A practical guide for artists, with the FACE pigment lines as examples
Composition · Saturation · Healing and fading · Which pigment to choose for brows, lips and eyeliner
Every PMU pigment is organic, inorganic (mineral) or a hybrid of both. The base decides how the colour goes into the skin, how it heals and which way it fades years later. Knowing the difference helps you choose the right bottle for each client and avoid surprises at the touch-up.
The short answer
Organic pigments give the brightest, most saturated colour. Mineral pigments give the softest, most predictable result. Hybrid pigments combine the two, so their warm and cool fading tendencies balance each other out.
| Organic | Mineral (inorganic) | Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | Carbon-based colourants | Iron oxides and other metal oxides | Organic and mineral colourants combined |
| Particles | Very fine | Larger | Mixed |
| Saturation | High, builds quickly | Softer, needs more passes | Medium to high |
| Typical fading | Can turn cooler, greyish or bluish in brows | Can turn warmer, orange or reddish | More balanced, fewer unwanted shifts |
| Best for | Rich, defined results; experienced hands | Soft, natural brows; forgiving for newer artists | Brows, lips and eyeliner; everyday work |
Every client’s skin is different: skin type, age, sun exposure and aftercare all affect how any pigment heals.
Organic pigments: maximum colour and saturation
Organic pigments are built on carbon-based colourants. Their particles are very fine, so they sit in the skin easily and give intense colour with fewer passes. This makes them a favourite for bold, defined work and for shades that are hard to reach with minerals alone.
The flip side is that they need a confident, precise hand: it is easy to over-saturate. In brows, organic colour can fade cooler over time, towards grey or blue tones, especially on skin that retains pigment strongly.
FACE Organic line for brows
Neutral and cool-to-warm browns named after icons: Johny, Keanu, Leo, