Yes, permanent makeup is a tattoo It is the art and science of implanting pigment through the epidermal layer of the skin into the upper dermal layer of the skin. The epidermis is the outer layer of skin that is visible to all and is constantly shedding and renewing itself. Due to the fact that the pigment was placed into the epidermis and the upper dermal layer, the color I have chosen for you will appear a bit darker than the healed and final result. When the color in the epidermis sheds you will see a lighter softer version of the pigment through a thin veil of healed epidermal skin.