So subtle no one knows it’s there, permanent makeup is the best-kept secret of the world’s most beautiful women. Its ability to create beauty that is indistinguishable from a woman’s natural gifts has earned permanent makeup the distinguished award of Best Aesthetic Facial Procedure in American Health & Beauty’s 2010 Readers’ Choice Awards. The overwhelming popularity of permanent cosmetics among American Health & Beauty readers earned it a spot in the Top 5 Most Popular Procedures of 2010 in the online magazine’s annual survey of best surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Other cosmetic procedures chosen as top beauty performers were SmartLipo, CoolSculpting, Thermage and Botox.

The popularity of permanent cosmetics is founded in its unique transformative power to improve and enhance a woman’s natural beauty around the clock. The time-saving secret of high-powered women who exude a perpetual aura of perfection, permanent makeup ensures that a woman’s appearance is always fresh, beautiful and flawless whether she’s making a presentation in the board room or dancing the night away. Permanent makeup allows women to move through the day — and night — with complete confidence, secure in the knowledge that they always look their best.

The key to indiscernible permanent cosmetics that enhance personal beauty to maximum effect lies in the artistry and technical skill of the permanent makeup artist. A nationally-recognized leader and innovator in the field of permanent makeup, Erik Berntsen combines the discerning eye of a professionally-trained artist with unmatched technical skill to enhance the beauty of his very satisfied clients.

If you’re getting ready to say “I do” to your man, I’ve got some news to share on why you might want to think about “Saying Eye Do” to the addition of eyelash extensions. Eyelash extensions offer a bevy of benefits for any bride-to-be and it’s tough to narrow the list.
I asked Xtreme Lashes President Jo Mousselli to give me her perspective, as a professional woman with an always full schedule, on the top 5 reasons eyelash extensions are indispensible additions for busy brides:

 1 – Save Time (Pre-wedding):
Wedding preparation is hectic! There’s so much to accomplish and there never seems to be enough time for the bride to get to everything. Eyelash extensions are a great time saver! Brides can skip the morning makeup routine and make it to all their errands that much faster all while still looking fabulous!

2 – Save Face (Pre-wedding):
Stress and lack of sleep plague many a bride-to-be during the weeks leading up to the wedding. Eyelash extensions can create a well-rested, wide-eyed appearance and help disguise any signs of stress or sleep deprivation that often show on the face.

3 – Stay Fresh (Day of):
The actual wedding day is typically quite long for brides. Preparations begin early in the morning and celebrations last late into the night. With eyelash extensions, brides are photo-ready throughout the entire day with no need to stop for cosmetic touch-ups!

4 – Stay Flawless (Day of):
There’s nothing worse than a beautiful bride sporting raccoon circles of mascara around her eyes. Since just about every bride tears up at her wedding, eyelash extensions are the ideal solution to prevent any mascara mishaps!

5 – Set Sail (Post-wedding):
Starting out a wedding in eyelash extensions extends into the honeymoon. For brides planning any post-wedding trips, eyelash extensions are the perfect travel companion. New wives can enjoy all the extracurricular activities at their exotic destination of choice with no fuss & no muss and still look absolutely fabulous!

Studio One has finally been remodeled. It was different spending a week not seeing clients. I very much enjoyed being able to spend time with my family but by day 4 began to feel the itch to want to get back to work. So aside from a quick trip to the Oregon Coast, I stayed extremely busy around the house taking care of just about everything I’ve avoided fixing, cleaning, or throwing away over the last year. It was nary a vacation by any stretch of the imagination. I did find time during the week to get a massage with my wife at Zenana which was AMAZING (go see Allison or Jasper). In any event, here are a few pictures of the remodel. I hope you’ll stop by soon, say hey, and take a peek at the new digs. I’d love to see you.

Day 1 - Everything was moved out right after we closed for the night.

Old wash basins being ripped out (took the wall out too).

A few of the old stations before we hauled them away.

Reception area.

Disassembling the hair drying bench.

This is where all the magic happens. My studio.

9/8/10 - Back in business. New flooring, wash basins, stylist stations, new paint, wall removed.

Monte’s station

Pedicure area.

Amy. You know her. You love her. I don’t know where I would be without her. The best receptionist in THE WORLD.

The importance of eyebrows as a powerful beauty asset is often overlooked. Eyebrows can be shaped to pull together all of the elements of the face into balance, giving your best features glory and the flaws respectful supporting roles. People with thin, partial or no eyebrows often choose to use pencil or powder to create their eyebrows daily and even multiple times daily since this makeup tends to smudge or disappear. Many of these people are ending that daily ritual with permanent makeup. Permanent makeup, also known as cosmetic tattoo or micropigmentation, is used to create a variety of changes in the face. Eyebrow enhancement and Eyeliner are extremely popular permanent makeup procedures.

Eyebrow Design Need Only Be Done Once

In her book Bobbi Brown Beauty, Ms. Brown writes, "....a well-groomed, well-defined brow can be extremely flattering and add considerable strength to a woman's eyes. It can open up her face so that she actually needs less makeup. A well-shaped brow can also help lift deep-set eyes or maximize small eyes. There are even instances where a lifted, manicured brow has had the same effect as a surgical eyelift." Good brows are rarely accomplished by guesswork. A permanent makeup artist must be adept in the art and the science of designing the shape, color and placement for beautiful symmetrical eyebrows that enhance through the decades. A well-chosen neutral eyebrow will flatter you through all your hair color changes. Adjustments in the color of your permanent makeup can be made, if necessary, when you have a touch up on it every one to five years.

