Well, I have been thinking about doing this for over two years and last week I finally took the plunge......

I had my eyes and brows done with permanent makeup and now that it is all healed up, I can honestly say that I absolutely LOVE it!!!!

I had the eyes done in a very subtle "smudged" effect, with a barely perceptible line on the bottom and a "smoked out" brown line (custom mixed with a wee bit of mossy green to soften the color) on the top that is slightly thicker toward the outer corner and tapers in to a very thin line toward the inner corner. (Me being me, I'm sure I drove the poor makeup artist crazy with my micromanaging of this whole thing, right down to the mixing of the colors :crying:, but she was just lovely, and very patient with me and gave me exactly what I wanted.)

I had the brows done in a reddish-brown (but not too red) color that coordinates with my hair color, but also gives me some leeway if I ever want to change. The makeup artist did a great job and I now have that beautiful, perfect eyebrow arch that I have always wanted, but could never quite achieve with my own natural (thin and scraggly) brow hair.

What I'm absolutely loving about this whole thing is that I can now walk out of the house on a moments notice while no longer having to worry about frightening small children and animals, but yet still have the option to do my makeup when I want to.

It was interesting that I went in wanting my lips and eyes done and the makeup artist told me to skip the lips (she said my lips still had decent natural color and that she didn't see me as one who would want to go without lipstick anyhow) and to do the eyes and brows. I'm really glad I took her advice about this.

Has anyone else had this done?

Hi Tomato girl or is it Frangipani, I am not sure which is you as I am sooooo new to this site and chatting..I do so appreciate your reply and all the info....I LOVE the Virgin Islands..I have been to St. Thomas and St. John, BEAUTIFUL!!!!! You are blessed to live there...I love the ocean so much..Can you believe I went there and refused to get in a swim suit because of my weight...I just sat on the beautiful beach and cried because I love to swim and wanted so bad to snorkle...I will always regret that decision because of my weight......What is a myomectomy if I can ask? I used to work in surgery years ago and that is one procedure I am not familiar with.....You sound like you have the whole by its tail now looking wonderful and feeling great...May I ask your age? I am an old gal of 56 and I am still wondering if I have lost my window of opportunity or if there is any hope still left for me.....God Bless...Chatty Kathi

I had my eyeliner "done" about 5 years ago. I LOVE IT! I live in the mtns near the central valley of CA and it gets hot here. I hated not going out w/out eyeliner but it'd always end up smudging. I did learn to put it on BEFORE foundation tho and that helped but now they're permanent and it's wonderful. This summer I actually haven't really worn any make-up at all. Foundation once in awhile if it's not too hot, just to even out my skin-tone. But I don't think I've worn any mascara at all this summer. I don't have issues with my brows so I didn't have those done.

There really wasn't any pain, she used a numbing cream on them, it tickled more than anything. Same as when I got my butterfly tattoo on my left ankle! That day and the next AM I just used ice on my eyes for the swelling. Same with the follow-up appointment.

Hey Lulu,

LOL :biggrin:! I figured while I was going through this incredibly vain and self-indulgent period of my life, I might as well get it all done at once!

Re pics: I'm waiting for my photographer (DH) to take several pics for me (including updated PS pics). He's slow, but he's free, and as they say, you get what you pay for........

Hi Chattykathi,

It's Frangipani, and thanks for the nice comments! Yes, it is a very nice place to live for sure, and it is beautiful, but it is still an island and as such, lacking in some amenities -- so most people find after living here for a while that they need to go "off island" on a fairly regular basis to acheive the right balance in their lives.

I have missed out on many opportunities to have fun in the islands because of my weight. Many times when I was fat, I'd be invited to go boating to this island or that and I would always come up with some sort of an excuse not to go because I refused to wear a bathing suit (or any type of skin-baring clothing, including shorts) in public.

So yes, I can totally relate to what you're saying, and it's just sad to waste our lives being fat and hating our bodies -- which is why I believe so strongly in WLS now.

As far as you being 56, I would say that you still have a huge window of opportunity!!!! Go for it girl, and get out there and start having some fun :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:!!!

Hey Heartfire,

Great to hear you've had good long-term experience with the permanent makeup! Have you had to have it touched up? My MUA told me that the eyeliner only lasts about 2-3 years before needing a touch up. Has that been your experience?

BTW Laura Mercier makes an incredible mineral make-up that works very well as a foundation in hot, sweaty climes like ours. I love it because it is so finely milled and because her colors are so true and flattering.

Edited August 13, 200817 yr by Frangipani

Re pics: I'm waiting for my photographer (DH) to take several pics for me (including updated PS pics). He's slow, but he's free, and as they say, you get what you pay for........

Pardon my ignorance, but what does DH mean? I've seen it in several posts and it sounds like it refers to a person. Pray tell!

OMG Vegas Girl, I just noticed that you are being banded tomorrow!!! Good luck with your surgery!!!! My surgery went beautifully last year. Easiest surgery I've ever had and I was out shopping at the mall the very next day.

Regarding abbreviations,

Here's a link that gives a list of just about every abbreviation you might encounter on this board.

Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum - FAQ: Lap-band Abbreviations

I would love to have the permanent make-up. Now, if I could just figure out a way to wake up and have my hair already done, life would be awesome. I could sleep until five minutes before I have to leave for work!

OMG Vegas Girl, I just noticed that you are being banded tomorrow!!! Good luck with your surgery!!!! My surgery went beautifully last year. Easiest surgery I've ever had and I was out shopping at the mall the very next day.

Regarding abbreviations,

Here's a link that gives a list of just about every abbreviation you might encounter on this board.

Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum - FAQ: Lap-band Abbreviations

Frangi, thanks! I'm going to go check it out. Thanks for the well wishes. I feel like I'm going on a really spectacular trip and I have to wake up early to catch the plane. LOL!

Hey Heartfire,

Great to hear you've had good long-term experience with the permanent makeup! Have you had to have it touched up? My MUA told me that the eyeliner only lasts about 2-3 years before needing a touch up. Has that been your experience?

BTW Laura Mercier makes an incredible mineral make-up that works very well as a foundation in hot, sweaty climes like ours. I love it because it is so finely milled and because her colors are so true and flattering.

I haven't needed a touch up that I've noticed. I think it depends on the color. I have a dark blue since I have blue eyes. I've almost always worn dark blue eyeliner so that's what I went with. My artist said that if I wanted to, she could go over it later with a dark brown or black and cover it up. I haven't felt the need. I would think if you had a darker color, then you would need touch ups more often. Also, with my color, IF I wanted too, I could add something to it if I wanted more drama. I don't have need of more drama though so it's never been an issue.

Thanks for the make up tip. I'll have to check it out. I do have the problem of redness on my cheeks, nose and somewhat on the forehead. I think I have Rosacea but I've never been diagnosed. I need to get to a dermatologist to find out for sure. Does she have a yellow tint that would cover some of that up, or even it out? I'll google her and see what I come up with!

Best wishes on your surgery tomorrow, Vegasgirl!!

I would love to do this, but I am too afraid of being locked into makeup. How do you ladies freshen the look up?

Hi BBK,

If you just keep the permanent makeup light and neutral (for redheads like us, soft browns work nicely) you can layer on your regular makeup anytime, and exactly how you want.

My eyes are done with a very light touch, the line on the bottom is barely perceptible, but just enough to give a little definition. The line on the top is mostly concentrated between the lashes, but just a little smoked out toward the outer edges because I wanted to give a slight almond shape to my eyes.

The look I have is perfectly for daytime sunlight, but for office, or evening looks I would definitely want to do a heavier liner, and shadows, and.............well don't get me started because I must confess that I'm a bit of a makeup junkie :biggrin:

I would love to have the permanent make-up. Now, if I could just figure out a way to wake up and have my hair already done, life would be awesome. I could sleep until five minutes before I have to leave for work!

Susan, LOL! Wouldn't that be awesome???? Second best would be to have your own personal hairdresser to perfectly style your hair every day.

any issues with getting the brow waxed after permanent coloring?

my brows grow everywhere but where they should and i wax them monthly - would this be of any interferrance?

Hey LuLu,

The MUA (make up artist) told me that she doesn't wax anymore and doubts that I'll need to either. Because the brow is so clearly defined it takes the guesswork out of which hairs to keep and which to remove, and a little maintenance plucking is all that's needed.. However, if you still wanted to wax I would see no problem with doing so, I actually think it would make that job a lot easier as well.

I'm so intrigued by this because I like to look like I've made an effort but I really loathe a full face of makeup.

Its that sunlight look. You can put your makeup on and it looks OK inside and then you see it in sunlight and its just so obvious and layered on thick and it looks truly awful. I much prefer bare faces, only my bare face needs some help.

My main problem though is that I have dark undereye circles and slight redness around the nose and chin. So I definitely need light foundation. And that's what tends to look ugly out in the daylight, although mineral stuff is good.

So if you wear a light foundation, does that "cover up" the eyeliner so that you need to go over it with a pencil anyway?

Lol Susan, I've actually dreamed of losing all my hair and having an excuse to just wear a wig everyday. My hair is the biggest pain in the bum you could imagine. My latest is to have a shower and do it at night , then sleep on it to squash the frizz out so I dont have to bother in the morning.

Edited August 15, 200817 yr by Jachut

I'm so intrigued by this because I like to look like I've made an effort but I really loathe a full face of makeup.

Its that sunlight look. You can put your makeup on and it looks OK inside and then you see it in sunlight and its just so obvious and layered on thick and it looks truly awful. I much prefer bare faces, only my bare face needs some help.

My main problem though is that I have dark undereye circles and slight redness around the nose and chin. So I definitely need light foundation. And that's what tends to look ugly out in the daylight, although mineral stuff is good.

So if you wear a light foundation, does that "cover up" the eyeliner so that you need to go over it with a pencil anyway?

Lol Susan, I've actually dreamed of losing all my hair and having an excuse to just wear a wig everyday. My hair is the biggest pain in the bum you could imagine. My latest is to have a shower and do it at night , then sleep on it to squash the frizz out so I dont have to bother in the morning.

Hey Jacqui,

What you need for the redness around the nose and mouth and the darkness under the eye is a good concealer, so let me introduce you to your new best friend -- Pro Lumière Correcteur Professional Finish Concealer, by Chanel. Awesome stuff!!! I carry it with me at all times.

I assume this product is available in your part of the world, but I know that cosmetic companies often vary their product selection from country to country. So if you can't find that, try Touche Éclat' Radiant Touch, by Yves St. Laurent (actually my long-standing favorite until I discovered the Chanel).

Both are great and very light and natural looking, and both will last you a long time as a little goes a long way. If you want to set the undereye concealer (a must in my climate), try Secret Brightening powder, by Laura Mercier.

Then a light dusting of a quality mineral makeup on top. I swear by Laura Mercier's mineral makeup. Some of the others, like Bare Escentuals, are not milled finely enough, so the look is rather fake and heavy. I also do not like the orangey undertones tones of that product line.

None of these products should interfere with permanent eyeliner as you would not really be applying them in the same area as the liner.