Coronavirus: Dior and Mac Cosmetics cancel appointments and introduce 'No Touch’ policy across UK beauty counters

New measures introduced to 'ensure health and safety' of staff and customers

Dior Beauty and Mac Cosmetics UK have introduced strict ‘No Touch’ policies across all stores and beauty counters amid the coronavirus outbreak.

On Tuesday, one Twitter user shared what they said was a screenshot of an internal email sent to all Mac Cosmetics UK employees.

The email stated that in-store makeup artists were not allowed to use their brushes or wear a brush belt and were no longer permitted to “touch or apply makeup on a customer”.

The correspondence added that all makeover appointments had been cancelled and that while customers are still allowed to use samples provided in-store, they must use disposable applicators when doing so.

“All appointments that are currently booked in have now been cancelled,” the notice read.

“You can only use disposable applicators and these must be used by the customer only – this means the customer has to use these to apply the makeup, we can only advise.”

The Independent contacted a number of Mac Cosmetics UK stores where staff members confirmed that they were unable to conduct in-store makeovers until further notice.

“The measures have been introduced to ensure health and safety, however customers are still welcome to come into store where we can assist with helping them choose the right products,” one staff member said.

“The policy was communicated to Mac Cosmetics staff and the whole of Estee Lauder Companies yesterday.”

The staff member added that a time scale on the new policy has not been communicated but that it would be “revised and looked at accordingly”.

Similarly, a spokesperson for Dior Beauty confirmed to The Independent that it has also "instigated a ‘no touch’ policy for all counter staff and cancelled all beauty events in-store".

The Independent has contacted Mac Cosmetics UK and Estee Lauder Companies for comment.

The new policy has been introduced as cases of Covid-19 continue to rise.

Earlier this week, UK Chief Medical Officers raised the risk to the public from low to moderate and suggested that in the coming weeks Britons with cold, flu or fever symptoms could be asked to stay at home in self-isolation.

NHS in England has also confirmed it is “ramping up” testing facilities so that 10,000 coronavirus tests can be performed each day.

According to the latest figures, 382 people are now confirmed to have Covid-19 in the UK – up from 319 on Monday.

Since the publication of this article, Dior has amended its policy to "touch on request".