What is Permanent Makeup?

Permanent makeup is a form of cosmetic tattooing where tiny amounts of mineral pigment are inserted into the skin at high-speed using a needle. Trusted source WebMD describes the process as: “Using a needle to place pigmented granules beneath the upper layers of the skin.”

Microblading is another form of Permanent Make Up, but instead of using a needle, a blade is used to gently cut the skin before implanting the pigment. The effects of both are long-lasting but vary from person to person depending on skin characteristics, pigment choice, practitioner technique, sun exposure, skin type, medication and more. The pigment will fade over time, as it is not inserted as deeply into the skin as a conventional tattoo, but because we cannot name a date or time that the colour will leave the skin treatment should be referred to as Permanent Make Up rather than Semi-Permanent Make Up. many practitioners use both terms interchangeably to market their services. If carried out by a good and reputable technician, its benefits are well documented, notably providing smudge-free makeup that always looks flawless.

Permanent makeup can also be described as ‘cosmetic makeup’, ‘dermapigmentation’, ‘micropigmentation’ and ‘cosmetic tattooing’.

One of the great benefits of permanent makeup is that it can be used for aesthetic purposes – such as wanting to give the impression of fuller lips, or for medical reasons – such as creating an areola following breast surgery or to camouflage scars.

Helping others improve confidence levels and overall wellbeing makes this a very rewarding career.

How Much can a Permanent Makeup Artist Earn?

The cosmetic makeup industry is a lucrative, growing market. Since many technicians are sole traders, this allows for flexible working and therefore incomes can vary greatly.

A successful technician can earn tens, if not hundreds of thousands of pounds depending on their marketability, client base, reputation, qualifications and experience, and whether they work independently or for a business. The cost of services can range from £75 (beauty spots for example) to £800, with some elite consultants even charging as much as £1,000 for work, which gives an indication of how profitable the market can be.

While a successful technician could earn in excess of £100,000 a year, the average salary is estimated to range between £30,000 and £50,000 per year. This is significantly higher than a traditional makeup artist earning £20,158 annually in the UK (3). This reflects the view that cosmetic tattooing is a highly specialised profession.