I first knew I wanted to be a semi-permanent makeup artist after I was the unfortunate recipient of a bad procedure on my lips in France. The result was a dark line and a blurry, imprecise result that left me traumatised and for a while to a certain extent (temporarily) disfigured.

The frustrating thing was that I knew that the concept was an ideal way to enhance and define the features and give an overall youthful refresh, but I was disappointed with the outcome. I became committed (almost obsessed) with investigating and studying the process, the tools and devices, the pigments as well as understanding their composition. I studied for two years under renowned dermatologist Dr. De Ramecourt.

I worked with experts to reverse engineer the entire product and all of the variables and the effects of implanting pigments into different kinds of skin as well as techniques and protocol. I learned and studied with the best experts and trained on pig skin and practiced on friends and family to best understand every possible scenario to understand and improve what existed the industry.

I knew that I was on to something when I saw that I could deliver a result that was a natural enhancement, used the right colours, including stable pigments and vitally, the correct application techniques.

I was assigned to do the revision work by a top technician who said I was so good at it because I was able to see the smallest details within each colour, enabling me to give the perfect match with such a precise understanding the process.

My big break came after I finished my apprentice training. I “gifted” my services to several stylists and colourists at a prominent salon on Avenue Montaigne in Paris, and of course their clients were impressed and they started referring me to see their clients. After 6 months in business, I literally had women flocking at the door of the small space I rented in Avenue Montaigne. First, they would get their hair done, and then come straight round to knock on the ivy bordered bay window of the small next to the salon, asking (or even begging) for a service the same day! Before I knew it, it was a full-time business with a waiting list 3 weeks long!

Today my most popular treatments are eyebrows, lip blushing, scar and stretchmark camouflage.

The biggest misconception about semi-permanent make up is that it looks artificial. It can be extremely natural and soft, just “pretty enough” and offer a truly no makeup look to enhance the natural features. That is always the goal.

I see too many clients who are in front of a camera so keeping their most natural beauty is super important. Most of my famous clients come to me for a feature refresh, a “no makeup look”. They just want to look fresh and youthful without looking like they are wearing any makeup.

The treatment I find the most rewarding to do is Trompe l’oeil (breast) areola, for breast cancer survivors. I have heard poignant stories of sheer courage, from so many women who have had to have surgeries due to breast cancer and giving them back a feeling of beauty and normalcy is a gift for me. They are so appreciative and so surprised by the realistic nature of the work and it gives them a sense of confidence. It is so rewarding to be able to give them back what was taken away from them by their traumatic situation. The immediate boost of renewed confidence and the tremendous joy from acquiring back a look of normalcy, feeling complete again and ready to turn the page on this difficult chapter, is a very special moment for them and me.

The next big thing to look out for in semi-permanent make-up will be white roll lip border and Phillium column enhancement, an additional perfect pout protocol for the area at the cupids bow and above to restore the youthfulness we all lose over time. In fact, lips are at their perfect shape, proportion, definition, colour and volume at about 15 years old! So, we live a long time afterwards without that same look, but we can restore it!

The big thing to be wary of is permanent BB cream treatment! It is total madness implanting white hues under the layers of skin. The risks include floating white pigment molecules under the skin resembling Milia, broken capillaries, hyperpigmentation and never being able to do laser treatments. It will ultimately look unevenly, plastered and very unpleasant.