Anthea Page, an Australian model, knows her photo and her intended message may be received in the wrong manner, so she begins her caption with a disclaimer: "I'm not going to sit here pretending I don't like modelling or isn't awesome because it really is and I do almost always have fun on jobs. Models have it good most of the time, especially in Australia..."
Unfortunately, Page breaks the spell by then addressing the fairly terrible experience she had while working a fashion show for the past four days. Although she works with professionals, models and makeup artists alike, Page wrote that she observed "qualified artists" practicing "unhygienic" habits with their makeup palettes, brushes, and other tools.
When Page noticed this, she "confronted" the artist and tried to express her concerns for her own health and safety and, of course, the health and safety of other models who were also working the show.
Unfortunately, Page felt like her concerns were "dismissed as if it was part of [her] job to put up with these unhealthy conditions."
Page's instinct about the makeup brushes and safe practices had been spot on. Just a few days later, she developed an infection in her left eye.
A later update to this photo reveals that Page had actually contracted a staff infection and was now on medication prescribed by her doctor.
Although washing makeup brushes and following all the proper safety practices can be annoying and time consuming, it's better to risk your skin and eye health. Page ensures that she drives this point home to all her fans.
"If you are getting your makeup done or using any testers, check everything has been cleaned to your standard even if someone scoffs at your concerns," she wrote. Even if you're the only one using your makeup brushes, they can still collect germs and cause infections or just clog your pores. For best practice, you should be cleaning your brushes every two weeks.
The incident that prompted Page to post this photo wasn't, unfortunately, the first time she'd gotten an infection after a modeling gig.
And, she suspects, it surely won't be the last.
