Permanent Makeup in Mexico: My Honest Experience With Brows, Lip Blush and a Correction

I got permanent makeup in Mexico for the first time after discovering that I could have both my brows and lips done for a fraction of what I'd been quoted back home in Canada. What I didn't expect was that my $700-plus savings would eventually turn into a two-part story involving results I wasn't happy with, an artist I couldn't get back in touch with, and a second permanent makeup artist who ultimately corrected both my brows and lips.

I think both halves of this story matter because the honest picture of getting beauty treatments abroad includes the things that go wrong, not just the treatments that photograph beautifully for Instagram. I'm a big believer in the potential of traveling for more affordable beauty and cosmetic treatments, but this experience also reminded me that a lower price should never mean lowering your research standards.

Here's what happened when I got microblading, powder brows, and lip blush in Mexico, what my permanent makeup looked like after 35 days, how I got it corrected in Playa del Carmen, and what I'd do differently if I were starting over.

‍

Prefer to watch? In this video, I share the full story of getting permanent makeup on my brows and lips in Mexico, what went wrong after they healed, and how a second artist ultimately corrected the results.

‍

Why I Decided to Get Permanent Makeup in Mexico

I had been researching brow tattoos and lip blushing for more than a year. In Canada, I had been quoted more than $1,000 plus tax, so I decided to sit on the idea and keep looking rather than spending that much right away.

Once I was living in Tulum, I started noticing just how many beauty deals appeared in the local Facebook groups. Everything from nails and hair to massages and brow treatments was being offered at prices considerably lower than what I was accustomed to paying in Canada, so when permanent makeup ads started appearing, I went right back into research mode.

I responded to an ad from an artist who had a studio in Valladolid but traveled to Tulum to build her clientele. She quoted me approximately $300 CAD for both my brows and lips, and I was shook. Compared with the $1,000-plus I'd been quoted back home, I could potentially save more than $700.

I'll be honest: I couldn't resist.

I also went into the appointment with a healthy amount of uncertainty. The artist had posted very few photos, I couldn't find much information about her studio, she didn't speak English, my Spanish was rough at best, and the appointment location wasn't confirmed until the day before.

I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting myself into, but I was open to the adventure.

Looking back, this is not the version of research I would recommend, and it's a big part of why this story has two chapters instead of one.

‍

Getting Microblading, Powder Brows and Lip Blush in Tulum

The address turned out to be a hotel room, and once inside I met my permanent makeup artist, who was four months pregnant, along with her husband, who spoke some English and helped translate while we also relied heavily on Google Translate.

It genuinely turned into a family affair. Her husband was tattooing two other clients in the same small room while their daughter played quietly nearby. It didn't feel chaotic as much as it felt like watching a family-run business in action, and everyone involved was kind and patient with me.

Before starting my brows, we talked through what I wanted using reference photos and discussed combining microblading with powder brows to create a soft, natural-looking shape. She took measurements, checked symmetry, discussed color options, and made it clear that she wouldn't begin until I had approved the design.

Despite the numbing gel, the brows were a little painful. It wasn't as bad as getting a traditional tattoo, but there was enough discomfort that I had to mentally stay calm and remind myself that I had willingly signed up for this.

The lip blush took longer and was more intense. Numbing cream helped somewhat, although I also had a fairly high pain tolerance from going through two previous tattoo-removal sessions, which remain among the most physically painful treatments I've personally experienced.

We chose a slightly redder lip shade than I had originally planned, with the understanding that the pigment would become softer as my lips healed.

When I finally saw everything in the mirror after approximately four hours of needles, I was shocked by how bold it looked. My lips were swollen, the color was intense, and my brows were much darker than I ultimately wanted, although I knew that fresh permanent makeup doesn't look the same as healed permanent makeup.

I left with aftercare instructions and the expectation that the artist would return so I could book my touch-up appointment about a month later. At that point, I was cautiously optimistic and assumed everything simply needed time to settle.

What My Permanent Makeup Looked Like 35 Days Later

Permanent makeup commonly involves a follow-up or perfecting session after the initial treatment because pigment retention and healing can vary from person to person. I knew from the beginning that my first appointment might not produce the final result and that some areas could need additional attention once everything healed.

The problem was that I couldn't get back in touch with my original artist.

