KATE MIDDLETON'S TATTOO

Apparently Prince Harry isn't the only one in Buckingham Palace with a Rock'n Roll edge to him. Over the weekend news got out Princess Kate Middleton has been hiding a secret.. she has a tattoo! It isn't as drastic as Rihanna's chest eagle or a bum full of flowers like Cheryl Cole, the princess has opted for something smaller and more subtle. Some people might not even consider it a tattoo. However permanent ink and a needle have been used, so technically it is a tattoo. 

The Duchess of Cambridge has a cosmetic tattoo on the eyes, also known as permanent makeup. Thanks to two thin black lines Kate looks awake and  put together at all times. In the pictures below you can see the results pretty well. 

You can see the permanent eyeliner right below the waterline, it goes perfectly through the bottom lashes. 

So what exactly is this permanent makeup Kate has on? And how permanent is it? 

"Permanent makeup is a cosmetic technique which employs tattoos (permanent pigmentation of the dermis) as a means of producing designs that resemble makeup, such as eyelining and other permanent enhancing colors to the skin of the face, lips and eyelids." "Most commonly called permanent cosmetics, other names include dermapigmentation, micropigmentation and cosmetic tattooing, the latter being most appropriate since permanent makeup is, in fact, tattooing." 

What are the results when you opt for permanent makeup? 

There are immediate results and long term results. At first the permanent makeup may look darker. This is due to color remaining in the outermost epidermal layers of skin at the start. In the next days the colors will soften because of the healing process as the upper layers of epidermis slough and are replaced by new epidermal cells. How long your makeup will last depends from person to person and will be influenced by different factors. For example sun exposure will fade the colors faster. 

What if you don't like the results?

It is possible to remove the permanent makeup, like you can remove any other tattoo. BUT its is difficult and expensive. Common techniques used to do this are laser resurfacing, dermabrasion (physical or chemical exfoliation) and surgical removal. Do take in mind that the removal is often more painful than the tattooing itself! 

Permanent makeup - eyeliner and eyebrows

Although I like the look on Kate and understand why she has opted for permanent eyeliner, as she gets photographed everyday and everywhere, I would never consider permanent makeup myself, certainly not on my face. Even in the best beauty salon, the procedure could still go wrong or you could end up not liking the results. Just imagine getting your eyebrows filled in and the color turning out too dark or the wrong shade.. Then you will be stuck with them for the next 10 years. Also trends and personal preferences change. Black eyeliner has been a pretty steady makeup trend over the last couple of years, but will it still be in by 2020? What if white or blue is the "in" color by then? Or what if you go from blonde to black hair, would your permanent eyebrows still match? 

And besides, sometimes a natural and bare face is the prettiest look you can wear. Just ask your boyfriend! ;) 

But what do you think? Would you ever consider permanent eyeliner? Or any other permanent makeup procedure? Let me know in the comments, I want to hear about your personal thoughts and experiences! 

x x x