Step by Step Guide to Natural Eyes. Eyeshadow Selection. Color Guide. Eyeliner Advice. Eyebrow Pencil Alternatives. Eyebrow Stencil Kits. Easy…Easy….Natural Eye Makeup Tips… We recommend some of the Jane Iredale products sold through Lovely Skin as we show you how to apply your makeup and what products you can use, however, you can choose similar items from other cosmetic houses and the techniques and ideas will apply equally.

1. Getting Started: Basic Eye Makeup Application Tips:

The most often overlooked aspect of how to apply eyeshadow has nothing to do with shadow. It’s what you don’t see. And it has nothing to do with color or application. It’s about the foundation or primer you use on your eyelids and face. But it’s really one step further back….it’s about your skin….so let’s start with the basics….and don’t skip this part thinking you already know it…this is much more important than the eyeshadow application techniques we’ll teach you:

2. Before The Foundation…a Foundation

A clean complexion, a freshly washed face and well moisturized skin is the basis of all good makeup, for the eyes and the entire face. Exfoliate, cleans, wash with cleanser (NOT SOAP), pat dry, regain the PH balance of your skin with a soft tonic or toner (nothing harsh even if you have oily skin), and moisturize with a non-greasy facial moisturizer. If you are not 16 years old, then you need to give the eye area a little extra moisture because eye shadow over dry skin that’s flaky causes the sponges and brushes to tug at the delicate eyelid area while applying color or liner and this will not accent your eyes but cause uneven coloring and a caked-on look later in the day. So give those eyes a little extra moisture….let the skin absorb it….don’t be in a rush to put color on your lids….Take your time to get smooth soft skin as your foundation and never apply eyeshadow directly onto moisturized skin without a foundation or primer, you’ll just end up with your shadow caking into clumps or looking greasy, heavy or creased.

You may want to use a product by Jan Marini called Age Intervention Prime Face Primer, also sold through Lovely Skin, which is a sirum that primes the skin and refines the surface, giving better elasticity and reducing redness or irritations while moisturizing. It contains enzymes, anti-inflammatory agents, Hyaluronic Acid Microspheres for moisture delivery, white tea, red tea and green tea extracts as well as natural pomegranate, to calm and help with cellular reconstruction of the tissue, especially for sensitive areas around the eyes.

Before we discuss foundation…here’s another tip: after you’ve cleansed, applied toner and moisturizer, and given your skin a sprits of Evian or rose water, go look in the mirror. Carefully! If you see little flakes in the T-zone, around the edges of your eyes, in the brow or anywhere else on your face, do not think to yourself that the makeup or foundation will cover it up. It won’t! Start over. Use a slightly more aggressive exfoliating agent (with tiny almond or apricot granules or even very fine natural sand) and really work the flaky areas. You can also use a small loofa sponge with facial foam to eliminate flakey skin, especially on the nose, in the brow and the t-zone. No amount of ingenious eye makeup tricks will make up for flakes or dry skin in the eye area or on the nose or especially in the brow rgion. If by cleansing your skin you find it’s a little red or irritated, then try Redness Relief Soothing Cream by Avene. It’s also great for soothing the skin after being in the sun, but in general, it relieves redness and moisturizes without a greasy film. It’s available through Lovely Skin if you want to buy it online.

Now…evenly spread your foundation over your entire face and blend well with a very smooth sponge. Take your time, using concealer under your eyes and on blemished areas, but blend and blend to leave your face smooth and with an even tone. Ensure that a light base of foundation, be it liquid, mouse or oil-free powder, is all around the eyes, on the eyelid, under the eye, between the nose and the corer of the eye, above the eye to the brow bone and above the brow itself. Don’t worry about getting a little in your eyebrow hairs…at this point it doesn’t matter. We’ll deal with that later. Get a complete and even coverage first. Now, no matter if you have dry or oily skin, lightly mist your face with Evian spray or a fine mist of natural rose water.

When the skin has absorbed the mist, take a large powder brush and lightly dust your entire face and eyelids with translucent powder. Use the brush to blend and leave the skin smooth. There should be no visible trace of powder, just a smooth surface.

Now prime the eyelid and brow area with a special matte finish powder or base. You can try the Jane Iredale Lid Primer, which is a revolutionary formula of hydrated silica that helps to control oil (which you eventually get even if you have dry skin) and minimize creased shadow on your eyelids. This product also helps to draw out recessed areas of the eyelids and offers a light shimmer to the eye, bringing it to life naturally. You can also try the Jane Iredale Absence Oil Control Primer or the GloMinerals GloLid Primer which is especially great for oily skin that needs extra control.

With eyelid primed and dusted and matte powdered….and using the best long-lasting colors….please keep in mind that eye shadow, like lipstick, does not last 24 hours perfectly matte and smooth no matter what the marketing or advertising on the fancy products say. Honestly, if you get 6 to 8 good hours of smug-proof, cake-proof, oil-proof color on your lids, be happy! So…we start the fun part…adding color. You now need a natural makeup brush and the series of colors to create the look you want.

3. Eyeshadow Color Selection and Eye Makeup Techniques For Natural Eyes

There are many sets of natural colors on the market, but to show you one that’s got everything you need, we start with the Jane Iredale Perfectly Nude PurePressed Eyeshadow Kit. It has five shades that start from a flesh tone cream to a light bronzing dust called Foxy, then a darker shade called cappuccino and an antique gold. The last is a rich Copper, which may not be needed if your skin is very fair. However, with these five shades, you have all you need for natural eyes for those with fair to olive skin tones. You can use the colors wet or dry, although we recommend not to wet your eyeshadow colors when you apply them (unless used as liner), but instead add the color smoothly in powder form and then lightly mist with Evian or rose water and use a large brush to blend. It creates a more even and natural look.

We start with the cream shade and spread it over the brow and inner eye area to lighten and brighten. Mist and allow to absorb. Dust the entire area with translucent power between colors. Since you’re not trying to achieve dramatic eye makeup, keep in mind that all you want to do is mimic, and slightly accentuate, the natural shadows that a large vibrant looking eye has naturally. We achieve this by only using the darkest shades at the outer edge and the fold of the eye. You want to use a light color in the inner corner and the central part of the lid and the upper brow bone, and darker shades on the outer edges and parts of the lash lines.

To open the eye start with the cream shadow, then add a triangular shape of cappuccino starting at the upper bone area, extending outward and then down to the lower lash area angled down from where you began the triangle on the bone above the lid. Fill the area darker than you want it, then dust it with a larger brush to blend the triangle shape.

Add a touch of bronze, copper or antique gold in the crease of the eye extending outward and upward, keeping in the triangle….bring the darkest color down into your lower lash line under the eye and the eyelid lashes. Dust again with a large brush to blend. Mist between brushes and colors if you want your shadow to last longer. Don’t allow the darker shades to go above the bone area where the bone elevates into the eyebrow. This area should be lighter…but be careful. Don’t over highlight the brow bone under the eyebrow with white or frosted colors like in the 80’s. Keep it a light flesh tone; always matte; no obvious shimmer.

With the darkest color in place, take a very soft eyeliner pencil or a liquid liner. We prefer liquid to make a thin natural line within the lashes, but some people prefer a pencil. In most cases an eyeliner pencil, unless it is very soft, will pull or stretch the eyelid and it is very difficult to create a sleek line, however it can be more easily blended with a small sponge…so which you choose will depend on what you prefer.

We recommend a thin line of liquid, dark brown liner, in the lash or as close to it as possible. Remember that you just want to make your lashes appear darker and thicker at the base, you don’t want a dramatic look or heavy black eyes. The technique that professionals use when applying eye make up (to give the eyes a larger and brighter appearance) is not to line the entire eye, rather just the outer edge is darkened, then lightly blended into the lash until there is almost no liner at the center or the inner corner.

For the above palette we’ve used, with copper and cappuccino, you can use the shadow itself as liner by applying with moistened brush. Use the pencil or liquid only in the corner area. Now blend with powder on both the upper and lower lashes. Mist….wait a minute…dust the entire area with a large brush….your lid should not appear to have a lot of color, just a gentle shadow from outer edge that gradually diminishes as you get to the center of the lid and the inner eye.

The two remaining items, to finish off your look, pertain to the lashes and the brow itself. These are no less important than the shadow and the liner.

4. Liquid, Pencil and Powder Makeup For Brows

Let’s start with the brow.

Shaping and coloring the brow with a pencil is difficult, but there’s a simple way to get almost perfect color and shape using an eyebrow stencil and a brush to add the color to the hair. The Senna Form-A-Brow Kit, available through Lovely Skin, allows for anyone with brow trouble, or those who need help with shape, sparse hair or very fine or light natural coloring to get almost perfect brows. You get 3 brow powder colors which can be mixed to your ideal shade. Use the brushes to add to the hair or to create the illusion of hair while holding the shape of the stencil desired over your brow area. Choose your look with several stencil shapes, one that’s fine, another natural, a third that’s fuller and a last one that’s extra full. The one you choose will depend on your natural shape. Do not go with a shape that is very different from what’s natural to YOU. The idea is to slightly darken the hair. It should never be very dramatic.

If you already have the perfect eyebrow color pencil or powder, then just buy the stencils, like the Colorescience Eyebrow Stencils. You can choose three shapes. Hold one to your brow and color the hair, or use them while tweezing.

By the way, you can easily color your brows with a fantastic product by Jane Iredale called the PureBrow Gel Colours. These coloring devices are like a mascara brush, but specific for the brows. They come in a range of colors and can be used to make the brows darker or lighter as needed. Using one of these brushes is better than using your mascara brush because it will almost always be too dark and may also look clumpy. The brow gel is slightly different because it leaves the brow hair naturally smooth and in place. You can mix colors to achieve the most natural shade for you.

5. Finish The Eyes With Mascara

Now you need to finish your look with mascara.

