The possibilities in the world of makeup are glorious and fascinating. We as a community have been using expressions as a means of communication for a long, and makeup also aids in creating impressions and aiding expressions. Until a few years ago, makeup meant something you could apply and wash off after the course of a day or so; however, with rising medical and biological research, even this industry has grown to encompass so much more. Modern techniques and processes have completely revamped and transformed the results of yesteryears, which were sometimes quite inconsistent with options that are subtler, more natural-looking that have already become favorites with celebrities and civilians alike.
Permanent makeup, semi-permanent makeup, cosmetic tattooing, and micro-pigmentation are all names for the same thing, which is implementing pigment into the papillary layer of the dermis. While many people use these terms interchangeably, millions are still confused about the difference between Permanent and Semi Permanent Makeup – well, there is none. It is called permanent coz one can’t literally wash it off after a while, and the semi-permanency creeps in from the fact that in a few years, the effects fade off.
The frenzied excitement over cosmetic tattoos is at an all-time high across the globe. You may have caught on to the popularity of one of the most popular permanent makeup trends in the recent past, which is known as microblading – a semi-permanent tattoo technique used to create the illusion of fuller brows.
For a large part of the gone century, artists used the same tattooing techniques to create both decorative tattoos like those on forearms or calves and permanent makeup. The main issue with this was, depositing pigments deep into the skin often created harsh-looking results that faded and turned unclear or hazy over a period of time.
Over the last few decades, permanent makeup artists have been perfecting an updated approach that combines reformulated pigments with finer blades and a superficial application technique to create a more natural-looking (and temporary) result. No wonder why today’s cosmetic tattooing is usually referred to as ‘semi-permanent makeup.’
The longevity of today’s cosmetic tattoos varies, but most estimates put the duration of results anywhere between two to three years (Thus ‘semi-permanent’ is the more accurate moniker). Everyone’s body metabolizes pigment differently, and, since the ink is placed very close to the skin’s surface, it also sloughs away in time. As a result, routine touch-ups are required. These procedures take a couple of hours but give lasting results and are thus favored by a large clientele.
The most in-demand procedures include microblading (for fuller eyebrows), permanent eyeliner, permanent tightline, and permanent lip tinting (aka permanent lipstick or lip blushing). In addition to making one look good, these techniques are also touted as major time savers in today’s busy worlds where one needs to be constantly presentable. Most of these techniques are also dermatologically approved.