The Truth about Organic Permanent Makeup

Understandably, there is confusion and concern in the marketplace about the dangers of “homemade” or “Organic” Permanent Makeup – and its reckless claims circulating in the market.

The Facts

#1) A Regulated Business

In California, application of Body Art is regulated by The Safe Body Art Act (AB300) as amended. As of July 1, 2012, this law requires Body Art practitioners to comply with specified requirements, including, all inks, dyes, and pigments MUST be commercially manufactured.  This law, in Section 119311, states: (b) Only commercially manufactured inks, dyes, and pigments shall be used.1

Therefore, anyone producing their own inks, dyes or pigments is violating the law and placing your health at grave risk. Using inks, dyes or pigments not produced in a commercial laboratory is a clear violation of California law and should also be reported immediately to the County Health Department.

Worse, without being produced in commercial laboratories, such homemade or black market inks and pigments may be carcinogenic or toxic, cause scarring, granulomas or reproductive harm. This also places the victim at risk of infection, allergic or anaphylactic reaction and toxic shock — all of which can require hospitalization or prove fatal.

#2) There are no certified “Organic” permanent makeup inks, dyes or pigments in the market.

In the absence of a U.S. Government Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) accredited “organic certification” seal which literally defines “organic” — anyone claiming to offer such products is either grossly incompetent or a fraud. Incompetence is unlikely, as all providers of such service must be licensed by the state (see #1 above) and agree to comply with these simple regulations.

 

The U.S. Government’s USDA website states: a cosmetic, body care product or personal care product contains or is made up of agricultural ingredients, and can meet the USDA/NOP organic production, handling, processing and labeling standards, it may be eligible to be certified under the NOP regulations.

The operations which produce the organic agricultural ingredients, the handlers of these agricultural ingredients, and the manufacturer of the final product must all be certified by a USDA-accredited organic certifying agent.

 

For more info, see http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5068442.

 

What You Can Do

  1. Ask. If a provider claims their tattoo products are “organic,” demand to know exactly which USDA accredited firm certifies it as organic, when, and then verify that directly with the certifying firm. It’s YOUR face. Legitimate providers of organic products welcome such inquiries.
  2. Run. If any tattoo permanent makeup provider says their inks or pigments are homemade, they are violating state law (see #1 above).
  3. Compare. Research a variety of providers and compare their services, prices, what their work looks like before making your decision.
  4. Report. Don’t be a victim, and help to protect the less informed. If you find a provider making baseless or fraudulent organic or homemade product claims, report them the L.A. County Health Department at (888) 700-9995

Bottom line?

  1. There is no such thing as “organic” permanent makeup.

To be certified “Organic,” every product manufacturer must be inspected by a USDA accredited certifying agency that awards the manufacturer with an Organic seal. This includes inspecting the raw ingredients and how they were originally produced as well as the manufacturing and storage processes.

For more info see: http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/index.cfm    

  1. No USDA accredited Organic seal? It is not Fraudulently using terms such as ‘Organic’ is illegal. Calling tattoos ‘permanent make up’ is confusing at best, if not deliberately deceptive.
  1. Organic or not, homemade or other black market permanent makeup inks are illegal and dangerous.
  1. Don’t be a victim. Before you waste your money and develop skin boils, scarring, and allergic reactions – or find yourself in the back of an ambulance being transported to the hospital for a toxic shock – you owe it to yourself to take two minutes and read this informative article about:
  1. If it seems too good to be true?

To save money, would you trust your face to a purveyor of fraudulent or illegal tattoo inks — and risk permanent disfigurement — when there are reputable providers of healthy, quality permanent and semi-permanent makeup services in available?