Permanent make-up is making a comeback. Whether it's microblading, candylips or repigmentation, here's a closer look at these near-natural methods for near-perfect beauty.

When we think of permanent make-up, we think of the bluish, arched eyebrow tattoos that defined the eyebrows of the 80s. We also think of the famous lip contours that were pressed and a little coarse... Long fallen into disuse (we understand why), permanent make-up (also called semi-permanent because it doesn't last forever) is getting a makeover, and we're surprised to say so, much to our delight!

Brought back into fashion by celebrities, influencers and other trendy beautystas, permanent make-up can be used to achieve a clean eyebrow line, awakened eyes, fuller lips (without injections), or to correct certain skin depigmentation (e.g. vitiligo), but also to sort out your collection of make-up products!

What exactly is permanent make-up?

In layman's terms, permanent make-up is a kind of tattoo. Indeed, its principle is the same as that sometimes controversial precision art. It involves inserting organic (insoluble) pigments under the first layers of the epidermis, using surgical and sterilized needles, to achieve a long-lasting make-up effect, but always in a subtle, almost natural way!

Who can undergo permanent make-up?

Expert dermatologists and aesthetic professionals can take care of it without any problems. Before any operation, however, it's best to check customer reviews and the practitioner's reputation, to avoid unpleasant surprises. Permanent make-up is considered to be a surgical procedure, and must be carried out by true professionals who are concerned about hygiene and good practice. Once the make-up has been applied, it cannot be removed! So think twice before taking the plunge, or be patient (for up to 3 years) before seeing it completely removed.

Good maintenance tips?

To ensure that your permanent make-up lasts as long as possible, it's important to take good care of your skin. Moisturizing is a key step in promoting healing. Another important point is to avoid long exposure to the sun, so that the pigments last as long as possible. Some permanent make-up can last up to three years before the next touch-up!

Permanent eyebrow makeup for lifted, glamorous eyes

The best-known and most widely used permanent make-up is probably eyebrow make-up. There are several techniques to suit every desire and need.

The hair-by-hair technique (microblading)

Pour un regard structuré et surtout combler des sourcils clairsemés, rien de mieux que la technique du poil à poil, autrement appelée le microblading ! Comment ça marche ? À l'aide d'un petit scalpel composé d'un embout à 14 microlames imbibé de pigments, la praticienne ou le dermatologue va venir dessiner chaque poil manquant pour combler la ligne ou la redessiner. L'opération dure environs 1h et elle peut faire plus ou moins mal selon la sensibilité de chacun. Après la première pose, il est demandé de revenir faire une retouche environs 4 à 6 semaines plus tard.

Powdered effect (dermopigmentation) or ombré fashion

Ombrage is the permanent eyebrow make-up technique that's all the rage these days. Its powdery effect gives the impression of blush or powder make-up (as the name suggests). This technique is slightly different from microblading, in that the hair is not drawn in, but the pigment is inserted under the first layer of skin using an electric needle that pricks the skin back and forth (like a sewing machine) to deposit a layer of material. This technique is ideal for marking and restoring volume to the brow bone. Dermopigmentation is said to be less painful than microblading, but once again, it's a matter of personal preference.

Good advice? After applying those fresh, new eyebrows, disinfectant and Vaseline are essential to help healing and prevent infection. 48 hours after the modification, you can resume your normal daily routine, including the application of your creams and serums - even your special eyebrow serum! 

Semi-permanent lip make-up: to avoid or to try?

Gone are the marked, vulgar lip contours; in 2021, permanent lip make-up is delicate, glamorous, almost natural. The aim? To give lips a plumped-up effect without having to resort to injections. Permanent make-up can also be used to give more or less light color to lips lacking in pigmentation. Candy Lips, a permanent lip make-up technique, has been in vogue for some time now. This technique applies pigments to the surface layer of the skin to give it color. It's also possible toslightly enlarge the volume of the lips by applying a light pigment contour.

The right advice? Bear in mind that this is a surgical procedure. Lip tattooing can be even more painful than eyebrow tattooing, as the skin layer is very thin and the area rather sensitive (there's no anaesthetic!). Post-operative conditions must be scrupulously respected to avoid infection. For even greater beauty after this mini operation, remember to take care of your lips with a plumping, mega-moisturizing lip balm! 

Permanent make-up to repigment areas of the skin

Permanent make-up isn't just for eyebrows or lips! It can also be used to correct certain skin imperfections. It can even be considered as a medical aid in the case of certain diseases such as vitiligo. Permanent make-up will pigment the areas of skin suffering from this depigmentation, in order to restore a uniform appearance to the epidermis. In other cases, after breast cancer for example, permanent tattooing may be considered to redesign the nipples of the breast. In addition to its aesthetic benefits, permanent make-up can also provide considerable moral support!

On a more fashionable note, permanent make-up is also increasingly used to create fake freckles. The method is delicate and must be carried out by a true professional, otherwise you could end up with a real disaster. It would be a shame to end up with unsightly spots right in the middle of your face.