Don’t use anything with sparkle. Don’t use gold or blue. Don’t use dark black unless you have natural black hair. Stay with a medium to dark brown. And most important: make sure your tube is FRESH. Mascara needs to be tossed out frequently. One a month (or at least every other month), you should be buying a new tube. Mascara will look clumpy and unnatural if it’s slightly old. It will flake and leave little specks under your eyes and ruin the natural look you are aiming for. Fresh mascara! Once a month splurge on a new tube. It’s not expensive.

Applying Mascara

Apply your mascara (on the upper lashes) from the base of the lash upward in even strokes. Do not just color the tips of your lashes. That’s one of the most common mistakes. Lashes need a solid color from base to tip. Give a little extra attention to the outer corner lashes; usually they’re the longest ones that give your eye it’s almond-like shape. Play up the longest lashes just a little. You must use mascara on your bottom lashes also. It’s a big mistake to think you’ll look more natural without it. Use less mascara, but give the bottom lashes an even coat; otherwise your eyes look unfinished.

Soften The Lashes

The way to get soft looking lashes is to first wipe your mascara brush between a cloth or strong tissue….(don’t use cotton pads because the cotton sticks to the bristles). Wipe almost all the mascara off the brush.

Now use strong strokes to do each lash from base to tip. The brush will dry quickly, so reapply and re-wipe and continue until all lashes have a good solid coat….but you will se there are no clumps or lashes stuck together.

By the way, we suggest waterproof mascara at all times. You’ll use an eye makeup remover to take it off at night anyway, so don’t risk having raccoon eyes during the day. Use waterproof.

With these tips for eye makeup, and the right supplies, anyone can have soft natural professional style makeup. Choose your eyeshadow, your eyeliner and get in front of a mirror and practice how to apply eye shadow before you have to do it in a rush, or before your wedding.

Wedding Makeup?

If you’re looking for wedding makeup tips, the best ones are going to be natural….very much like what we’ve done today, with soft cappuccino and cream colors….

Pale blues, pastels and shimmering shadows are seldom a good choice. Stick with matte and neutral colors.

Let your eyes be the focal point and not the color of your shadow! Stay away from pink eyeshadow….save the pink for blush on your cheeks…be it natural or added with a brush.

Tired Of Applying Makeup?

Do You Have Eyebrow Problems?

Then perhaps an eyebrow makeup kit isn’t the solution, and maybe another pencil or stencil kit won’t do the trick. If so, you may want to consider permanent make up or even eyebrow tattooing. If you would like more information on cosmetic tattooing or how to go about getting a procedure done, please select a related topic….some which discuss what the FDA and doctors have to say and others that help you choose the best eyebrow tattoo shop or clinic in your area.

If you’re wondering if permanent make up is right for you, then browse the post that deals with issues pertaining to micropigmentation and even read about eyebrow tattoo removal and its consequences. If you feel it might be time to toss your eyebrow kits and pencils in the garbage, then we’re here to help you with the advice you need to make an informed decision regarding a more permanent solution to brow dilemmas.

1. The TRIA Laser is a system that removes hair permanently on the BODY

But it is NOT approved for FACIAL hair removal for women or men

It’s specifically designed to stop hair growth forever anywhere on the BODY however it has not been approved for the face. If you are considering this unit for underarms, legs, bikini area, etc…great….and it takes only about eight months to achieve smooth hair-free results, but not on the face…not yet anyway. We highly recommend the TRIA Laser Hair Removal System, which is FDA approved, and is based on the exact same laser technology as that which is used in laser hair removal clinics, but only for body hair. We mention it here because many ladies may buy it without understanding what it’s about. So here are some basic facts to decide if it’s right for you:

If you have medium or light colored skin and darker hair the light sensor will detect the darker hair. It is not recommended for those with dark skin pigmentation or those with fair complexions that have very light blond hair. The unit comes with a sensor that will indicate to you if it will be effective based on your individual characteristics. It’s not painful to use, although there may be a snapping or prickling sensation, especially when you begin and have very coarse hair. Later, as the hair growth becomes finer and less obvious, it is often noted that there is almost no sensation at all.

The first month of treatment will not offer results that you will be able to see, however, if you have patience, in the second month of use, the hair will become finer. After you have used the laser treatment system for about 3 months the hair will be obviously finer and the amount that grows back will be substantially diminished. If you continue to use the device for a few more months, you will see that the follicles actually have become disabled to such a point that hair simply does not grow. After about 8 months, your skin should be smooth and hair-free, permanently! If your hair is very coarse, it may require about 12 treatments. The unit costs $595, but you can make payments of as little as $49.95 to get started. There is no way you will ever get laser treatments in a clinic for that price. However….If you only want to eliminate facial hair, do NOT buy the Tria Laser. See the next product instead.

2. Silk’n SensEpil Home Removal Of Facial Hair For Women

Approved for below the cheeks removal of facial hair for women and men

It has been in the media and all over women’s magazines and the Internet, but what really is Silk’n SensEpil all about? Here are the facts:

Silk׳n SensEpilis one of the top rated and most technologically advanced home hair removal systems that can replace the need for more expensive treatments like laser facial hair removal for women. Studies indicate that it is effective and safe even on facial hair, however it’s not for everyone.

