Pigment for permanent makeup is chosen by three parameters at once: formula type, application zone, and the client's skin undertone. The formula can be organic, mineral (inorganic), or hybrid, and each has its own character of longevity and fading. For brows, lips, and eyelids, most brands offer separate lines rather than one universal pigment for every zone. Undertone determines whether the color settles evenly into the skin as it heals: a warm pigment compensates for cool skin, while cool and neutral tones work better on warm skin. Here is how the formulas differ, how to read undertone on a product page, and what sets Biotek, LIK, and The Mineral apart.

In short. formula: organic is brighter, mineral is more stable, hybrid combines both. Zone: brows, lips, and eyelids almost always have separate lines. Undertone: check the card of the specific shade, not the whole line.

What pigments for permanent makeup exist

Pigments for permanent makeup are split by two independent criteria: formula type and application zone. By formula, that is organic, mineral (inorganic), and hybrid, which blends properties of the first two. By zone, that is separate lines for brows, for lips, and separately for eyelids and the lash line, because skin there varies in thickness and holds pigment differently.

  • By formula. organic, mineral (inorganic), hybrid.
  • By zone. for brows, for lips, for eyelids and the lash line.

Both criteria work at the same time: within one brand, an organic pigment for lips and a mineral one for brows are two different catalog items, not variations of the same product. When choosing, start with the zone the pigment is needed for, then the formula type for the technician's task, and only then the specific shade and undertone.

Organic, mineral, and hybrid pigments: what is the difference

Organic pigments give a more saturated color but are less predictable in longevity as they heal. Mineral (inorganic) pigments sit denser and hold more stably. Hybrid formulas combine both properties in one line, which is why major brands usually carry all three types at once, not just one.

Formula type Trait Line examples
Mineral (inorganic) sits denser, holds color more stably while healing Biotek Inorganic Liquid and Inorganic Creamy, The Mineral Classic and Concentrate, Skills Iron and Onyx
Hybrid combines organic and mineral properties in one formula Biotek Hybrid Long Lasting, LIK (numbered brow pigments 701-703), The Mineral Hollywood
Organic brighter and more saturated, less stable longevity isolated items in the range (per reseller data, line unspecified)

Calling an entire brand "purely mineral" or "purely organic" by name is not accurate: The Mineral, for example, carries mineral lines, the hybrid Hollywood, and separate organic items. Formula type is checked by the specific line or shade, not by the brand's name.

How to choose a pigment by skin undertone: warm, cool, neutral

Pigment undertone is matched to the client's skin undertone, not "eyeballed" by the color in the bottle: a pigment that is too warm on warm skin can turn reddish over time, while a cool one on cool skin can grey out. Some brands do not publish one "warm / cool" table for the whole range, undertone is listed on the card of the specific line or shade.

How to choose pigment undertone for the skin. Undertone is chosen based on the client's skin undertone, by compensation, not by the color in the bottle. Warm (warm): compensates cool, greyish skin; Example from Biotek: brows: Hybrid Long Lasting; lips: Casino, Daiquiri, Sexy. Cool (cool): compensates warm, yellowish skin and keeps the pigment from turning "brassy" as it heals; Example from Biotek: lips: Bordeaux, Fashion, Rebel. Neutral (neutral): universal, predictable on almost any skin type; Example from Biotek: brows: Inorganic Creamy/Liquid; lips: Bubble, Passion.
Undertone is chosen based on the client's skin undertone, by compensation, not by the color in the bottle

At Biotek, per the official website, the entire Hybrid Long Lasting brow line is marked warm, while Inorganic Creamy and Inorganic Liquid are neutral across the whole line. For lip shades, undertone is individual per color and listed on its own card. The brand's corporate site also classifies the classic line by skin phototype (Fitzpatrick scale) and advises compensating cool skin tones with warm pigment.

Pigments for brows, lips, and eyelids: how they differ by zone

For brows, lips, and eyelids, brands almost always run separate lines, because skin in these zones behaves differently while healing and holds color differently.

Row of Biotek brow pigment bottles, the Hybrid Long Lasting line, with swatches of warm shades from blonde to dark brown
Biotek brow pigments, the Hybrid Long Lasting line.
Row of The Mineral Lip Minerals bottles for lips, with swatches from nude and coral to berry and bordeaux shades
The Mineral lip pigments, the Lip Minerals line.
Row of Biotek Perfect Eyes bottles for eyelids and lash line, with swatches of deep black-brown shades
Biotek eyelid pigments, the Perfect Eyes line.
  • Brows. At Biotek, that is the hybrid Hybrid Long Lasting line (warm, holds even on oily skin) and the inorganic Inorganic Creamy and Inorganic Liquid (neutral). At LIK, the numbered 701-703 pigments are positioned by resellers as self-sufficient composite formulas that do not need a separate corrector. At The Mineral, brows are covered by the Classic and Concentrate lines, both mineral.
  • Lips. At Biotek, one zone spans a wide range of undertones, from the cool Bordeaux to the warm Casino. At LIK, the largest lip line in the It's Beauty catalog is a joint series with master V.Saftiuk. At The Mineral, lips are covered by the Bestseller, Lip Correctors, and Lip Minerals lines.
  • Eyelids and lash line. Skin here is the thinnest, which is why The Mineral has a dedicated NAFTA line for this zone (Black, Dark, Light, Orange, 10 ml). At Biotek, eyelid pigments are part of the brand's overall professional range alongside dermopigmentation. At LIK, per reseller data, there is a separate hybrid line for eyelids.