It appeared that she wasn't returning to Tulum as expected, and by day 35, my results hadn't healed the way I had hoped. My lower lip still had a visible tattoo-like outline rather than the soft, natural-looking fade I wanted, while the upper lip looked somewhat better.

My brows concerned me even more because the pigment had become noticeably patchy and faded in places. This wasn't the finished, settled result I had expected, and without being able to arrange the planned follow-up with my original artist, I had to decide what to do next.

Rather than simply accepting the result, I decided to get a second opinion.

I happened to be in Playa del Carmen, so I booked a consultation with Raquel of Microblading by Raquel , an established permanent makeup artist, to ask what she thought of the work and whether anything could be done to improve it.

‍

Getting My Permanent Makeup Corrected in Playa del Carmen

Raquel took one look at my brows and lips and got to work. I felt an enormous sense of relief knowing there was something that could be done and that she was willing to work with the partially faded pigment from my first appointment.

What immediately stood out was her confidence. She had the energy of someone who had performed these treatments thousands of times, and she estimated that correcting both my brows and lips would take approximately 90 minutes.

My original appointment had taken around four hours.

The second experience was also very different when it came to pain management. Rather than relying on the same type of topical numbing I'd experienced during my first appointment, Raquel used injectable lidocaine. The injections themselves were intense, but once the area was numb, I genuinely couldn't feel much of the procedure.

She had been working professionally in permanent makeup for 15 years, and from my perspective as a client, that experience showed in the efficiency and confidence of the process.

When she finished my brows and handed me the mirror, the relief was immediate. They finally looked like what I'd envisioned when I originally decided to get permanent makeup: balanced, full, and suited to my face, without the patchy, unfinished appearance I'd been concerned about.

Then she moved on to my lips. I still experienced some pain and sensation around the corners of my mouth, but it was nothing like my first appointment, and she was finished before I'd even fully braced myself for it.

‍

What My Brows and Lip Blush Looked Like After Healing

One of the biggest things I've learned from going through permanent makeup twice is that you can't judge the final result immediately after the appointment.

Both times, my brows and lips looked considerably darker and more dramatic immediately afterward than they did once they healed. My lips were also swollen, which made the entire result look even more intense during those first hours.

Following the aftercare instructions your own qualified provider gives you is important because recommendations can vary depending on the treatment, technique, products used, and your individual skin. In my case, I was given instructions about caring for the treated areas and protecting them while they healed.

Once everything settled after my correction, the pigment softened into a much more natural-looking result, and I finally had the polished brows and lip color I'd originally wanted.

My Permanent Makeup Results 6 Months Later

For me, the most useful before-and-after photo isn't necessarily the one taken immediately after the procedure. It's the one taken months later.

At six months, I could finally evaluate how the corrected pigment had actually settled into my skin rather than judging the dramatic color and swelling that come with freshly applied permanent makeup.

This is also why, when I'm researching permanent makeup artists now, I don't just want to see their beautiful same-day transformations on Instagram. I want to see healed results.

Fresh permanent makeup can look incredibly crisp and impressive in a photo, but what matters to me is how that work looks several weeks or months later.

‍

What I'd Do Differently Before Getting Permanent Makeup Abroad

Would I get permanent makeup in Mexico again? Yes.

Would I book it the same way I did the first time? Absolutely not.

The price difference can be substantial, and I've had enough beauty treatments in Mexico to know that paying less doesn't automatically mean receiving lower-quality work. What this particular experience taught me is that my research standard needs to remain the same regardless of how inexpensive the treatment seems.

Research the Artist, Not Just the Price

A low price can get your attention, but it shouldn't be the reason you ultimately choose someone.

I now want to see an established portfolio, healed results, information about how long the artist has been performing the treatment, reviews from previous clients, and enough of an online presence that I can get a reasonable sense of their work before allowing them to tattoo my face.

If I can barely find a track record before booking, I take that as a reason to pause rather than pushing past my concerns because the price feels too good to miss.

Book a Consultation Before Your Appointment

If possible, I'd also book a consultation first.

Many permanent makeup artists offer consultations, and if you're still planning your trip, you may be able to do this virtually before you arrive. This gives you an opportunity to talk about the shape and color you want, ask about the technique the artist recommends, understand the healing and touch-up process, and decide whether you actually feel comfortable communicating with that person.

Communication becomes even more important when there's a language barrier.