First, the hair you wish to remove should be from the cheek down. This is not a unit you will use to replace eyebrow tweezing or brow waxing. It is for unwanted facial hair on the cheeks, chin, upper lip region and below. It is not for the eye area and it is not for ladies with naturally dark skin tones. Caution must be taken to avoid the sun for about three weeks prior to a treatment and the same period of time after sun exposure. There are side effects if improperly used and these may include pigmentation alteration and even burns, so read the instructions carefully before using this product. However, it is an effective treatment for unwanted body and facial hair.

How does Silk’n SensEpil permanent facial hair removal for women actually work?

Silk’n SensEpil is a light-based unit that allows you to treat yourself, even on the face, as long as you avoid the eyes. It’s based on flashes of light, then a popping is heard when the pulse is activated. There is a warm tingle that accompanies the treatment. This is a system for long-tern hair removal, however, as with laser treatments it takes time. It can require many treatments over a year to two years to eliminate coarse hair. Some women notice a remarkable difference after just using the device for about 2 weeks. Hairs will fall out on their own.

How much does it cost? About $499 for the unit, but you can also buy through a payment plan that’s more affordable.

Professional Laser Facial Hair Removal

Laser facial hair removal for women through the American laser center, uses an FDA approved system with modulated RF energy and light impulses to eliminate even very difficult hair colors ….like the light blond and even red or gray hairs that sometimes are not able to be removed through home light systems. You will need various sessions, from about seven treatments to as many as thirteen or more depending on your hair. The cost will be determined by many factors but can be as much as $600 or more, in fact if your hair is very coarse, it may cost as much as $1,000. If you only need a small area, such as the upper lip or a spot on the chin, then it may only run about $200 per treatment. Still, that can add up over several treatments. That is why facial hair removal for women cream and home systems are so popular. We’ve looked at the home light systems that cost about $500, but what about cream? Is there a cream that works?

Ladies Hair Removal Cream

Veet is hair removal cream that really works. It’s not permanent but often unwanted facial hair returns finer, and after a long time, disappears. Although Veet itself never makes such claims, it’s known by the ladies who have used it for a while….and they won’t say for how long because…..well that’s a ladies prerogative.

If you’re going to use this cream or lotion on the face where there are more delicate tissue areas, try VEET® Sensitive Formula, which is a hair removal lotion that’s very mild, with lots of shea butter, and is safe for almost all skin types. One of the great things about this product is that hair re-growth is really fine, not coarse or thicker like after shaving.

By the way, if you’re in North America and used to buy Neet, it doesn’t exist under that name any longer. Veet is the French counterpart that is now marketing all products under the French name Veet.

Please remember that all the over-the-counter cream s that offer temporary removal of facial hair for women is exactly that: a temporary solution. Even if a side effect of using Veet or Nair or other depilatory products is that hair grows back finer and softer, the truth is that it is not a permanent solution. The best facial hair removal for women cream products that offer more permanent results will be addressed in the following segment about Vaniqa.

Does Vaniqa cream offer a genuine solution to facial hair removal for women with serious problems?

First, let’s address what some of the serious facial hair problems are.

Although many women may have facial hair from puberty onward, it is most commonly an issue that arises as women age. As female hormones change and decrease, especially during menopause, male hormones become stronger and sometimes cause an increase in facial hair, especially on the neck, perhaps the chin area or even on the cheeks and upper lip.

There may also some medical conditions and some hereditary factors that can make some ladies more prone to facial hair than others. Obesity can also cause an increase of male hormones because fat stores these hormones. Also certain ovarian issues and natural and hormonal fluctuations may also cause a certain amount of unwanted facial hair from time to time. This is not a little problem you have all alone, but a situation affecting millions of women, in fact over 40 million. Many ladies have been bleaching, lightening, shaving, waxing and threading the hair off their faces for years. But the hair doesn’t really go way, it grows back and every day the same issue must be solved over and over again.

So we now have something called VANIQA® which is not a depilatory cream like Veet that removes hair, but a system to stop hair growth over time. How? First, you can still have laser hair removal done, or you can tweeze or remove your hair as normal, but after you apply a small amount of the Vaniqa cream, and over time, some say after just eight weeks or so, the hair growth is reduced. You need a prescription from a doctor to get this product, however, many women feel it has been a useful aid to help to eliminate the unwanted facial hair . They use a thin layer of Vaniqa 13.9% cream about 5 minutes after their routine form of hair removal and it can be rubbed into the skin and left for about 4 hours. The next application can wait another 8 hours at least.

Just a note: Vaniqa shouldn’t be used by pregnant women or those breast feeding.

BASIC Beginners Guide To Hair Removal

We wish to make a note that all the information in this post regarding depilatories, home laser hair removal and other issues pertaining to unwanted facial hair has been created as a very BASIC beginners guide only. Before considering laser procedures please get as much information as possible on laser hair removal safety from places like the American laser center. Also before buying any expensive IPL hair removal devices, be sure that you have the right hair and skin type on which these devices will be effective, and please understand their dangers and limitations before investing.

