There are three basic tenets to eyeliner tattoo aftercare in Australia: let the pigment be while the skin is mending, keep the eyes as dry as you can and make sure the area is clean. Hygiene is important but so is patience; a new cosmetic tattoo will often seem uneven, or darker and thicker than it will once it has settled.
This guide from me, Oliver Westbrook, is written in no nonsense Australian English to walk you through the healing of an eyeliner tattoo. Whether one opts for a fine upper line, something with a bit of shade or a tattooed lower lash line, the rules are the same. I have put together some sensible aftercare and a day-by-day account of what to expect, not to mention when to seek professional counsel on swimming, makeup or other matters.
Fresh Eyeliner Aftercare
The point of aftercare is to shield the vulnerable skin about the eyes from water, sweat and the like as the colour takes hold and the surface closes. It spares one from the kind of irritation that rubbing or picking will bring.
It is easy to fall into the trap of wanting the finished article right away. The fresh pigment is going to be bold and the eyelids might feel puffy or tight, but do not mistake that for the end result.
In the Wake of Treatment
A specialist machine is used to put the pigment in the skin. You may find the spot is a little red or tender, and for the first hours or so some have watery eyes. A thin layer will form over the skin for protection. When this dries out and starts to flake the tattoo can look patchy or of a lighter hue. Alarming if you were hoping for a crisp black line come morning, but so long as symptoms are mild and on the mend it is nothing to worry about.
Extra Precautions
Those prone to allergies, with dry or sensitive skin, or who have had a reaction to cosmetics in the past would do well to heed their practitioner’s word. Make sure the cosmetic tattooist is aware of any medications or medical history prior to the procedure. If you are a contact lens wearer, put in a pair of glasses while the eyelids are sore and enquire as to when you can go back to lenses. Any sign of an infection or conjunctivitis is a matter for a doctor.
Make Of The First 24 Hours
How you spend the first day is indicative of how comfortable the rest of the recovery will be. Simple things like washing your hands before you put them to your face count for a lot.
People have a way of overdoing it at this stage. To be constantly checking the eyeliner or dabbing at your eyes and slathering on cream will only agitate the area. Eyes are not a home renovation, all that fiddling does not make for a better finish.
Checklist For Immediate Care
- Hands should be washed before you touch the treated area.
- Where you can, keep water off the eyeliner and the eyes.
- No rubbing of the eyelids.
- Stick to the ointment your practitioner has put you on.
- A light application of cream if told to do so, do not put on too much.
- Put on a fresh pillowcase for the night and do not press your face into it.
Hold off on mascara, oils, lash serum and the rest until the early healing is done and your practitioner has given the nod. On the first day stay clear of soap and cleanser on the tattooed skin, then follow the instructions you were given.
Healing Day By Day
One cannot put a promise on the process, as technique, health and even the climate will have their say. In Australia the humidity and heat can have you sweating more or the inland air will leave the lids feeling taut. But your practitioner’s advice supersedes any general rule.
Days One And Two
Expect the eyeliner to be more pronounced. There can be some swelling or redness and the upper lids can seem heavy after a night’s sleep.
Should you be using an aftercare cream, a little goes a long way; use a clean applicator or your hands. Anything more risks smudging.
Days Three To Five
As the peeling commences you may see some flakes and the skin can be dry. The colour will not be uniform as parts of it shed ahead of others.
Resist the urge to pick at it, you could be taking the pigment with you and harming the skin in the process. A rough appearance for a day or two is to be expected; let the surface shed on its own.
Days Six To Fourteen
For the most part peeling will subside in this period, though you may find the colour is not as pronounced as one would think, being of a softer or lighter hue. It is not uncommon for some to say the eyeliner has all but vanished only to put in an appearance again of its own accord.
Resist the urge to rub and put off any eye makeup until the skin is completely closed and your practitioner has given the go ahead. Do not be fooled by a healed looking surface when the colour beneath is yet to stabilise.
After Two Weeks
It can take longer than a fortnight for the colour to settle. Once healing is done the practitioner will typically make an assessment for a touch up, having seen where the pigment has held up well.
There is no point in judging the outcome prematurely. Should the eyeliner appear uneven, have patience and await the review rather than trying to put it right with makeup or going to another establishment for an unsupervised correction.
| Healing stage | What you may notice | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| First 24 hours | Expect some tightness, dark colour and perhaps mild swelling or watery eyes | Keep it clean, don’t rub and put the cream to use as directed |
| Days 2–5 | The pigment will be uneven and there will be flaking and dryness | Let the flakes go, do not pick at them |
| Days 6–14 | A gradual recovery of the surface and a lighter colour | Gentle care and no eye makeup |
| After two weeks | The colour settles and retention can be better gauged | Make your way to the recommended review before any touch up is contemplated |
This is the usual order of things, not something set in stone. Worsening symptoms warrant professional opinion.
Keep Your Eyes Clean And Dry
One does not need to be aggressive with hygiene. The idea is to get rid of the odd bit of debris without scrubbing at the tattooed skin or bringing anything unclean to the eyes. Have clean hands, that is more to be had than a cupboard of products. Your cosmetic tattooist will have provided a method for a reason; pigments and techniques vary and so does the care they call for.
Gentle Cleaning
Make sure your hands are properly washed. Where cleaning is allowed, a light touch with the sterile product put forward is all that is needed. Cotton pads should not be dragged back and forth over the eyeliner. A disposable can be used to pat the skin around it if you are so advised.
