For the busy woman who complains about putting on makeup every day, there is another option: Permanent Cosmetic Makeup.

PCM is a process in which pigment is placed into the dermis layer of the skin, similar to conventional tattooing, except the color is not placed as deeply into the skin.

PCM is a cosmetic technique which employs tattoos, permanent pigmentation of the dermis, as a means of producing designs that resemble makeup, such as eyeliner and other permanent enhancing colors to the skin of the face, lips and eyelids.

It is also used to produce artificial eyebrows, particularly in people who have lost them as a consequence of old age, disease, such as alopecia, chemotherapy or a genetic disturbance, and to disguise scars and white spots in the skin such as in vitiligo.

It is also used to restore or enhance the breast’s areola, such as after breast surgery.

Most commonly called permanent cosmetics, other names include dermapigmentation, micropigmentation and cosmetic tattooing.

In the United States and other countries, the inks used in permanent makeup and the pigments in these inks are subject to FDA or similar agency regulation as cosmetics and color additives.

When a skilled technician applies this pigment, permanent makeup can recreate the appearance of brows, a fuller lash line, subtle eyeliner and even add color to lips.

Each procedure takes approximately one hour.

This procedure is for busy women who are on the go, individuals with vision problems, women with tremors or arthritis in their hands, active women, women who have lost brows or lashes or women who just want to look their best all the time.

After UNA student Katelyn Wilson saw the success from her mother’s Permanent Cosmetic Makeup she decided that for her 18th birthday she wanted to get her eyeliner tattooed on.

Wilson said that the procedure was 30 minutes long and with the numbing cream she was given she felt little pain.

“I have tattoos on other parts of my body and they hurt much worst than the eyeliner tattoo I got on my eyes,” said Wilson.

Even though Wilson has permanent eyeliner, she is still able to mix things up.

“When I want to change something I just put real makeup on over what I already have,” said Wilson.

However, there are some risks associated with PCM.

According to the Food and Drug Administration website, there are primary complications and risks that can result from tattooing.

Infection, removal problems, allergic reactions, granulomas, keloid formation and MRI complications are all complications that can occur with PCM.

There also have been reports of tattoo pigments interfering with the quality of the image. This seems to occur mainly when a person with permanent eyeliner undergoes an MRI of the eyes. Mascara may produce a similar effect. The difference is that mascara is easily removable.

The most common problem with PCM is dissatisfaction. A common problem that may develop with tattoos is the desire to remove them. Removing tattoos and permanent makeup can be very difficult.

Also, if the tattooist injects the pigments too deeply into the skin, the pigments may migrate beyond the original sites, resulting in a blurred appearance.

Another cause of dissatisfaction is that the human body changes over time, and styles change rapidly.

The permanent makeup that may have looked flattering when first injected may later clash with changing skin tones and facial or body contours.

People who plan to have facial cosmetic surgery are advised that the appearance of their permanent makeup may become distorted.