The RBL Guide To Permanent Makeup In 2021
Would you permanently tattoo makeup on your face? It might sound a little crazy, but permanent makeup these days is nothing like it used to be. Gone are the days of pencil-thin eyebrows and dark lip liner—permanent makeup in 2021 is much more subtle and natural.
In a nutshell, permanent makeup involves cosmetic tattooing onto areas of your face, such as your eyebrows or lips. It uses a colored micropigmentation that mimics the look of makeup, letting you wake up each day with a gorgeous, already made-up face—that’s actually pretty cool. However, if you're a bit of a commitment-phobe, it’s probably not for you.
To find out more about this popular trend, read on for our RBL guide to permanent makeup in 2021.
Why is permanent makeup popular?
Many babes love permanent makeup because it’s damn useful at saving you time. How cool would it be to avoid having to apply makeup each morning? Or, if makeup application is something you find tricky (many of us can relate!), then you don’t need to worry about smudged lines on your wing-tip eyeliner or lips.
Also, your makeup artist will work with you to find the ideal shades for your skin tone. As long as you work with an experienced pro, this means your makeup will be flattering and just perfect for your look.
Although it’s an investment, it will last for years, so once it’s applied, you’ll save on makeup costs.
Image by Polina Kovaleva on Pexels: Permanent makeup can be super subtle—your bestie might not even notice you’ve had it done!
Is permanent makeup safe?
If you’re hesitant about putting tattoos anywhere near your face, that’s pretty sensible. However, permanent makeup is safe, as long as you find the right cosmetic beautician to work with.
They should outline all of the risks before you get started—although small, there’s always a chance of infection, scarring, or bleeding with any type of tattooing. Also, if you have allergies to any of the materials used for the tattoo, then it’s best to avoid them altogether.
Another big risk is regret. We probably don’t need to say this, but never get a tattoo of any type unless you’re 110% sure it’s what you want! Permanent makeup removal is hella painful and expensive, so you don’t want to have to go down that road.
How long does permanent makeup last? Okay, so the “permanent” part is a bit misleading, but most treatments last about 3–5 years. Your body naturally sheds skin cells, which causes the tattoo to fade, so you’ll probably want some touch-ups every few years.
Is permanent makeup painful?
Surprisingly, permanent makeup application isn’t as painful as you might think. A numbing cream is applied to the skin beforehand, which dulls much of the pain. However, don’t expect it to be totally pain-free—there’s still going to be some discomfort, especially when tattooing around the eyes and lips, as they are pretty sensitive areas of the body!
After the procedure, the area tattooed might feel a bit tender and swollen for a few days before it settles. Your technician will give you aftercare instructions, so you know exactly what to do when you get home.
Also, if you have a fear of needles, you’re probably going to get freaked out by the idea of permanent makeup. You might want to stick with some of these amazing beauty brands instead!
Image by Godisable Jacob via Pexels: Is the permanent makeup trend something you’d try?
I’m interested! What kind of permanent makeup can you get?
If permanent makeup sounds right up your alley, below are a few of the most common areas where it’s used. In addition, you can use pigmentation to enhance or change your look in other ways—some babes even use it to tattoo freckles or moles!
1. Microblading
If you weren’t blessed with full, arched eyebrows, you might want to think about microblading. It’s one of the most popular cosmetic tattoo options and is used to enhance the look of your eyebrows.
For eyebrows that aren’t very full or shapely, microblading allows the tattoo artist to draw on eyebrows in a hyper-realistic way. It’s scratched onto the skin in fine strokes, so it resembles hair.
If done well, it looks exactly like a real eyebrow—plus, it saves you the trouble of having to draw them on each morning!
2. Lip tinting
Lip tinting and blushing are popular ways to enhance your lips. Want to have a natural, rosy glow to your lips all the time? If so, a permanent tattoo artist can add a subtle bit of color to your lips, which can also help them look fuller.
New technologies and color choices mean this method can look extremely subtle and natural, but be sure you and your tattoo artist are on the same wavelength before getting started!
Of course, you can also use cosmetic tattooing for more dramatic results on your lips, such as darker hues or permanent lip liner. Just keep in mind many womxn report that cosmetic tattooing on the lips tends to be one of the more painful areas.
3. Eyeliner
Another popular permanent makeup option is eyeliner, or tightliner. Applying eyeliner is no easy feat, so many babes love having it applied permanently, creating that gorgeous doe-eyed look.
The catch: you need to be okay with having someone hold a needle very close to your eye.
If you’re keen to try out permanent makeup, do plenty of research and find a local beautician who specializes in the procedure you want. Be sure to see examples of their work and read online reviews from previous customers, making sure they gel with your aesthetic.
And remember, if going permanent isn’t for you, there are plenty of fun ways to enjoy makeup on a less permanent basis!
