There is a straightforward principle to permanent eyeliner aftercare in Australia: be gentle with your eyelids as the pigment does its work. In the opening 24 or 48 hours you will want to keep them dry and refrain from rubbing; do as your technician has put in writing since their methods and products are not all the same.
I am Elowen Powell and one can see how cosmetic treatments lend themselves to confusion when opinions are at odds. Permanent eyeliner is something of an oddity, neither a tattoo nor make up, and it is no cause for poring over with a magnifying glass at midnight. I have put together this guide to set out the usual course of events, where people tend to err and the point at which a doctor’s opinion is called for.
What happens during the healing
Aftercare is a matter of letting the skin mend and the pigment take hold without interference. You may notice some flaking, tightness, uneven colour or a temporary darkening of the lash line. It is easy to think the treatment has left you with a very sharp, dark result right away but that is not how it will be once the skin has settled, so do not be in a hurry to pass judgement.
A case of normal healing
Healing of permanent makeup eyeliner is typically a slow business. The first couple of days could see a little lymph fluid, some tenderness or mild swelling; the line will seem bold and a night’s sleep might leave the upper lids puffy. Those considering a winged eyeliner tattoo should expect similar healing.
Between day 3 and 10 there is often some light scabbing or flaking of the skin as the old surface pigment gives way and the colour appears patchy. Under no circumstances should you rub or pick at it or attempt to put right the shape with eye makeup. While seven to 14 days is the norm for visible healing, the time taken for an eyeliner tattoo to fully heal is dependent on your health, lifestyle and the technique used. The pigment will go on settling even after the surface seems unremarkable.
Reality check
You might expect to walk out with an eyeliner look to be proud of. In reality you are walking out with skin that has been treated and will require some patience, and a touch up down the track perhaps. Or you may think a darker colour is indicative of good retention; more likely the line will soften as the top layer of pigment flakes off. To anticipate the first day holding true is an sure way to get worked up for nothing.
The importance of the first 48 hours
It is in these first two days that your habits count. Make sure the area around the lash line is free of bacteria, moisture and friction. Too many people make the mistake of overdoing it. There is no call for a cabinet of special products or for you to be cleaning and touching the area constantly. Boring and gentle is best.
Do this
- Wash your hands first.
- Heed the technician’s instructions on his or her products. Should any fluid build up, use a clean tissue to blot, not to wipe.
- Only wet the eyelids if told to by your provider.
- An uncomfortable amount of swelling can be soothed with a cold compress applied through some fabric; never put ice to the skin or press on the line.
- And if you are prone to puffiness, try sleeping with your head propped up, not on your face.
- Let the flaking and loose pigment be. Your eyelids are not for renovating.
On swelling and lymph
Some swelling is to be expected on the upper lids when you wake up. If it is only mild it should get better. A cold compress is fine for comfort but do not put undue pressure on new skin. You may see a small quantity of clear or tinged lymph fluid; a clean dry tissue will do and remember to wash your hands. But if there is thick discharge, redness that is spreading or pain that is getting worse, that is another matter and you would be wise to seek medical advice.
Days 3 to 10
This is the unglamorous part of aftercare for an eyeliner tattoo. The line can be drier and lighter than you had in mind as the surface sheds, but it is not a sign of failure. Restraint is key here. Any meddling with scabs or flaking is an invitation to irritation and will compromise the pigment.
Then there is the flaking
It is not unusual for some small flakes to detach of their own accord as you blink or put your face through its wash in line with what your provider has put in place. Resist the urge to pick at any scabbing, no matter how much a corner seems to be on the point of giving way.
When drying off, do not have your fingertips, a cotton pad or towel make work of your eyelids; a pat will do for the skin around them, provided you are careful not to let the fabric drag across the lash line. Should you find the itching hard to bear, put down any creams or oils and get in touch with the professional who did the work.
Patchy Colour Is Common
In the course of healing from permanent makeup eyeliner you might notice a darker spot here and a faint one there. It is only temporary but uneven shedding, the texture of the eyelid and swelling can all have an effect on the pigment.
Corrective work should not be put on the books too soon. Let the skin and colour come to rest so the practitioner can make a proper assessment of the outcome before a touch up is in order.
What To Avoid While Healing
A knowledge of which of your daily habits will cause trouble makes aftercare less of a burden. Things like friction, cosmetics, water and heat have the potential to set back the healing process or irritate the area.
You may think some of the restrictions are fussy until you recall where the treatment is in relation to the eye. Being a little precious about it is called for.
Heat, Water And Sweat
Your practitioner will advise a period during which you are to forgo steamy showers, swimming, the sauna and anything that brings on a good sweat. The moisture and heat will soften the scabbing and have you wanting to wipe your eyes. Put off the beach or a hot-yoga session and long runs for a while. In the Top End the humidity of summer or the Australian heat in general can be unkind to the area. You would be better off with a cool day indoors than a sweaty one.
