Permanently Beautiful

Although permanent makeup, otherwise known as permanent cosmetics or cosmetic tattooing, has been around for decades, many men and women are still unaware of many of its benefits. If you’re wondering about this beauty enhancement procedure, but have some questions, start by checking out these five facts you might not know about permanent makeup.

 When you receive permanent makeup application, there is literally no “down time.” As soon as your procedure is completely, you’re ready to show off the “new you!”

 Permanent makeup can actually allow you to visually change the shape of your lips or eyebrows. Not all lips or brows are naturally symmetrical or shaped perfectly, so permanent makeup can be quite an enhancement.

 Not all permanent makeup artists are created equal! This is important to remember. Be sure to consult with a CPCP, DAAM, like Melany Whitney who has years of proven success in artistry.

 Permanent cosmetic procedures are some of the most, if not the most, cost effective and valuable beauty enhancing treatments today.

 Qualified and skillful makeup artists now provide paramedical procedures such as nipple areola restoration.

If you have any other questions about permanent cosmetics or which procedures are right for you, contact New York, New Jersey, and Florida based permanent makeup industry authority Melany Whitney.

The New York Times recently released a fascinating article on what our face says about us at 50. In light of President Obama’s recent 50th birthday, Times reporter Denise Grady examined the president’s facial features, such as the bags under his eyes, gray hair, firm chin and neck, the lines around his mouth and more. According to facial feature experts, Obama’s big ears revealed that he listens well to the country and his gleaming eyes reveal that he is a visionary.

“People make instant judgments about one another’s age, health, mood, personality and character based on facial features, and yet we often judge unconsciously, not fully aware of the cues we’re reading,” Grady writes. A Tufts University study even revealed that onlookers were likely to unknowingly view Republicans facial features as “powerful” and those of democrats as “warm.”

Even though we don’t want to others to know that we are tired or aging, we may be unable to hide it. These findings are more than interesting food for thought. They remind us that when we want to look our best, that we certainly have good reason. Whether we like it or not, people often judge us based on first impressions, and having facial features that portray qualities like youth and intelligence help us to make a good one.

Brighter, more open looking eyes, as well as plump, color rich lips signal that we are youthful, alert, and capable. Fortunately, permanent eyeliner and permanent lip liner create the illusion of these traits.

What’s hot in lip makeup for Fall 2011? Colleen Egan of Allure Magazine recently reported on the 12 sexiest new Fall makeup trends. Defined lips are a big part of getting the season’s most updated look. Fall’s shorter and dimmer days make it the perfect season for brightening things up with bold lip color.

Wine red lips are hot for fall. Don’t be afraid of this fun trend. There is a shade of red that works well for everyone. Find your perfect shade, and you can pull it off and look great! Allure suggests that dark burgundy lips to make a deep impact. In order to get the look, keep the rest of makeup simple. This season, fashionistas will even be spicing up their lips with a touch of gloss. Just be careful not to over apply! A little dab will do over top of bold color!

Not feeling like you’ll be brave enough for bold lips this Fall? Another Fall 2011 makeup trend is one that is perfect for day time, the workplace and anytime. Allure reminds us that “basics don’t have to be boring.” Use a peach toned lipstick to get an understated neutral look that is still very Fall appropriate.

If your lips lack definition or are more defined than you would like, there is a solution for you, thanks to the innovations of permanent cosmetics. Consulting with artist Melany Whitney in New Jersey, New York, or Florida is easy and a great way to find your perfect lip color and shape.

The possibility of infection begins the minute you open a new tube of mascara or unscrew the lid on a new pot of creme eye shadow. Every time you touch the point of an eyeliner pencil or glide a wand of lip gloss across your lips you are collecting and spreading potentially harmful bacteria. Makeup applicators and the makeup itself are prime breeding grounds for harmful Staphylococcus bacteria, dermatologists warn.

Makeup contamination begins from the moment you open the package of a new cosmetic. The more often you use and the longer you keep a makeup product, the greater your risk of developing a serious bacterial or fungal infection on your skin or in your eye. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received 169 reports of serious cosmetic-linked infections last year, but noted that the majority of infections attributed to cosmetics are never reported.

Contaminated makeup can cause irritation of the skin or trigger an allergic reaction. However, the most dangerous and most frequent health risk occurs when bacteria enter the eye where they can cause itching, highly contagious conjunctivitis, painful styes and, if left untreated, vision damage.

Dermatologists say creme and liquid cosmetics present the greatest risk and recommend replacing powdered makeup products every 12 to 18 months and creme or liquid cosmetics, as well as all eye makeup, every 3 months. That can be expensive if you wear quality cosmetics that often sell for $30 to $50 or more per item. The safe, cost-effective solution is permanent cosmetics.

The desire to improve their appearance is what leads most women to choose permanent makeup. Imperfections, scarring, convenience and aging are the four primary reasons women choose to undergo permanent makeup procedures. Watch the video and hear two women tell their stories. 

Imperfections. Nature is an imperfect creator. Most of us have a small facial flaw that eats away at our self-confidence. We may feel that our eyebrows are too sparse or our lips too thin. We may have been over-zealous tweezers and long for the full, beautifully-shaped brows of our youth. Permanent makeup can fill in and arch sparse brows. It can make thin lips appear fuller and make overly full lips more proportional. In the hands of a skilled permanent makeup artist, permanent cosmetics can perfect what nature created.

Scarring. Expertly matching cosmetic pigments to natural skin coloring, an expert permanent makeup artist can camouflage facial scars and make them disappear. Unlike makeup, permanent cosmetics will not wear off or wash off. Your scar will remain hidden.

