Comes back to proper profiling. Where profiling is done properly such as for El Al, the profiler is highly trained and can make a decision within a few seconds as to whether the person being profiled needs further attention and/or searches.
Unfortunately, here in the UK the DfT have gone down the route of blanket scanning. There is no way any of the minimum wage security screeners that are employed could profile anyone. Can you imagine the "Errrm... lipstick = OK. Ummm... lip salve not look like lipstick. Urrr... lip salve look like gel. Ummm... compute... compute... compute... No gel so no lip salve. Duh!".
The argument about a sterile airside is the biggest joke amongst aircrew and any staff that work at an airport. The investment in low cost security screeners and x-ray machines is a joke and designed purely for cosmetic purposes. Those who don't work at airports see big security queues and like lambs to the slaughter think 'must be working hard those security people and so we must be safe'.