Cosmetics And Skincare
Hold off on mascara, eyeliner and other eye makeup until the surface has healed and your provider gives the all clear. There is always the risk of bacteria in old cosmetics and putting them on is an exercise in rubbing the eyelid. Lash extensions are to be kept at a distance for now. As for retinoids, oils and chemical exfoliants, unless a qualified professional is in favour of them they can be irritating to sensitive skin and should be kept well away from the lash line.
| Activity Or Product | Why It Can Cause Trouble | Safer Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Eye makeup and mascara | Rubbing is part of removal and it can bring in bacteria | Let the provider give the go ahead once healed |
| Swimming | Microbes and chlorine are no good for fresh skin | Only when the healing is done and you have been advised |
| Sauna and steamy showers | Flaking skin will be softened by the heat and moisture | A comfortably warm and brief shower is preferable |
| Heavy sweating | Tends to sting and you will be tempted to touch | Hold off on any strenuous activity in the healing window |
| Retinoids and chemical exfoliants | An irritant to the eyelid | Do not use on the lash line in recovery |
Makeup, Swimming And Exercise
One size does not fit all when it comes to the day you can safely get back to everything. Your technician’s word is what counts and the surface needs to be fully healed, not just less of a show. Most will see out the 7 to 14 days of visible healing before they swim or put on eye makeup or do any hard exercise. If there is still scabbing or tenderness, be patient and seek some advice.
Returning To Daily Routines
Do not share a face cloth and see to it that towels are clean. Any mascara that was opened prior to the treatment and came into contact with the eyelid or lashes should be binned after you have healed. Be circumspect in how you apply and take off products, do not drag them over the tattooed part.
With exercise it is a matter of the conditions as much as the calendar. A brisk walk in Adelaide on a cool day is quite different to training hard in the summer.
Sun And Australian Conditions
Once the skin is sound, sun protection will go some way to ward off UV fading. Heed your practitioner on the safe use of sunscreen near the eyelids. Open or scabbed skin is not to have it put on without a medical professional saying so.
Given the strength of the sun in Australia this is something of a habit for life, not a brief aftercare task. In Brisbane or Perth, the Pilbara or Adelaide, sunglasses are as much a necessity as a fashion statement.
Long-Term Pigment Protection
Do not mistake permanent eyeliner for being maintenance free. Over time the pigment will fade or soften from the elements, your lifestyle and the way the skin around the eyes renews itself.
The formula for good long-term care is simple: shield your eyes from the UV, be sparing with harsh products around the lash line and put in an appearance at a follow-up only once the skin has settled.
A Touch-Up
In some cases a permanent eyeliner touch up will be put forward, say if what has healed is not as dark as one would like or there are spots where the pigment has not held uniformly. Do not make judgements on patchiness while the skin is flaking, wait until it has properly healed.
Find out from the practitioner if there is an additional charge for this, how much of a wait is advised and what was part of the original appointment. It is well to have that in writing; after treatment one’s eyes are too tired to be relied upon for remembering all the particulars.
Getting Sound Advice
Put in a request for written instructions from your practitioner on everything from cleaning and exercise to swimming and any warning signs. A competent provider will have no trouble telling you what to expect and when medical intervention is called for.
Do not mistake Medicare or the MBS for the kind of aftercare guidance the treating practitioner should be giving. For the official word on eligibility and services, look to Services Australia’s Medicare information. And if symptoms give you cause for concern, a doctor or urgent care is the place to go; cosmetic aftercare and a medical assessment are two different things.
Medical Attention
You can put up with some discomfort but if it is spreading or getting worse it warrants a call to your practitioner without delay. Infection in an eyeliner tattoo may show itself as redness, pain or heat on the increase, swelling of note, a yellow or green discharge, fever, tender skin or red streaks. Any marked sensitivity to light, changes in vision or severe eye pain are to be regarded as urgent.
- Leave the steroid creams, household cures and antibiotics alone unless told otherwise by a health professional.
- And do not put off getting help under the impression that something is just normal swelling.
- Photographing any changes can be of assistance in showing your doctor or practitioner the way things have progressed.
Permanent Eyeliner Aftercare FAQs
For the sort of questions that come up after an appointment we have set out some answers. But the written word of your own practitioner is the most pertinent where the technique and products are concerned.
Recommended aftercare for permanent eyeliner?
As you are directed, keep the eyelids dry, do not rub or pick at them and blot any fluid with a clean tissue. Put away the mascara and eye makeup, forgo the sauna or a steamy shower and do not swim or work up a heavy sweat until the surface is mended. Should you see no improvement in your symptoms, get in touch with your provider.
What makes for the best aftercare in Australia?
Instructions that are specific to the treatment and in writing. You want to be protecting the area from friction, water and the direct sun, which in these parts can be hot and bright. Sunglasses are a good idea post-treatment but they must not bear down on the eyelids.
How long is aftercare necessary?
Most of it in the first 24 to 48 hours and then again from day 3 to 10 when scabbing and flaking are likely. Some will need to be more cautious over the 7 to 14 days of healing, or longer if the skin is still irritable. If in doubt, ask your provider before resuming your usual routine.
Is there a Medicare aftercare period?
Not for permanent eyeliner. The timetable for healing is set by your practitioner, Medicare has its own rules on benefits and eligible services. Need a medical opinion on a symptom? Contact a doctor.
Can I tell right away if a winged style is safe?
No. Swelling and the pigment on the surface will make a winged or other permanent eyeliner appear less even or sharper than it is. Let the healing run its course before you pass judgement on the shape or broach the subject of a touch-up.
An Aftercare Plan
In Australia permanent eyeliner aftercare comes down to patience, keeping your hands and eyelids clean and not touching the area. The first 48 hours will be the most obvious, then from day 3 to 10 the colour will change and there will be flaking. Be serious about any pain, discharge or vision problems and stay clear of heat and friction at the lash line. A bit of self-restraint is the surest way to let the eyeliner settle and means you will not be poring over it with the torch on your phone in a state of anxiety.