Loving my Long Time Liner. I better, it’s on for the next 1-3 years, more or less.

(see – you can HARDLY see it. note child, scratches on face from 10-month old and lovely new lashes by the beyond fabulous Juliana Landis – more on her next week! my lord, do i look like a muppet here or what?)

I had sent my trusty editor, Tara, to check out Long Time Liner Conture Make-Up in Beverly Hills a few months back as I was way too scared to even consider a semi-permanent eye liner for myself. Are you kidding? A needle to my eye?! The thought of it gave me the heebie jeebies. And the look? Way too old lady for me. About as old lady as the expression heebie jeebies.

Tara went on to write a lovely piece informing us about what this semi-permanent eyeliner is all about. But she too chickened out and never had it done. It's a major commitment, what if it goes wrong?! Being that GROOMED L.A. only writes about what we've tried, first hand, I couldn't publish her piece. Sorry Tara!

A few weeks ago, I was walking on Bedford and decided to check it out for myself. Tara had raved about the uber-natural look on the two technicians (called Linergists, get it?) and I had to get a look at them. Wow, she wasn't kidding. The eye liner looked amazing. It was practically inside the lash line. The lips looks great, though not for me and the brows seemed natural, also not for me. But the liner! It looked outstanding so I decided to take the plunge myself.

Needless to say I was terrified as the (awesome) Jacqui drew liner on me to show me where she would be, basically, tattooing my eye line. How creepy does that sound? I made sure she knew, by drilling it into her at least 100 times that I don't want it noticeable! She assured me she would go super thin, light and deep in my lash-line so it wouldn't stand out. My eyes would simply pop from having them rimmed in a deep, dark lash line.

We started. Lots of wiping of teary eyes, lots of application and reapplication of numbing cream, and then, the electric needle part (oh man, the things I do for you). OY. OY. OY. But an hour later, I was done. Upper and lower lids, fintio.

It hurt in a way that I can't really explain. If you can get your mind off the fact that a needle with ink is being applied within millimeters of your eye – then the pain may not be that bad. But a lot if it is psychological. I did my best to think of other things. Like frozen yogurt. And massages. Didn't work so well. But, I made it through. I left with my eyes just slightly puffy and a bit raw, so to speak. I had a very dark black line under the bottom lashes and Jacqui assured me that it would fall off, like a scab, and a lighter more natural line would be revealed.

She was right. Within three days, the black line fell off and I had an ever so slight liner so close to my lash line it was practically in it. My hubby loved the look. Score. It took me a day or two to adjust, as I usually don't wear liner at all. I was told to come back in ten days for my second application to make sure it lasts the one to two years promised. I thought about bailing and sticking with what I had but decided to finish what I started. Not to mention, I started to LOVE IT.

The lower line is totally understated, a deep charcoal color, and the upper lid is deep in the lash line – it IS like having eyeliner on but really no one notices. I'm still a bit on the fence about the edges, or the 'wing' as the call it, but Jacqui said to come in and she can soften it. I've been asking my friends what they think, drawing them in to take a closer look because they don't even notice what I'm talking about until they get really close and the response has been: OH YAH, I didn't even notice it – it looks amazing – I want it!

Ok, so exactly what IS semi-permanent? Well, the color is pigmented only into the first layer of the skin, the epidermis, so unlike a regular tattoo, this one only lasts from one to three years. Over time the make-up can be touched up or left to fade. I think this and lash extensions are the perfect no make up, no hassle look that's perfect for a mom who is usually covered in slop but still wants to look like I've showered. Or give a shit. Or haven't given up yet. For me, it's all about simplicity, a time-saving routine and always looking as natural and un-made-up as possible.

Long time liner just made my day even better. I can pop out of the shower, throw on a tinted moisturizer, some highlighter or illuminator, pink cheeks and I'm good to go. Heaven!

This is also a life saver for women with Alopecia or recovering from hair loss due to chemo treatments. The "Linergists" are trained in:

Recovering Pigmentation

Lip contours for clients with smudged lip contours due to Herpes Simplex, Impetigo Contagiosa, Cleft Palate, etc.
Eyelash drawing for clients with hair loss due to burns, Alopecia Areata, Chemotherapy treatments

Reforming pigmentation