Is Eyeliner Tattooing Safe?

Semi permanent eyeliner do’s and don’ts

Now that eyebrow tattooing has exploded in popularity, other areas of cosmetic tattooing are beginning to see some growth in popularity as well. In my experience the 2nd most popular form of semi-permanent makeup is eyeliner, with lip colour coming in last. And the number one question I receive from my clients about eyeliner tattooing is: ‘is eyeliner tattooing safe’?

There’s a number of risk factors that come into play when asking ‘is eyeliner tattooing safe?’ Let’s examine them one by one.

1 – tattoo needles near my eyes???

Usually the first concern clients have when asking ‘is eyeliner tattooing safe?’ is about the use of needles in such close proximity to the eyes. This one is an obvious risk and some people will just never be able to get past this one, however an experienced artist should have a steady hand and precise application is not an issue. As a client you need to remain as still as possible during the process. That means no talking at all! If you are in discomfort or need to move you should indicate this to your artist using your hands. There are certain areas near the inner and outer corners of the eye which should never be tattoo’d. These areas have delicate, thin skin and often the pigment will migrate during the healing process, resulting in pigment that is not where you want it to be.

2 – numbing cream near my eyes???

This is a legitimate concern and is not to be taken lightly. There are many cosmetic tattooists that use over-the-counter numbing creams such as Emla, ar Nummit because they are cheaper and easier to buy. These topical anaesthetics are not designed to be used on or near the eye area and never should be! They contain ingredients that are damaging to the PH levels of the eye and can cause chemical burns to occur. Instead you should be working with your artist as well as a compound chemist to specially mix topical anaesthetic for you. Compounding chemists are able to mix numbing creams that are made using gel bases that are safe for use on the eye area. They are also able to mix a stronger percentage of numbing agent so you are as comfortable as possible during the application process. At SCHB we work with Synergy Compounding Pharmacy for our clients and live models.

3 – tattoo pigment near/in my eyes??

As much care as your tattoo artist takes during the application process, you will most likely end up with some pigment making its way into your eye. While permanent makeup pigments are not toxic, it is made with tiny particles of colour which may cause irritation if left in the eye. Your tattoo artist will rinse your eyes out with eye drops, once the tattooing has been competed. If you notice any pigment is still in your eye, or if you feel discomfort like there is something in your eye, you should rinse the eye again with eyedrops until you see that the eye is clear from pigment.

4 – Risk of infection

As with any type of tattoo there is always a risk of infection. It is important that your tattoo artist uses single use needles/tips or cartridges. Following your eyeliner tattooing you should take care to follow the aftercare instructions exactly as they are given to you by your artist. Avoid eye makeup including mascara, eyeshadow, false lashes and liner until your eyes have completely healed – minimum of 10 days.

Do not use serums, scented lotions, face scrubs or eye makeup removers on the area until fully healed (10 days) and avoid retinol products.

5 – It may never fade completely

Although it is called semi-permanent makeup, 90% of the time cosmetic tattooing will never fade completely. There is a good chance that your eyeliner tattoo may never completely disappear. With this in mind it is better to choose a delicate and conservative design. It is not possible to remove eyeliner tattooing without a risk of scarring. Good eyeliner is designed to enhance your natural eye shape, and should be subtle.

Other important Information to consider before eyeliner tattooing:

Not everyone is a good candidate for eyeliner tattooing. Rather than asking ‘is eyeliner tattooing safe?’ We should be asking ‘ is eyeliner tattooing safe for me?’. Some indications that you are not a good candidate for eyeliner tattooing include:

• Vascular eyelids. Meaning that you have many visible veins on your eyelids
• Droopy eyelids (consider having this corrected with a plasma eyelid lifting treatment first)
• Glaucoma – glaucoma eye drops can cause excessive bleeding and poor colour retention.
• currently using eyelash growth serums? There has been some suggestion from PMU artists that the ingredients in lash and brow growth serums may effect the final colour of cosmetic tattoo pigments. It is recommended that you stop using growth serums on the treatment area for at least 10 weeks before having the treatment done.

So is eyeliner tattooing safe? Well that is up to the individual to decide. Any kind of cosmetic tattooing carries risks with it, and we must mitigate these risks as best we can by observing the following tips:

1 – stay calm and still during the process

2 – use only specially formulated topical anaesthetics

3 – rinse eyes thoroughly following treatment

4 – adhere to the aftercare instructions provided

5 – choose a delicate and subtle design