Alternatives

Remember that before going for any type of cosmetic procedure, laser or IPL treatments consider threading hair removal like the Orientals use, or the ancient Egyptian system of sugaring hair removal which is not only less painful than waxing but leaves your skin soft as the syrup used. By the way, if you don’t know where to get sugaring without going to a salon, try the Body Shop. Their product lines vary from the UK to what’s available in the US, but we believe you can order it online under New Body Products in the main US Body Shop website.

For more information on other cosmetic procedures like eyebrow tattooing and permanent makeup as well as less permanent beauty suggestions like how to shape and define your eyes with some useful eye makeup tips….please browse other related topics.

Moisturize your Brows

After a procedure, all patients should receive eyebrow tattoo aftercare advice and support from their permanent makeup professional, and this may include a small kit of supplies and instructions for aiding in healing and some useful products that must be used along with the instructions. Aftercare for eyebrow tattooing is similar to other forms of tattoos and micropigmentation for lips and eyes, but brows often require a little extra attention. Your supplies or kit should include some antiseptic cream that also moisturizes. If you are not given any, then you may want to buy some Bepanthen on your own. Apply this with a sterile cotton swab several times a day. Do not rub or press the area too hard. Avoid pulling off scabs that begin to form, and try not to scratch. What you want to do is keep the eyebrow area clean, free of dirt or dust, out of the sun, and moist at all times.

Don’t Panic about Color for at least a Week

If you get home and look in the mirror and want to scream because your eyebrows are too dark, don’t scream yet. Wait a while. They will be a lot darker than you want for a few days. Give it at least a week. If during the course of healing they lighten to much, then when you go back to the clinic for your post procedure consultation, remember you can have touch-ups.

No Makeup, No Water, No Sun

For a week or so try not to wear any makeup, don’t use cleansers and do not go swimming or take saunas or go the spa. It’s also not a good idea to suntan. Try not to get your brows wet during the first week. To wash, just dab the eyebrow tattoo area. If they hurt, use cold compresses to ease pain and swelling.

Don’t Pull Off Scabs

Don’t be alarmed about anything for a week to 10 days (unless it’s red and infected for many days, then call your cosmetician or doctor immediately). Just add your antiseptic cream to the area about 6 times a day. Gently remove old cream before applying more. If your eyebrow tattoo feels tight and gets dry and scabby that’s normal, but avoid the urge to scratch or pick. Add cream and grin and bear it! Don’t pull off scabs because you may remove part of the pigment with the scab.

The Weeks and Months and Years To Follow

Once you have waited the week or two to ensure the eyebrow tattoo healing process is well underway, don’t forget to continue moisturizing every day, for a while keep them extra moist and if going in the sun, wear sunscreen. With or without an eyebrow tattoo you should never wash your face with soap but use a mild cleanser and warm water. If your new eyebrow tattoos have been done professionally and you have cared for them afterwards, then they should remain for many years without need of touch-ups.

Some of the books that I recommend deal with reasons to get an eyebrow tattoo or permanent makeup and others explain personal benefits and risks. A few of the books have been written for aestheticians, technicians and cosmetic tattooing professionals however these books also contain valuable information that a client may also benefit from. Being an active participant will encourage the specialist to give you the best treatment possible and you will find the cosmetic tattoo experience a fascinating one as you journey into the world of your own beauty.

I Love My Permanent Makeup

by Debbie McClellan

Although you may have an hour consultation with a permanent makeup specialist prior to the procedure, it is difficult for you to know what questions to ask and for a specialist to give you all the information available in such a short span of time. That is why this book is great for you to read before the procedure because it has the 65 most common questions and their answers regarding permanent makeup.

It also contains information regarding safety and includes testimonials from women from different parts of the world who tell about their positive cosmetic tattooing experiences and how their tattoo eyebrows have turned out. This book is the revised edition of Is Permanent Makeup for you.

101 Questions & Answers On Permanent Makeup for the Technician

by Debbie McClellan

This book is directed toward a professional permanent makeup and eyebrow tattooing specialists and offers the steps that qualified professionals will take in creating eyebrow tattoos, eyeliner, lip liner and full lip procedures. It helps with making the all important color decision for matching hair colors and even skin undertones. She offers quite extensive information on skin undertones because by knowing these tones it can help to decide on the best possible colors for cosmetic tattoos.

The author Debbie McClellan is a qualified and experienced cosmetic tattooing expert who, as a permanent makeup specialist for more than 13 years, has 10,000 successful procedures to her credit. Her book discusses implanting techniques and if touchups are really a normal part of makeup tattooing follow-up procedures.

She discusses equipment and table set up and the actual eyebrow tattooing procedure. She answers questions about migration and how to properly measure brows when drawing them on before the tattooing begins. There are suggestions on how to improve the shape and style of the brow as well as tips for lips, especially lip liner procedures and how to fill them in. She also discusses the lip colors that are best and most often used, and how to keep colors looking rich.

