Mala McAlpin Semi-permanent makeup solutions are no longer limited to brows, lips and eyeliner – under-eye concealer cosmetic tattoo is now beginning to take over.
The procedure is designed to simultaneously deposit pigment just below the surface of the skin, as well as stimulate natural skin rejuvenating functions to improve the under-eye area, in a similar way to micro needling.
Holly Starcevich, cosmetic tattoo artists from Hoshi Studio in Texas, explains “It stimulates collagen and improves the quality of the skin,” in addition to smoothing out fine lines, plumping out hollows and acting as a barrier between blood vessels and the surface of the skin; thereby dissipating dark circles. Two sessions are recommended for the best results, which are said to last around 2-3 years.
The process and aftercare is very similar to brow microblading – topical anaesthetic is applied and pigment dispersed throughout the area with ultra fine needles. Sunscreen and post-procedure protective ointment (like Bepanthen) is recommended and makeup should be avoided for 3 days following treatment.
Some clinics, like AK Lounge in the US use pigment that has been carefully matched to that of each client’s skin tone. Others such as Princess Brows (Hong Kong based) use a white pigment to brighten the area. It’s arguable which is the more effective method, since the treatment is still relatively uncommon and artists are developing their own unique techniques. In addition, the treatment is not designed to completely camouflage dark circles, simply to reduce their appearance.
Another artist currently receiving a lot of attention for his work, particularly on social media, is Brazilian tattoo artist Rodolpho Torres, who specialises in his uniquely developed camouflaging technique to mask under-eye circles as well as scars and stretch marks.
Torres uses a small handheld device to detect each client’s unique skin tone, to ensure that each custom blend of ink matches perfectly. Unlike microblading, however, Torres’s treatments are permanent.
“It’s not micro pigmentation, it’s a tattoo,” he explains. “You can live a normal life and expose it to sunlight knowing that your skin will not become stained, because the tattoo pigments approved by Anvisa give us this security.”
These types of camouflage treatments aren’t currently on offer here in Australia, but with cosmetic tattooing currently experiencing so much growth, including recent expansion of treatments like freckles and scalp micro-pigment, we’re bound to see it implemented on our shores in the near future.
