Don’t fret, there’s still hope! With a little extra prep and care, getting your makeup done professionally may still be in the cards for you – despite the allergy. Keep these five tips in mind to help avoid fragrances when getting your makeup professionally done:

Be Vocal (And Specific) From The Jump

When booking your next appointment, make sure to let the company know that you have an allergy straight from the get-go. And be as specific as possible  – if there’s a particular ingredient or chemical that you’re allergic to, make sure to spell it out for them.

Letting them know ahead of time doesn’t mean your artist will be equipped with a completely fragrance-free arsenal. However, this can help kickstart a few things:

1. You can take this opportunity to ask for an artist who’s previously worked with clients with the same (or similar) allergy. Although they are few and far between, it’s always good practice to ask.
2. In the more likely case that none of the available artists are familiar with fragrance allergies, at the very least your artist will be hyper-aware of your ‘condition’ (for lack of a better term), and will be more likely to take extra precautions and ask more questions throughout your appointment.

Advocate For Yourself

Makeup artists have busy lives, and chances are, you aren’t their only client of the day. So make sure to remind them of your allergy again on the day of your booking. You’re not being annoying or redundant, you’re advocating for yourself – a friendly reminder can help prevent a major oops later down the road.  

Work Smarter Not Harder

If you’re working with an artist who is not familiar with your allergy, this doesn’t mean you can’t use any of the products they bring – you just have to do your due diligence and check the ingredients first.

To vet their products, you could tirelessly analyze each label, or you could use the SkinSafe app instead. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, this app is a total game changer for anyone who needs to check ingredients on the fly. Simply scan your item (or search by name) to see if the product is fragrance-free. The app has a huge database, and more likely than not, they’ll have your product listed in their system. And to top it off, the app is free!

BYOP (Bring Your Own Products)

On the other hand, there may be products your makeup artist does not have fragrance-free alternatives for. The most common culprits I’ve encountered include eyeshadow, foundation, concealer, and makeup brushes (yup, you read that right – unfortunately, many brush cleaner solutions have fragrance, so don’t forget to check that as well).

That being said, make sure to bring your own beauty bag with you – from your moisturizer to your setting spray, and everything in-between. When it comes to allergies: hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

Clean Your Brushes & Tools ASAP

Hopefully tips 1 through 4 will keep you far away from fragrances, but just in case, make sure to wash your brushes as soon as you get home. If fragrance does happen to get on your brushes (or other application tools), a thorough clean can help prevent the allergen from spreading and causing more damage later down the road.

DISCLAIMER

I am not a doctor or a health expert. The products I highlight as fragrance-free are products that work for me – meaning they have not irritated my skin or caused me to have an allergic reaction. My fragrance allergy may be different from yours, and these products may or may not work for you. Please make sure to consult a dermatologist.

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Images by: Erica Dawn