Are some permanent makeup products better than others?

Since my first permanent cosmetics training in 1987, I have performed thousands of procedures and mentored many apprentices. I have used every major brand out there. In the beginning years we didn't know what to look for in pigments, as far as quality or safety, function or longevity.

I was fortunate to have found LIPigments (Lasting Impressions Aqua) almost 5 years ago. I tried them, I loved them and I wouln't consider anything else.

The cosmetic tattooing industry is fortunate to have the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals - SPCP - to rely on. The SPCP implemented safety standards and ingredients disclosure to which all it's pigment suppliers must comply.

I like Dr. Linda Dixon's products as well as the one I have been using for many years now. This company has built up a very good rep for itself; the name is Softap.

I read a very disturbing article that Dr. Linda Dixon had posted about a bad allergic reaction one had with a product called Premier Pigments. Be sure to ask your technician what brand of pigments they use, check out the website and see if that company will list the ingredients in the pigments.

There are countless brands of permanent makeup products on the market. Many claim to be "natural" or "fade-resistant". The truth is that the human body will, over time, gently wash away as much of the pigment as it can. There are no pigments that will stay fresh-looking forever.

Safety is a concern when selecting pigments. The FDA does not regulate permanent makeup pigments, and there have been some horror stories reported as a result of this. As of now, I am aware of only one company that produces pigments that have been put through clinical trials to confirm that they are hypoallergenic.

This line of products is known as Kolorsource, the brain-child of Linda Dixon, M.D., a Hawaii-based anesthesiologist who is also the president of the American Academy of Micropigmentation. Dr. Dixon is one of the World's leading authorities on pigment allergies and reactions.

Kolorsource's pigments are not only safe and effective, they come in a wide variety of beautiful shades from natural to dramatic.