When makeup becomes a problem
An allergy to cosmetics does not mean giving up beautiful makeup. If your eyes are allergic to makeup, you know the feeling well: you put on mascara in the morning, and by lunchtime your eyelids are red, itchy and watering.
Many women who are allergic to cosmetics stop wearing makeup altogether. An allergy to mascara, eyeshadow, eye pencil or lipstick takes away the groomed look they are used to.
The good news: there is a way to look good every day without daily makeup. It is semi-permanent makeup for the eyes, lips and brows.
Eye makeup allergy: symptoms and causes
The skin of the eyelids is the thinnest on the face, which is why allergies show up most often around the eyes. The usual signs are:
- red, swollen eyelids;
- itching and stinging;
- watering eyes and a gritty feeling;
- flaking, dry skin around the eyes;
- on the lips, dryness, cracking and swelling (this is what a lipstick allergy looks like).
A mascara allergy is most often caused by preservatives, fragrances and waxes. An eyeshadow allergy is often linked to traces of metals in the pigments, such as nickel. An allergy to eye pencil or brow pencil comes from the same ingredients, plus the constant rubbing of the skin.
The main problem is daily contact. Makeup sits on the skin all day, then you take it off with makeup remover, and this happens every single day. For sensitive skin it is constant strain.
If the reaction is strong or keeps coming back, see a dermatologist or an allergist first: a doctor can find exactly what you are allergic to.
Semi-permanent makeup: the answer to a cosmetics allergy
Semi-permanent makeup is done once and lasts more than a year. The artist places pigment in the upper layers of the skin, and you wake up every morning with neat brows, defined eyes and fresh lips.
With a cosmetics allergy this is especially practical:
- one procedure instead of thousands of applications: no touching your eyelids every morning with mascara, eyeshadow and pencil;
- no daily makeup removal: the skin around your eyes is not rubbed or irritated;
- the result lasts more than a year: at the pool, in the heat or at the gym, your makeup does not run or smudge;
- you save time: up to 20 minutes every morning;
- you spend less on hypoallergenic cosmetics, which often do not help anyway.
Unlike a classic tattoo, semi-permanent makeup fades gradually and leaves the skin over time. After a year or so you can refresh the colour or change the shape.
Our pigments: not tattoo inks, and free of heavy metals
The pigments we use are not tattoo inks. They are made specifically for semi-permanent makeup on the face and contain no heavy metals.
Why this matters if you are allergic to cosmetics:
| Tattoo inks | Our pigments | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | tattoos on the body | the delicate skin of the face, eyelids and lips |
| Heavy metals | may contain them | contain none |
| How long it lasts | practically forever | more than a year, then fades gradually |
| Changing the shape and colour | only by laser removal | possible at a refresh |
Heavy metals and their traces are often what irritates sensitive skin. That is why, for clients whose eyes are allergic to makeup, we use only pigments made for the face.
Semi-permanent eye makeup: eyeliner and lash liner
“How to do eyeliner” is one of the most common searches on Google. The classic method goes like this:
- Draw a thin line along the lash line, from the inner corner to the outer corner.
- Mark the “wing” along an imaginary line from the lower lid towards the tail of the brow.
- Join the wing to the main line.
- Repeat symmetrically on the other eye.
It sounds simple, but a perfect eyeliner rarely comes out right first time. And if you are allergic to eye pencil or liquid liner, every attempt ends with red eyelids.
Semi-permanent eyeliner solves both problems. The artist draws the line once, symmetrically and to suit the shape of your eyes. The options:
- lash liner: the lashes look thicker and the eyes more defined, without looking made up;
- thin eyeliner: for a natural, everyday look;
- bold eyeliner with a wing: for those who love striking makeup.
With semi-permanent eye makeup you can forget about your mascara and eyeshadow allergy, and about how to get your eyeliner straight.
Semi-permanent lip makeup for a lipstick allergy
A lipstick allergy is more common than you might think: the lips dry out, crack and swell with every new product. Semi-permanent lip makeup gives you colour and a clean outline without lipstick or lip pencil.
Many people search online for how to line their lips neatly. The usual advice is to mark points on the cupid’s bow of the upper lip and in the centre of the lower lip, then join them with short strokes towards the corners of the mouth. But if the pencil irritates your skin, this method is not for you.
What semi-permanent lip makeup gives you:
- a clean, symmetrical outline without a pencil;
- a natural or intense shade, as you prefer;
- lips that look fuller without fillers;
- colour that does not come off on your cup or bleed;
- a result that lasts more than a year.
Brows: the right shape without a pencil
A brow pencil allergy leaves the face without a clear frame. The brows set the expression of the face, which is why “how to fill in your eyebrows” and “what is the right eyebrow shape” are such popular questions.
The right eyebrow shape is built on three points:
- The start of the brow: on the vertical line straight up from the side of the nose.
- The highest point (the arch): on the line from the side of the nose through the pupil.
- The end of the brow: on the line from the side of the nose through the outer corner of the eye.
Repeating this at home every morning is hard, even without an allergy. With semi-permanent eyebrow makeup the artist draws the right shape for your face and agrees it with you before the procedure begins.
Techniques to choose from:
- powder brows: brows that look softly filled in with eyeshadow;
- hair strokes: imitate real hairs;
- combo brows: hair strokes at the start and shading towards the tail.
No more wondering how to fill in your brows symmetrically, and no more putting up with a brow pencil allergy.
How the procedure works if you have an allergy
With clients who are allergic to cosmetics we work with extra care:
- Consultation. We talk about exactly what you react to and note any contraindications.
- Sensitivity test. We apply a little pigment to a hidden patch of skin and watch for a reaction.
- Sketch. We draw the eyeliner, lip outline or brow shape and agree it with you.
- Procedure. We work with sterile single-use materials and pigments free of heavy metals.
- Aftercare and touch-up. We give you aftercare instructions and invite you back for a touch-up.
Important: the procedure is not done during an allergy flare-up, conjunctivitis or skin inflammation. If you have a severe allergy, talk to your doctor first.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have semi-permanent makeup if I am allergic to cosmetics? In most cases, yes. A cosmetics allergy is usually caused by the preservatives, fragrances and waxes in makeup, while semi-permanent makeup pigments have a different composition. We always do a sensitivity test before the procedure.
How long does the result last? More than a year. After that the pigment fades gradually and the colour can be refreshed.
How are your pigments different from tattoo inks? They are not tattoo inks but pigments for semi-permanent makeup on the face. They contain no heavy metals and do not stay forever.
Does semi-permanent eye or lip makeup hurt? We use a numbing cream, so most clients feel only a light tingling.
Can I have eyeliner if I am allergic to mascara and eyeshadow? Yes. Semi-permanent eye makeup, eyeliner or lash liner, is exactly right for those allergic to mascara and eyeshadow.
Book a consultation
An allergy to cosmetics, mascara or lipstick is no reason to give up beautiful makeup. Semi-permanent makeup lasts more than a year, and our pigments are not tattoo inks and contain no heavy metals.
Semi-permanent eyeliner, semi-permanent lip makeup and brows in the right shape: done once, for a long time. Book an appointment for a consultation and sensitivity test, or contact us.