(Spanish Edition)

Permanent Makeup and Reconstructive Tattooing

by Eleonora Habnit

If you’re like me (before I decided to tattoo my eyebrows), and are tired of the daily ritual of makeup, and desire to have perfect eyeliner, eyebrows and outlined lips then author Eleonora Hanit suggests that permanent makeup may be what you need. She also suggests that if your hands are shaky or you are allergic to cosmetic products the choice of having cosmetic tattooing or an eyebrow tattoo may be right for you. She writes that permanent tattooing can help to conceal scars and be the last step to completing a look after cosmetic or plastic surgery.

Eleonora Habnit is a specialist in the field and her book offers many eyebrow pictures and before and after shots of those who have had permanent makeup.

She also discusses ways to find and work together with a professional if you are considering a procedure and gives an idea on eyebrow tattoo cost. There is also information for those who are contemplating becoming specialists in this area of tattoo art. For professionals she gives information on color, equipment, certification and professional associations in the United States. It is a book that is dedicated to the public and will also be useful to permanent makeup practitioners, cosmetic surgeons, tattoo artists, and anyone who is the beauty and cosmetics industry.

Milady’s Aesthetician Series: Permanent Makeup, Tips and Techniques

by Pamela Hill

This book, written in 2006, may be a little outdated as to the newest equipment, but Pamela Hill’s suggestions regarding permanent makeup and eyebrow tattos techniques that remain timeless.

This book is designed both for the tattoo specialist as well as the general public with topics for how to get involved in this profession, and for those already qualified, how to expand on techniques. It also contains information regarding cosmetic tattooing laws in the United States. For readers who are interested in undergoing a cosmetic procedure for the first time, she discusses aspects of anatomy and physiology and explains pigments and how the best results can be achieved. This is an illustrated book with eyebrow tattoo pictures and photographs of the techniques and what to expect from permanent tattooing makeup procedures.

Beautiful Brows: The Ultimate Guide to Styling, Shaping, and Maintaining Your Eyebrows

by Nancy Parker and Nancy Kalish

This book has illustrations and instructions that will help you to create beautiful brows. It may be useful for those who are contemplating a permanent makeup procedure because it helps to decide what shape and style of brow will be best with your face shape and to enhance your best features and also may provide ideas for temporary eyebrow tattoos that you can later have made into permanent ones.

Although it is designed as a guide for plucking and shaping your own brows, it has pertinent information that you can discuss with a cosmetic tattoo professional to help you and your specialist achieve the best permanent eyebrows. There are few book son the market that have this much eyebrow specific information that is laid out in terms any woman can easily follow and understand.

The contents of this book tells it all:

Part One:

• The best Brow Formula: Choosing the right shape for you
• Anatomy of an eyebrow
• The five basic brows
• Step one: Find your face shape
• Step two: Figure out your signature features
• Step three: Determine your best brow strength
• Step four: Put it all together

Part Two:

• Define and Conquer:
• How to shape, color, and recreate your brows
• The tools of the trade
• Good Riddance: the best (and worst) hair removal methods
• Eyebrows for dummies: Brow shaping 101
• Arch Enemies: The most common brow problems
• Basic brow cleanup
• Consider your inner corner

How to Create the Perfect Eyebrow

by Victoria Bush

Victoria Bush offers 13 chapters on how to create the perfect eyebrow by comparing what other beauty and eyebrow shaping experts have written and expanding upon that information. Victoria Bush is a makeup artist, image consultant and has a line of eyebrow enhancement products.

Again this book is not specific to the permanent makeup industry, but it is specific to eyebrows, and before any cosmetic tattooing or before a micropigmentation tattoo specialist even comes near to working on your brows, YOU must know the shape and style and have a plan for what you hope to achieve.

This book can help you decide on tattoo patterns for your brow and how you can work with a specialist to get that perfect eyebrow shape perhaps by using the suggestions to play with temporary tattoo eyebrows before getting the real deal, or by shaping your natural brows better so that eyebrows tattoos will simply enhance what you already have achieved naturally.

Here is what Victoria Bush discusses in 169 pages divided into 13 chapters:

• Chapter 1 – The art and science of creating beautiful, symmetrical brows
• Chapter 2 – The study of the facial zones
• Chapter 3 – The study of the geometric face shapes
• Chapter 4 – The study of eye set
• Chapter 5 – Assessing the facial features
• Chapter 6 – Assessing the eyebrow
• Chapter 7 – Rules of proper eyebrow management
• Chapter 8 – Corrective techniques to the eyebrow to enhance the features of the face
• Chapter 9 – Eyebrow design methods
• Chapter 10 – Performing eyebrow design and enhancement
• Chapter 11 – Hair removal for the eyebrows
• Chapter 12 – Other eyebrow enhancement services
• Chapter 13 – Case studies: Eyebrow design in practice

Makeup Makeovers: Expert Secrets for Stunning Transformations

by Robert Jones

International makeup artist Robert Jones believes any woman can be beautiful and he details how this is possible with a step-by-step guide and lots of photos.

