SHADYSIDE Look better around the clock. That is exactly what you can get from permanent makeup.

Permanent makeup artist Connie Marling has recently opened up Nusta Cosmetics, located at 3742 Central Ave., Shadyside, where women from 18 to 80 are turning to micropigmentation as an alternative to daily makeup application.

It a little bit like getting a tattoo, but with less pain thanks to the use of numbing creams, Marling said.

Unlike a tattoo, permanent makeup uses pigments designed for the face, instead of ink, to create a long-lasting eyebrows, eyeliner and lip color.

For people on the go, permanent makeup is a real time saver.

“In the morning, they save time,” Marling said. “You don’t have to apply your makeup, you have it already on. It also helps if you wear contact lens. If you already have your eyeliner, you don’t have to worry about it getting in your eyes.”

It also great for those who are athletic and like to exercise.

“If you exercise all the time, it’s not going to smear or rub off,” Marling said.

Others who have enjoyed the benefits permanent make-up have been those who have arthritis or hair loss.

“It’s pretty much good for everybody,” she said.

Marling was a dentist in Peru before moving to the United States and said that many of the same skills she used as a dentist are needed to apply permanent makeup.

“I wanted to do something that would allow me to use my background and I like having the permanent makeup on me, so I finally went to classes this year and I just love it,” she said. “It’s not being a dentist, but it’s some of the same skills and makes people feel better. That’s why I like it.”

She is a member of the Academy of Micropigmentation and is fully certified.

While it’s called permanent makeup, Marling said that it can fade and needs to be touched up every couple of years. Some of the factors that can cause the fading include prolonged exposure to sunlight or tanning beds.

“It lasts a long time years,” Marling said. “You just have to retouch it ever couple of years. It depends on the person, but it will be there.”

Marling sees customers by appointment, including weekends and evenings. To schedule an appointment or to learn more about permanent makeup, call Nusta Cosmetics for a consultation at 740-359-5367. Nusta Cosmetics is also at www.facebook.com. Credit cards are accepted and gift certificates are also available.

Schuler can be reached at shoe@timesleaderonline.com.