Age. As we age, our skin becomes sallow and the youthful pink of our lips fades. Permanent makeup can restore youthful color to lips and cheeks and add definition to the eyes. And when arthritis or failing eyesight makes it difficult to apply makeup, permanent makeup is always perfectly applied.

Convenience. When you wear permanent makeup, you gain the time you spend putting on makeup, touching it up and taking it off. Cleanse, moisturize and you’re out the door, looking beautiful 24/7.

With the arrival of the spring wedding season, it’s time to pack away the heavy velvets and brocades and float down the aisle in organza and white lace.  To make sure your skin looks dewy fresh and your makeup is perfect on your big day, try these handy skin care and makeup tips:

• To prevent breakouts on your cheek and chin before your wedding, give your cell phone a swipe each morning with an anti-bacterial wipe.
• Wet a nubby washcloth with lotion to exfoliate gently while moisturizing.
• Don’t take any last-minute chances with your complexion. Skip the spa facial peel; it could leave your skin red and blotchy. Instead, make an at-home mask by mixing 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon of raw oatmeal. Apply and let set, then rinse off with warm water.
• Tweeze your eyebrows after showering while your pores are still open. It will be less painful and is less likely to leave red marks.
• Choose a pink lipstick that is the color of your gums.
• For golden legs, mix self-tanner with a dab of body lotion before applying to legs.
• Correct makeup flaws by scheduling an appointment with your permanent cosmetics artist today.

Do you want to know the secret to looking gorgeous when your new hubby kisses you asleep and when he kisses you awake? Permanent makeup. Brides in the know are turning to permanent makeup to make sure they look beautiful for their new man 24/7.

Every bride looks gorgeous on her wedding night; it’s the next morning that can be a challenge. On the  first morning of your life together, do you really want to watch the illusion die as you turn to your new husband with smudged mascara and lips that are deathly pale?  Of course you don’t. You want to turn your perfectly-lined baby blues on your man, pucker up your lush, red lips invitingly and have your way with him!

A specialized type of  cosmetic tattooing, permanent makeup involves the tattooing of medical-grade pigments into the dermal layers of the skin. Women who wear permanent makeup don’t have to get up early to “put on their face” or carry around a bag of makeup for periodic touch-ups during the day. A quick wash, a dab of moisturizer and sunscreen and you’re ready to go, looking fabulous all day — and all night!

If you’re going to be a spring or summer bride, schedule your permanent cosmetics treatments today.

Hair loss isn’t something that happens only to men. While female hair loss doesn’t usually reach the “bullet head” stage, many women do experience varying degrees of hair loss as they age. You may have noticed women in their golden years whose hair is so thin that their scalp can be clearly seen through the wispy stands. Some women even develop a circular bald spot at their crown.

Called Androgenetic Alopecia, clinical pattern baldness can happen to men, women and even children. When they’re pregnant, quite a few women suffer thinning hair caused by hormonal changes. In many cases the hair regains its pre-pregnancy thickness but in some cases the hair loss is permanent.

Thinning hair and bald spots can be especially distressing to women because it is unexpected and unaccepted by society. Men may loathe losing their hair, but at least hair loss is anticipated as a normal part of male aging. That is not the case for women which makes the thinning of their hair that much more devastating. Women may feel tremendously embarrassed by their loss of hair, even freak-like.

Fortunately, there is a solution. Paramedical tattooing, the clinical application of permanent makeup, can give the appearance of hair where hair has been lost, making it look as if you have a full head of hair. By injecting medical-grade pigment into the dermal layers of the skin, a permanent makeup artist can create the illusion of individual hairs on the scalp, effectively camouflaging female hair loss.

Have you ever added up what you spend on cosmetics in a year? At $20 to $50 dollars per item, the amount of money the average woman spends on high-quality brand name and celebrity cosmetics annually can be staggering, particularly when you consider that you’re only getting a few ounces of product every time you hand over your credit card.

Unfortunately, a cosmetics purchase is not a one-time expense. You, naturally, expect to periodically replenish favorite products as you use them up; but for health reasons, many cosmetics will have to be replaced several times a year, even if they’ve barely been used. Eyeliners and mascaras, in particular, can be breeding grounds for bacteria and should be replaced every 3 months to prevent harmful eye infections.

Tired of shelling out hundreds of dollars a year for cosmetics, a growing number of women are choosing permanent makeup. A specialized form of cosmetic tattooing, permanent makeup won’t run, smear or come off on your clothing. No more getting up early to put your face on. No more quick touch-ups before you meet an important client or go out to dinner. No more bland, blank face when you wake up in the morning. With permanent makeup your face looks expertly made up 24/7 and you never have to lift a finger!

Age is called the great equalizer. The natural aging of our face and body is something we all struggle with. Some people embrace their wrinkles; others banish them with Botox or cosmetic surgery. But the search for beauty as we approach and move past middle age need not be so polarized. Permanent makeup offers some attractive choices for people at both ends of the aging/beauty argument.

You don’t have to let those first gray hairs and tiny wrinkles brand you as “old.” There are a few permanent makeup tricks you can use to fool Mother Nature. To create a more youthful appearance, focus on improving skin condition, eyes, eyebrows and cheeks.

• Skin condition. Light, airy moisturizers were wonderful when you were young, but skin becomes drier as we age. Switch to a heavier, creamy moisturizer with more plumping power.
• Eyes. Expertly-applied permanent eyeliner adds crisp definition and youthful sparkle to your eyes. 
• Eyebrows. Thick, dark, luxurious eyebrows are a sign of youth. Permanent eyebrows can restore rich color to age-faded brows and fill in thinning brows, giving you a more youthful appearance.
• Cheeks. When we’re young, our cheeks are naturally rosy. A subtle blush of permanent makeup across your cheekbones restores the rosy look of youth.