Although this book does not discuss permanent makeup techniques nor eyebrow tattoos, it is a perfect compliment to cosmetic tattooing treatments because the end result is for a woman to use her features to look her best. How to apply a little foundation makeup in a way that will make her feminine after her procedures can be useful. The great thing about this book is that’s not about celebrities or unattainable model looks but about how to enhance your skin and eyes and bring your best to the forefront with your own true beauty from the inside out.

Tattooed eyebrows, perfect eyeliner and even lips filled with permanent color are a great place to begin, but it’s still necessary to know simple techniques to camouflage flaws and how to make your new eyes and brows really work in your favor. This book is for women of all ages not just the ones with young perfect skin. It has been recommended by Rhonda Shasteen, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Mary Kay Inc.

Straight Talk about Cosmetic Surgery (Yale University Press Health & Wellness)

by Arthur W. Perry MD

Dr. Arthur W. Perry, a plastic surgeon for over 20 years, gives general information on all procedures pertaining to cosmetic treatments. He discusses benefits and risks and explains terms and offers suggestions for finding doctors and facilities. It is an ideal book to read if you are considering any kind of cosmetic surgery or skin-care procedures as well as those who need advice regarding tattoo removal.

Although he does not specialize in permanent makeup tattooing, make up tattoo micropigmentation or specific eyebrow tattooing applications, he touches on these topics and his advice and suggestions are pertinent for those who are contemplating procedures in conjunction with a cosmetics tattoo, such as scare removal and illness related cosmetic enhancement needs.

Here is an overview of the book’s contents:

The book also discusses:

1. The Future of Plastic Surgery
2. Fees for Typical Procedures
3. National Ranking for Cosmetic Procedures
4. Age Distribution of Cosmetic Procedures

Aesthetics and Cosmetic Surgery for Darker Skin Types

by Pearl E Grimes

This book offers a guide to surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic treatment of patients with darker skin pigmentation — African, Asian, and Latin descent and is actually written by a variety of international experts.

Amongst the wide range of surgical topics he does include advice on micropigmentation and permanent tattooing procedures and also on tattoo removal and skin discoloration. The book is edited by a world-renowned researcher on pigmentation disorders and is enhanced with over 350 color illustrations.

The Eyebrow

by Robyn Cosio

Robyn Cosio, a renowned make-up artist in New York and LA who specialized in eyebrows, has provided an eyebrow shaping and designing encyclopedia that includes a historical overview of the brow, and offers facts that are also entertaining such as how women used false eyebrows from mouse hides in the 1700’s.

There are many examples of famous eyebrows and how the eyebrow gives shape to ears, and she even discusses male brows.

She does not discuss eyebrow tattooing at any length but does provide many ideas for designs and shapes and the book is full of eyebrow photographs which may be helpful to those who are contemplating redesigning their brows with eyebrow cosmetic tattooing procedures.

Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority

by Melissa Schweiger

Melissa Schweiger is a freelance writer and editor with articles in Women’s Wear Daily, Interview, Marie Claire, Redbook, Hamptons, Seventeen, and In Style, and on Sephora.com. This is not a book I recommend for its intellectual merits or as a guide on cosmetic tattoo or microimplataion procedures. It is simply a book that may be useful to guide those who are searching for a new look and need ideas.

There are full color pictures and lots of brows and lots of simple beauty suggestions for beginners. It’s a picture book with lots of Sephora products but the faces and their eyebrows may serve to inspire your new eyebrow tattoo!

Eye Candy: 55 Easy Makeup Looks for Glam Lids and Luscious Lashes

by Linda Mason

Linda Mason is a professional makeup artist from New York who in this book has catered more to a young audience, however the eyebrow shapes in the 55 looks she offers in full color illustrations are good to find a brow that will be right for a younger person and for the older women who may want to see the difference between brows and makeup styles from fun daywear to dramatic eveningwear.

There are diagrams and instructions for makeup, but for those who are considering eyebrow tattoo procedures the photos are a great way to get an idea of what is possible, see different face shapes and arches and to see how makeup can be later applied to enhance the brows and facial features once the cosmetic tattooing has been completed.

Make-Up : Fresh Ideas for Fantastic Looks

by Bernadine Bibiano for The Body Shop

This may be a beauty book for beginners written to promote The Body Shop products, however, it is a very useful tool for those who are needing inspiration while seeking to change their eyebrow shape or their look because the photographs are not of perfect western models but beautiful real people from all around the world with a variety of skin tones and complexions and facial features.

This book does not discuss cosmetic tattooing but does offer real advice for looking your best and has lovely pictures of eyebrows that may provide the basis for eyebrow cosmetic tattooing. And, The Body Shop has some excellent products for caring for your skin; especially tea tree oil products that will help to care for your eyebrow tattoos after your procedure is finished.

Remember a little tee tree will sooth the swelling immediately after the eyebrow tattoo procedure and help to avoid excessive scabbing and crusting during the healing process. There are also tea tree sprays that you can lightly mist your face with when you feel your tattoo eyebrows itch and cannot scratch or rub them after days after the procedure.