Google Translate got me surprisingly far during my first appointment, but when someone is making semi-permanent changes to my face, I'd rather be completely confident that we understand each other before the procedure begins.

Ask to See Healed Permanent Makeup Results

This has become one of my biggest recommendations.

Don't only look at photos taken immediately after the procedure. Ask to see healed brows and healed lip blush, ideally from multiple clients and at different points after treatment.

The bold, precise result you see immediately after an appointment isn't necessarily what you'll have several months later.

Understand the Touch-Up Policy Before You Book

This is the lesson my first appointment taught me most clearly.

Before booking, ask whether a touch-up is included, when it's normally performed, how much it costs if it isn't included, and—especially if you're traveling—what happens if the artist isn't available when you're ready for it.

If you're getting permanent makeup while on vacation, think about whether you'll realistically be able to return to the same artist weeks later. A bargain becomes less of a bargain if you have to find and pay another artist to correct or finish the work.

Ask About Technique, Pain Management and Aftercare

My two permanent makeup experiences felt completely different, so I now want to understand exactly what an artist plans to do before the appointment begins.

Ask what technique they recommend and why, what type of pain management or numbing they use, what the healing process generally looks like, and what aftercare they expect you to follow.

I wouldn't assume that one person's experience—including mine—predicts what yours will feel like.

Is Permanent Makeup in Mexico Worth It?

For me, yes, but with a major caveat.

The fact that my first experience didn't turn out the way I wanted doesn't make me believe permanent makeup in Mexico is a bad idea. My second experience happened in Mexico too, and I was considerably happier with it.

That's actually one of the biggest takeaways from this entire story.

The country wasn't the determining factor. The artist was.

Whether you're getting permanent makeup in Mexico, Canada, the United States, or anywhere else, the same basic rules apply: research the person doing the work, look at healed results, understand the follow-up process, communicate clearly about what you want, and don't allow a great price to talk you out of asking questions you would normally ask at home.

My $300 appointment got me through the door, but the experience taught me something much more valuable: affordable beauty treatments abroad can absolutely be worth exploring, but affordability should be a bonus after you've found the right provider—not the reason you choose them.

‍

Frequently Asked Questions About Permanent Makeup in Mexico

How much did I pay for permanent makeup in Mexico?

I was originally quoted approximately $300 CAD for both my brows and lips in Mexico, compared with more than $1,000 plus tax for the treatments I had been considering in Canada. Prices vary significantly by artist, city, technique, and what's included, so I would use my price as an example of my experience rather than an indication of what you should expect to pay.

What permanent makeup did I have done?

My original treatment included a combination of microblading and powder brows, along with lip blushing. I later had both areas worked on by a second permanent makeup artist after I wasn't happy with how the original results had healed.

Did my permanent makeup need a touch-up?

Yes. After 35 days, my brows had areas where the pigment hadn't held the way I expected, and I wasn't happy with how my lip color had settled. I couldn't arrange the anticipated follow-up with my original artist, so I sought a second opinion and ultimately had the work corrected by another artist.

Does permanent makeup look darker at first?

Mine certainly did. Both my brows and lips looked considerably darker and more intense immediately after treatment, while my lips also had noticeable swelling. The appearance changed as they healed, which is why I think it's particularly useful to look at an artist's healed results, not just photos taken immediately after an appointment.

How long did my permanent makeup take to heal?

The appearance changed significantly during the weeks after my treatments, and I evaluated my original results at around 35 days before seeking a second opinion. Healing experiences vary, so I'd follow your provider's instructions and speak with an appropriately qualified professional if you're concerned about how an area is healing.

Would I get permanent makeup in Mexico again?

Yes, but I would research the artist much more thoroughly than I did the first time. My correction experience reinforced that there are talented permanent makeup artists in Mexico; my biggest lesson was that provider selection matters more than simply choosing a country based on price.

If you're researching beauty treatments in Mexico because you're curious about how much you can save, I'm continuing to share my firsthand experiences—the good ones, the questionable decisions, the things I'd absolutely do again, and the things I'd do very differently next time.

‍

This article documents my personal experience with permanent makeup and is intended for informational purposes only. Individual results, risks, pain, healing, aftercare, and suitability can vary. Consult an appropriately qualified professional about your individual circumstances and follow the aftercare instructions provided by your practitioner.