Eyeliner Tattoo, also known as permanent eyeliner or cosmetic eyeliner tattoo, has become an increasingly popular beauty enhancement. As someone who has ventured into various cosmetic procedures like Botox, IPL, and microblading, getting semi-permanent eyeliner tattooed seemed like the next logical step in my beauty journey. I was driven by curiosity and the desire for effortlessly defined eyes, but naturally, I had some reservations before undergoing the procedure.
My main concerns revolved around the delicate area of the eyes. Tattooing so close to the eyeballs felt inherently risky, unlike brow microblading where I could easily relax. Additionally, I had seen instances of permanent eyeliner fading to undesirable blue-green shades, which was a worry. Although semi-permanent eyeliner is implanted less deeply and is supposed to avoid this issue, the thought lingered.
Despite these anxieties, my curiosity prevailed. I decided to try it out, reasoning that even if I wasn’t completely satisfied, I could always use regular eyeliner to adjust or conceal it while it gradually faded over a couple of years.
The Eyeliner Tattooing Process: Step-by-Step
For my eyeliner tattoo, I visited Rita Porreca, the director of Sydney Permanent Make-Up Centre in Five Dock. Rita’s extensive experience in permanent makeup since the 1980s immediately put me at ease. Knowing I was in the hands of a seasoned professional was reassuring.
The process began with standard paperwork, including release and medical history forms. Following this, Rita took “before” photographs of my eyes. We then discussed the desired eyeliner style. Rita applied gel eyeliner to my eyelids to help visualize and agree on the final look.
Although semi-permanent eyeliner typically has a sharp, defined line, and I usually prefer a softer, smudged pencil effect, we decided on a slightly thicker line than the standard. Since I aim to make my eyes appear larger, we opted for only tattooing the upper lid. Many people also choose to have their bottom lid tightlined, but I felt the upper lid alone would achieve my desired effect.
Rita explained the two types of equipment she uses: a cosmetic pen, which is slower and quieter, and a tattoo gun, which is faster but louder and has more vibration. We opted for the quicker tattoo gun method to minimize the duration of the procedure.
Next, a numbing cream was generously applied to my eyelids. As I waited for the numbing to take effect, I couldn’t help but question my decision, a common feeling when facing cosmetic procedures!
Initially, I was concerned about involuntary eye movements disrupting the eyeliner application. However, Rita, with her decades of experience, assured me she would firmly hold my eyelids throughout the process, preventing any issues from twitching or blinking.
The tattooing began with a swift initial line across my upper eyelids. After this first pass, more numbing cream was applied. Breaking the skin initially allows the numbing agent to penetrate more effectively, enhancing comfort for the subsequent steps.
Rita then went over each eye two more times to complete the eyeliner lines. Between each pass, she firmly wiped away excess dye. The entire tattooing process was surprisingly quick, taking only about 15 minutes. This was a stark contrast to my microblading experience, which was much more time-consuming due to the individual stroke application.
Eyeliner Tattoo Pain: What to Expect?
Pain is subjective, but I can offer a detailed account of my experience with eyeliner tattoo pain.
The first line application did sting slightly, comparable to a minor scratch. However, the rest of the procedure was remarkably less painful. The most sensitive part was briefly at the inner corners of my eyes, which felt similar to accidentally poking yourself with the tip of a false eyelash applicator. For the majority of the tattooing, the sensation was akin to drawing eyeliner with a slightly resistant eyeliner pencil. Post-procedure, my eyes felt very raw, much like they would after a long crying spell.
I did find myself flinching quite a bit during the tattooing, worrying that I was hindering the process. However, I discovered that focusing on my breathing significantly helped to minimize flinching, except for those sensitive inner corners. During the procedure, the raw sensation made me momentarily question if I’d ever be able to fully open my eyes again. Surprisingly, this discomfort was minimal immediately afterward.
At no point did the pain exceed the raw, post-crying feeling, which was considerably less intense than the pain I experienced with microblading.