Asian Faces: The Essential Beauty and Makeup Guide for Asian Women

by Taylor Chang-Babaian with a foreward by Yoko Ono

Professional makeup artist Taylor Chang-Babaian has created a beautiful book with techniques and styles for Asian women of all ages and ethnicities. I have included this book on my recommended list not because it is the best beauty book on the market but because it has 100 full-color photographs of Asian women that might inspire eyebrow tattoos from where eyebrow tattooing began – Asia.

Although the technical aspects of cosmetic tattooing procedures are not discussed, I suggest it as a resource for finding YOUR look. Since this book is filled with gorgeous pictures that do not try to make Asians look Caucasian but enhance their own unique beauty features, I believe it is essential for international women who seek eyebrow ideas and makeup tips prior to micropigmentation or tattoo eyebrows enhancement.

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro

by Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown, if you don’t already know, is an internationally renowned makeup artist and CEO of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. Her products are sold in over 400 stores and 20 countries worldwide. Bobbi is also the exclusive beauty editor of NBC’s TODAY show and a frequent guest on E! and the Style channels. Need I say more!!

My list of beauty books and eyebrow enhancement suggestions and photo idea books would just not be complete with at least one of Bobbi Brown’s books. You can select any of her books because they are all great, well written, easy to understand and have lots of glossy pictures. This book includes some breathtaking photos that may inspire you and your cosmetician to create the best eyebrow tattoos yet. Enjoy! It’s Bobbi Brown, you won’t regret reading her and looking at her creative faces.

Making Faces

by Kevyn Aucoin

This book is by the famous Kevyn Aucoin who needs no introduction since his work is on the faces of Cher, Tina Turner, Vanessa Williams, Julia Roberts and others.

The final chapter is entertaining and fantastic with the likes of Isabella Rosselini, Demi Moore, and Nicole Kidman as made-up characters that are wonderfully photographed.

Just for fun and ideas, check out these gorgeous star’s eyebrows for permanent make up eyebrow tattoo inspirations.

Kevyn Aucoin’s other bestseller, Face Forward, is also a great book for eyebrow tattoo shape ideas. Again this incredible makeup artist shows what he can do to faces like those of Calista Flockhart, Jodie Foster, Jewel, Gwyneth Paltrow, Michelle Pfeiffer, Diana Ross, Christy Turlington, and Vanessa Williams. There are more than a few good eyebrow shapes amongst these!!!

Beautifeye: State-of-the-Art Methods to Enhance and Rejuvenate the Eyes, Brow & Face

by Dr. Stephen Bosniak

Author Stephen Bosniak, both an eye surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon, has complied invaluable information regarding surgical and non-surgical procedures to help you select which ones to use to rejuvenate your eyes; everything from brow lifts to Botox and semi-permanent makeup.

It is co-authored by Dr. Marian Zilkha, an eye surgeon, who tells of the latest medical procedures from Brazil to New York.

This book is not only informative regarding micropigmentation options and eyebrow tattoos and permanent makeup solutions but is also filled with helpful illustrations. The book is endorsed by Kevyn Aucoin.

The Green Beauty Guide

by Julie Gabriel

Your Essential Resource to Organic and Natural Skin Care, Hair Care, Makeup, and Fragrances…

Nutritionist, and beauty advisor Julie Gabriel discusses green health and beauty, and ways to make your own beauty products.

Yes I know this book has nothing to do with eyebrow tattoos in specific, but since I love to make my own beauty products with olive oil, shea butter, avocado and cucumber, I thought I’d share this with you, so that after your permanent makeup procedure you can come home to nourish your skin in natural ways and keep your permanent makeup permanently lovely on fresh skin.

Although cosmetic tattooing can be performed for vanity, as in my case, there are many people who use this technology to restore natural features that have been lost due to certain diseases such as multiple sclerosis or the results of hair loss after a chemotherapy or for those who have a condition known as alopecia and have lost all facial hair.

It is also a practical solution to makeup application for seniors who do not have steady hands, or for those who are visually impaired and can’t apply their own makeup on a daily basis. Many women are also allergic to cosmetic products and although they desire to enhance their natural beauty with a little touch here and there are unable to do so and therefore opt for cosmetic tattooing.

Permanent Make Up and Sensible Vanity

For those of us who choose cosmetic tattooing or permanent make up for reasons that appear to be purely vanity based, there is a sensible side to it too. Active professional woman may choose eyebrow tattooing or permanent eyeliner or lip liner to better manage their time. Many career oriented woman need to look great but have demanding careers that don’t permit them to fuss and fret over their makeup everyday.

Permanent make-up can save time and frustration for a busy professional who gets up early, cares for family or children and then must look “put together” at the office. For business women who travel a lot it can be a godsend to arrive at an airport just in time for a meeting and be already made up, eyebrows perfect and eyeliner un-smudged so that with a dash of lip gloss she’s ready for the boardroom.