Eyelash growth serums like Latisse are a fantastic option for anyone that’s not happy with their natural eyelashes. But does Latisse fade permanent eyeliner?
No, Latisse does not fade permanent eyeliner. The serum is designed to boost eyelash growth and won’t alter your permanent makeup.
What Is Latisse?
Latisse is a prescription eyelash growth treatment. In addition to lengthening lashes, it can make lashes thicker and darker. It’s a serum that’s designed to be applied directly to eyelashes.
The active ingredient in Latisse is bimatoprost, which is also the active ingredient in the glaucoma drug Lumigan. (1)
Glaucoma patients that used Lumigan noticed that the eye drops were lengthening their lashes. This led to the development of Latisse.
Unlike most eyelash growth serums, Latisse is FDA-approved. When used regularly, it can dramatically change the appearance of lashes within two months.
While Latisse is commonly prescribed to people suffering from alopecia, it can be used by people that want to enhance their lashes as well.
There are many lash-enhancing treatments available but Latisse is the only FDA-approved and clinically proven product on the market. (2)
Since Latisse requires a prescription, it can be harder to obtain than other products, but you may find that it’s worth it if you’re looking for guaranteed results.
Latisse is typically prescribed for lashes, but it can also encourage your eyebrows to grow. If you have thin eyebrows, you can try applying any excess serum to your brow hair for thicker and fuller brows.
Will Latisse Fade Permanent Eyeliner?
Latisse should not have any impact on your permanent eyeliner. While permanent makeup naturally fades over time, Latisse won’t do anything to make it lose its color.
In fact, since Latisse can darken eyelashes, it could actually make your eyeliner more prominent.
With that said, there are some side effects that have been linked to Latisse. These side effects include:
- Dry eyes
- Hair growth around the eyes
- Red and itchy eyes
- Temporarily darkened eyelids
- Brown pigmentation in the iris
When Latisse is not used correctly, it can also cause eye infections. To prevent infections, you should avoid touching the tip of the applicator with your fingers.
If you touch the applicator directly, bacteria on your fingers can wind up on the applicator.
That bacteria can then wind up in your serum, where it can eventually spread. If you accidentally touch the applicator, make sure you clean it thoroughly before placing it in the bottle.
Can You Use Latisse After Permanent Eyeliner?
Even though Latisse won’t cause your permanent eyeliner to fade, you should be cautious about using the serum immediately after it’s applied.
For best results, it’s best to follow aftercare instructions closely. This may mean avoiding applying any products to your eyes.
Usually, you’ll be told to avoid using topical products on the eyes while they are healing.
If you’re already using Latisse, you may have to avoid using it for a few days or even a few weeks while your eyes recover.
Applying products to your eyes can interfere with the healing process and could increase the risk of infection.
If you use Latisse or another eyelash serum, you should talk to the technician about your serum before your permanent eyeliner is applied.
That way, the technician will be able to give you clear aftercare instructions and tell you when you can safely use Latisse again.
Can You Wear Mascara With Latisse?
Wearing mascara won’t interfere with Latisse. You can use any type of mascara while using this lash serum, including mascara that is waterproof.
While it’s usually recommended that you apply Latisse before bed, you can even wear mascara over Latisse.
With that said, you should be aware that Latisse could potentially change your mascara habits. Since Latisse can make lashes longer, darker, and thicker, you may not need to wear as much mascara as you used to.
You may also find that a lighter, more natural-looking product, gives you better results.
You should also make sure that you don’t have mascara on your lashes when you apply Latisse.
If you use Latisse in the evening, use a makeup remover to take off your mascara before you apply the serum.
When using Latisse in the morning, you should always apply it before makeup.
Can Latisse be used by everyone?
In addition to the side effects, there are some people that aren’t considered to be good candidates for Latisse.
The product is not recommended for those who are pregnant or nursing because it hasn’t been sufficiently tested.
You should also avoid Latisse if you have a history of eye irritations or allergies.
Can you overuse Latisse?
If your doctor believes that you’re a good candidate for Latisse, but you’re concerned about side effects, you can reduce the risk by only applying a small amount of Latisse.
Since the serum is very potent, you only need to use a single drop to get results.
To keep the serum from dripping onto other parts of your face, it can be helpful to apply a drop of serum to an eyelash brush.
That way, you can control how the serum is distributed, ensuring that it doesn’t wind up anywhere but your lashes.
If you drop Latisse directly onto your lashes, it can spread and smear, which can cause irritation.
It’s recommended to apply Latisse in the evening as part of your nighttime routine.
You should wash your entire face before applying Latisse, removing all non-permanent makeup and contact lenses.
If there is any excess product after you apply the serum, you should wipe it away with a dry tissue.
Best Way To Care For Permanent Eyeliner
You don’t have to worry about your permanent eyeliner when you’re using Latisse, but you should take certain steps if you want to keep your permanent makeup from fading.
Make sure you take these steps to keep your eyeliner in excellent shape!
- Follow aftercare instructions as closely as possible. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions as needed!
- While you’re healing, sleep with your head elevated to avoid swelling.
- If your eyes swell, use ice packs to bring the swelling down. You may want to wrap the ice in gauze to keep your eyes from getting wet.
- Use a healing gel. Applying a gel to your eyes as they heal will leave you with a bolder color that’s slower to fade.
- Ask the technician about any products that you use on your face and eyes. Don’t use any products that they don’t approve of.
- Always wear sunglasses when you’re outside, even during the fall and winter.
- Wear a sweatband while exercising to keep sweat out of your eyes.
- Stick to gentle cleansers. Products containing harsh ingredients can damage the delicate skin on your eye.
- Schedule touch-ups. Even though permanent makeup isn’t truly permanent, you can make your eyeliner last by having touch-ups done when the color starts to fade.
What Not To Do After Getting Permanent Eyeliner
In addition to taking the right steps to protect your permanent makeup, you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared for the procedure and don’t do anything that could damage your eyeliner tattoo:
- Stay away from swimming pools and hot tubs while your eyes are healing. You should avoid saunas and steamy showers as well.
- Don’t apply makeup or skincare products to your eyes until after they’ve healed.
- Avoid tanning beds. Excessive sun exposure will cause your eyeliner to fade much more quickly.
- Don’t use any old makeup products on your eyes. Toss out your old mascara and replace it with something new.
- Make sure you don’t rub your eyes. If you struggle with dry eye, you may want to ask the technician if you can use eye drops.
- Don’t use physical or chemical exfoliants near your eyes, such as glycolic acid or retinol. Exfoliants encourage the shedding of skin cells, which can cause your eyeliner to fade more quickly.