Swelling and Downtime After Eyeliner Tattoo
Immediately following the eyeliner tattoo, Rita applied eye drops to flush out any stray pigment particles from my eyes. She then took “after” photographs of my eyes, which were understandably watery at this point. And just like that, the procedure was complete.
Leaving Sydney Permanent Make-Up Centre, I was initially concerned about the hour-long drive home on a very hot and sunny day, even with air conditioning. However, it turned out to be perfectly manageable. Aside from the raw, dry-eye feeling, it was much better than expected. Unlike the puffy eyes after crying, there was no immediate swelling, and my vision was clear, just slightly more sensitive to light than usual. The eyeliner looked fantastic right away, prompting many celebratory selfies.
For the first ten hours post-procedure, I experienced no swelling. However, just before bedtime, the edges of my eyelids developed noticeable bumps.
The next day, the swelling peaked.
I went to work wearing sunglasses to minimize attention. A friend jokingly compared my appearance to Quasimodo. By the afternoon, the swelling had subsided enough that a student simply commented I looked tired and asked if he was the cause. In reality, dealing with dry and swollen eyes all day was indeed exhausting. Here’s how my eyes looked about 28 hours after the procedure:
By the following day, my eyes felt almost normal, with only minor residual swelling. The tightening sensation as scabs began to form made my eyes appear slightly smaller than usual.
So, for anyone considering eyeliner tattoo, expect about one day of noticeable downtime where you might prefer to avoid photos. After that, it becomes quite inconspicuous. The scabbing and crusting were black, so they largely blended in with the eyeliner, appearing like glossy eyeliner unless viewed very closely.
Eyeliner Tattoo Aftercare Instructions
Proper aftercare is crucial for optimal healing and results. These were the aftercare instructions I received:
- Avoid mascara for 7 days, and use baby oil for mascara removal afterward.
- No eyelash tinting, curling, perming, or lash extensions for 2 weeks.
- No makeup in the tattooed area for 5 days.
- Avoid sun exposure, soap, saunas, chlorinated pools, and saltwater for 2 weeks.
- Apply healing cream 3 times daily for 2 weeks using a cotton tip.
- Use eye drops if needed during the first few days.
- Do not pick or peel any scabs.
- Avoid hydroxy acids and retinoids on the treated area for 1 month (continued use afterward may accelerate fading).
Similar to brow microblading, the eyeliner color initially darkened and then softened and lightened over the following 10 days. The final results shouldn’t be assessed, and touch-ups shouldn’t be scheduled until about a month after the procedure.
For two weeks, I applied Vaseline and coconut oil to my eyeliner using a cotton bud. I did experience some crying during this period, resulting in minor saltwater exposure. The scabs mostly came off naturally on the cotton bud during application. Because the eyeliner line was thin, there was minimal itching, mainly just a tight feeling until the scabs began to flake off after a few days.
I typically wear Ortho-K contact lenses overnight. I skipped wearing them for a couple of nights and experienced slightly blurry vision on Day 2, but my vision returned to normal afterward. Overall, the healing process was significantly less bothersome than it had been for microblading.
Eyeliner Tattoo Results and My Review
Here’s how my eyeliner tattoo looked two weeks post-procedure:
I am genuinely pleased with both the eyeliner tattoo process and the final results. The procedure itself was considerably less painful and intimidating than I had anticipated. The healing process was also much easier compared to microblading, which involved a larger treatment area.
My eyelids are naturally oily, causing regular eyeliner to smudge and transfer throughout the day. This eyeliner tattoo stays perfectly in place, even through exercise, tears, and hot Australian summers. While I still might add a bit more eyeliner for special events, for everyday makeup, this eyeliner tattoo has been a fantastic, time-saving addition.
Sydney Permanent Make-Up Centre, located in Five Dock, Sydney, offers a wide range of permanent makeup services beyond just semi-permanent eyeliner. You can find more information on their website http://www.spmuc.com.au/ and see more of their work on their Instagram account https://instagram.com/sydneypermanentmakeup.
This eyeliner tattoo service was provided as a gift for editorial consideration, but this review reflects my honest, unbiased opinion. For further details, please refer to the Disclosure Policy.
