Over the last few years, permanent makeup has become increasingly popular, and something you may even have considered yourself. From getting your brows defined by having them microbladed to lining your lips and eyes to having a semipermanent tint tattooed on your lips, the options today are endless.
However, while most people are happy with the results, there are risks associated with this practice, the biggest one being that it is, as the name suggests, permanent. Thinking about going ‘under the needle’? If so, here are the pros and cons to help you make the decision that’s right for you:
PROS
1. Because this makeup is permanent, or at least semipermanent, you don’t have to apply lipliner or eyeliner, or fill in your brows, on a daily basis. Some procedures do require touchups every few years, but they do make your daily makeup routine significantly easier.
2. You don’t have to worry about your liner or brows smudging, or your application not looking right, because the right permanent shade is chosen for you when you have your permanent makeup applied.
3. Permanent makeup can also be used to conceal uneven skin tone in people who have vitiligo or to create fake nipples on women who may have lost theirs due to a mastectomy, and microblading can give a realistic illusion of eyebrows on those who may have suffered hair loss.
CONS
1. While a lot of the pain can be minimised through numbing gels, there can still be a level of discomfort when having permanent makeup applied. It is still performed using a needle, so it can scare those who have a fear of needles.
2. Because we shed skin all the time, makeup tattoos are likely to fade and require touchups from time to time to keep them looking perfect. The makeup can also look a little intense after the initial application when the ink is fresh, but if you go to a licensed professional it should look natural and flawless after about 10 days.
3. Strict aftercare is required for the first couple of weeks to ensure that you don’t become infected. Even though it’s not that common, there is still the potential for complications such as allergic reactions to the ink and bacterial skin infections, so it’s important to research the salon you have chosen and to read testimonials before taking the plunge.
While it’s sometimes easy to get caught up in beauty trends, the decision to get permanent makeup is one that should not be taken lightly. If you feel that you have weighed up the pros and cons, and done thorough research, however, this could end up being the time-saver you’ve been hoping for.
PHOTO: iStock/nikolasvn
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