Biotek, LIK, and The Mineral pigments: how the brands differ

Row of Biotek Best Seller Lip bottles for lips, with swatches of pink, coral and berry shades
Biotek lip pigments, the Best Seller Lip line.
Row of The Mineral Bestseller bottles for lips, with swatches of warm red, berry and nude shades
The Mineral Bestseller lip line.
Row of LIK V.Saftiuk bottles for lips, with swatches of pink, coral and wine shades
LIK V.Saftiuk lip line. Official brand channel.

The three brands cover the same task differently. Biotek is an Italian manufacturer with a broad professional range for every zone. LIK is a Ukrainian brand focused on hybrid formulas and one of the biggest lip lines in the catalog. The Mineral is a Ukrainian brand with its own system of mineral and hybrid pigments and a dedicated eyelid line.

  • Biotek (Italy, Milan). Production is ISO 9001 certified, the range covers brows, lips, eyelids, microblading, and dermopigmentation, including scalp trichopigmentation. The brand carries both mineral (Inorganic) and hybrid lines.
  • LIK (Ukraine). The brand's official channel is Instagram, there is no separate classic website with formula descriptions. Per reseller wording, the brand is positioned around hybrid formulas, "combining the advantages of organic and mineral pigments." At It's Beauty, LIK has the widest lip range thanks to its collab line with V.Saftiuk.
  • The Mineral (Ukraine). Its own online store, collections Classic, Concentrate, Hollywood (hybrid), NAFTA (eyelids), separate lip corrector lines. For its own palette, the brand recommends its own diluent, Thinner.

Besides the pigment itself, a permanent makeup procedure needs anesthesia. How to choose it for a specific zone and procedure is covered in which anesthetic to choose for the procedure, and application order, time under film, and common mistakes are covered in how to apply anesthetic.

Biotek, LIK, and The Mineral pigments in the catalog

At It's Beauty, pigments from all three brands are grouped by zone: brows, lips, eyelids. Pick the line that matches the formula and undertone your procedure needs.

Biotek Pigments  LIK Pigments  The Mineral Pigments

How to check pigment composition and quality before buying

The full composition (INCI) of a pigment is almost never published on a brand's homepage, so it is checked on the label of the specific bottle or requested from the supplier, not taken from general marketing descriptions.

  • Brand's official channel. Biotek and The Mineral have their own websites with collections, LIK's main official channel is Instagram, where new items and sometimes certificates are posted.
  • Line name as a clue. Words in the series name (Inorganic, Hybrid, Concentrate, Classic) usually already indicate formula type and application zone.
  • Undertone on the specific shade's card. Warm, cool, or neutral is listed for the individual color, not the whole line, if the line is mixed.
  • Marketing claims without documentation. Phrases like "vegan," "titanium dioxide free," or "REACH certified" often appear at resellers but are not always confirmed word for word on the brand's official site. Such claims are worth double-checking against the label or the supplier before relying on them with a client.
Important. all pigments in the catalog are professional materials for permanent makeup, intended for a technician's work, not for personal use.

Frequently asked questions

How does mineral pigment differ from organic?
Mineral (inorganic) pigment holds denser and more stably while healing. Organic gives a more saturated color but is less predictable in longevity. Most major brands carry both categories, not just one.
What is a hybrid pigment for permanent makeup?
A hybrid pigment combines the properties of an organic and a mineral formula in one line. At Biotek, that's the separate Hybrid Long Lasting line, at LIK, the numbered brow pigments are positioned this way, at The Mineral, the hybrid line is called Hollywood.
How do I tell if a pigment is warm or cool?
Undertone is listed on the card of the specific shade, not the whole line. At Biotek, for example, the Hybrid Long Lasting brow line is warm throughout, while the Inorganic Creamy and Inorganic Liquid lines are neutral, whereas for lip shades, undertone is individual per color.
Do I need a thinner for the pigment?
Depends on the brand and the specific formula. The Mineral, for example, recommends its own diluent, Thinner, for its palette. Exact dilution recommendations are on the label or confirmed with the supplier, there is no single rule across all brands.
Which pigment brand should I choose: Biotek, LIK, or The Mineral?
Depends on the technician's task. Biotek suits you if you need a broad professional range for every zone and procedure at once. LIK stands out for its hybrid formula focus and large lip selection. The Mineral is handy if a dedicated eyelid line (NAFTA) and a single-brand system of mineral plus hybrid pigments matter to you.
Is the full pigment composition listed on the packaging?
The full composition (INCI) is usually not published on the brand's homepage, it is checked on the bottle's label or requested from the supplier. General descriptions at resellers can be incomplete or imprecise, so it is best to verify composition directly before working with it.
  • Brand, line, and undertone data is based on the manufacturers' official websites (biotekmilano.com, themineral.com.ua) and the LIK brand's official channel (Instagram @lik_pigment), cross-checked against reseller materials. Always check the full composition, current palette, and undertone of a specific shade on the product page.
  • This material is informational for permanent makeup technicians and does not replace a consultation with the brand's technologist.