Permanent Cosmetic Makeup, A Versatile Solution

The causes of missing hair in the eyebrows are many. Genetics, illness, over-plucked, age related hair loss, and physical trauma for instance. I can work with the "landscape" of your brow area, be it totally blank, scarred, or deeply wrinkled. A lifting arch can be put into straight or droopy eyebrows, width into thin ones, length into short ones and symmetry into asymmetrical ones. Whatever the case may be, permanent cosmetic makeup offers a precision that is difficult to obtain and keep with regular makeup. Tattooed eyebrows stay put whether the design is strong and precise or subtle and natural looking. Eyebrows can be applied in delicate hair strokes, a powder fill or a combination of the two, usually using more than one color of pigment to create the illusion of dimension. As much as possible of one's natural brow hair is incorporated into the design. The solution of permanent eyebrows is used by men, as well as women.

Eyebrows: Make A Statement

Eyebrows not only frame the eyes, but when shaped appropriately for a face they bring the entire face into focus, giving a person more presence. The eyebrow design may even serve to qualify that presence as, for instance, down-to-earth, glamorous, soft or assertive. In other words, eyebrows can influence the way people perceive you. In fact, eyebrows can influence the way you perceive yourself. Even when you know beauty is on the inside, there’s no shame in looking good on the outside. Confidence can change the impression you leave in all of your social and professional interaction. Positive, healthy self-esteem allows you to focus on important goals, instead of stress about looking old, tired or unattractive. Legendary makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin said, "the most dramatic thing you could do to change your look is to shape your eyebrows."

Plan Ahead

In my practice a permanent makeup procedure is a process that requires two sessions, usually three or four weeks apart for permanent eyebrows. In the first session the design is applied and in the second session color, shape and detail is typically added. Building the eyebrows in stages can minimize or eliminate altogether that oh-so-scary dark eyebrow stage. You need not feel self-conscious about your appearance at any point in the process. If you are planning to have surgery to lift the brow, eyes, or full face, complete the surgery and the healing process before adding permanent cosmetics to your face. When planning to have Botox, chemotherapy or radiation therapy get your permanent makeup done first. In regards to laser treatments, discuss these with me during your consultation.

Eye lash enhancement – give them a flutter

Adding an understated shadow between the lashes can immediately provide a sense of depth and colour to the eye area, which is particularly useful for those with sparse or lighter-colored lashes. Adding your usual mascara or opting for an additional lash tint will enhance permanent makeup even more. Alternatively, a stronger, thicker line can be applied along the lash line to mirror the effects of liquid eyeliner.

Lip Contouring – proud to pout

As we age, our lips become thinner. Permanent cosmetics can provide the illusion of plumper, fuller lips without looking like you have slipped with your lip pencil or gloss. For lips that you would be proud to pout with, I can apply a defined contour that will enhance your lips in a natural shade that you can wear during the day and at night. If you would prefer a deeper colour, this can also be done. Just ask me during your initial consultation and I can go over the options with you.

Beauty Marks – say a lot with just a little

If you have always wanted a glamorous, signature beauty spot on your face, perhaps above or below the lip, this can also be done using permanent cosmetic make up. Surprisingly, it can completely transform your appearance and enhance your smile.

Permanent cosmetics are perfect for those:
• With sparse or no eyebrows or lashes
• With poor vision or an unsteady hand
• With allergy to conventional cosmetics
• With hay fever or watery eyes
• With busy lifestyles who have no or little time to apply make-up
• Who are concerned about their appearance and want to look good 24 hours a day
• Alopecia sufferers
• Loss of definition due to ageing
• Poorly defined or unsymmetrical features
• Sports oriented people - no sweating away!
• Those with oily skin - no smudging away!
• Post surgical
• Post chemotherapy / mastectomy
• Vitiligo sufferers
• Those with sensitive skin

Call 503-274-2241 today to schedule a consultation.

If there is one name that cropped up again and again last year it was Megan Fox. Thespian or not, "Megan who?" is the question most people would have asked only a few years ago, with no idea who this small time actress from Tennessee actually was. And then she saw a professional, ditched the unibrow, and had them permanently done. Although for me personally they’re a bit too thick in spots and too sparse in others, they have a great arch, and are far and away the catalysts in catapulting her from oblivion to mega stardom. I bet even now you can’t name one film that she has been in, but (I hear) she was FHM’s sexiest woman of 2008 and is currently Google’s most searched for celebrity. Yes, it is fair to say that they have truly transformed her from girl next door to world famous sex symbol. It’s no surprise that I am constantly asked to permanently replicate her licorice colored brows. The good news is that for most women I can.

The point is: never underestimate the power of a well done eyebrow. They can completely and radically change the face and give character, expression and definition. While it’s true that the lovely Miss Fox is gifted with gorgeous eyes to begin with, it’s her eyebrows that really make her unique and have allowed her to stand out from the crowd. At least that’s my opinion. Because I don’t think the poor girl can act worth a damn.