Shower water should not run directly over the area. Tilt your head back to wash your hair and keep the shampoo from the eyelids. If it does get wet, there is no need to fret, just pat it dry.
Some common errors in hygiene
Applying old mascara in the wake of treatment, sharing cosmetics or reusing a face towel for days on end is a recipe for contamination and irritation. See to it that hands, towels and pillowcases are spotless. Household moisturiser, petroleum and essential oils have no place near the tattoo, nor any cream not put forward by the practitioner. A stinging product is a sign to put it down and put in a call to your practitioner or a health professional.
Irritants and Safe Products
The aftercare advice proffered to Australia’s readers tends to be straightforward: eschew experimentation while healing and stick to what is in writing from your practitioner. There is no one size fits all aftercare cream for an eyeliner tattoo; what is fine for one client will be an irritant to the next. Rely on the ointment your qualified practitioner has supplied.
Things to stay away from
Mascara, liquid or pencil liner, eyeshadow, glitter, lash adhesive and remover are all to be kept from the healing area. So too with active skincare like exfoliating acids, retinoids and anything with fragrance. An antibiotic cream is for prescription only; superfluous medication can mask symptoms that require attention.
Activities That Can Delay Healing
If water, heat or the sun are to be had, they will make for an uncomfortable recovery and possibly open the surface up again.
Think about your calendar before you book. To have cosmetic tattooing done right before a trip to the beach or a summer festival is to invite trouble.
Swimming
While the surface is mending, pools, spas and the open water are out. Salt, chlorine and the like will aggravate a new tattoo. In the tropics in the wet season the humidity and rain are enough of an impediment to keeping the eyelids dry. You may have a waterproof plan but a fresh eyelid is not the spot to put it to the test.
Heat, Exercise And Sun
As for exercise, saunas and steam rooms, leave them for later when the sweating has subsided and the early healing is behind you.
When the skin is healed, shield it from the sun with a hat and put on your sun protection in the vicinity of any open or peeling skin, but not on it. This will guard against the irritation and pigment changes that direct sunlight can cause. As for putting sunscreen near the eyelids, defer to your practitioner as to when that is safe.
Dealing With Swelling And Discomfort
Some swelling after an eyeliner tattoo is to be expected and for the most part will subside in the first few days. You will be more at ease by resting in a clean space and staying away from heat.
Do not put a cold or frosty compress in contact with the skin. Should your practitioner give the ok for one, encase it in something clean and apply it for a short while, making sure you do not press into the eyeliner.
Things That Will Help
If there is some swelling, prop your head up a little when you rest. Drink as you normally would and forgo salty food if you are prone to holding fluid. Need pain relief? Put down whatever an internet source has suggested and put in a call to a doctor or pharmacist.
For watery eyes, a light dab with a bit of clean disposable material is the way to go; repeated wiping over the eyeliner will only rub the wrong way.
When To Act
Ordinarily the healing process will grow less of an issue. But should you see redness or swelling on the increase, or feel more pain than the usual post-treatment sensitivity, that is another matter. Do not let an online piece of writing be the arbiter of a serious concern; get in touch with your cosmetic tattooist for advice on the procedure or a doctor/urgent care if it seems to be an eye problem.
Professional Advice
- Any of the following calls for a prompt visit to the doctor: marked light sensitivity or swelling, vision changes, or eye pain of a severe or mounting nature.
- The same for signs of infection such as a fever, pus or redness that is spreading.
- An allergic reaction will manifest as a rash, trouble breathing or facial swelling, in which case urgent care is called for.
- If the treated area is in any way damaged or pigment gets in the eye, your practitioner should be notified.
The Better Health Channel’s sound Australian guidance on eye injuries and the need for medical assessment is useful for general information. When the eye is involved, medical opinion trumps cosmetic aftercare.
Reality Check
One might expect the eyeliner to be done and dusted right away. In fact the initial look may be more pronounced and swollen than the colour once it has settled.
Peeling is not a sign of a botched job, it is controlled flaking in the course of healing; picking at it is what is to be worried about, as is an inflamed area.
And a thick layer of cream is no better for healing than a thin one, it is just messy and irritating. Heed the instructions and don’t put on a glossy coating.
FAQs
How long for an eyeliner tattoo to heal?
Typically a week or two for the surface, though the colour can take longer to set. Since healing is not uniform, wait until your practitioner has had a review before forming an opinion on the outcome.
Washing the face?
In the early going, keep water off the area but otherwise yes. Be gentle around the eyes and stick to what your cosmetic tattooist has put in place.
Makeup?
Not until the skin is fully mended and no longer tender, and then check with your practitioner. Put it on too soon and you risk bacteria and irritation.
Is the swelling normal?
A day or two of mild swelling is. More home remedies are not the answer if you have discharge, severe pain or your vision is affected; see a professional.
Touch ups?
If the colour is uneven once the skin has made its recovery, the original practitioner or his equal may put in a recommendation for a touch-up.
Aftercare in a Nutshell
There is no need to overcomplicate permanent eyeliner aftercare in Australia. Use the products we approve, do not pick or rub, stay out of the pool and avoid heavy perspiration, and keep the eyes dry. Some patience will save you the bother and expense of an irritated eyelid down the track. If things turn for the worse or the eye is concerned, make a move to get professional help rather than trying to fix it yourself.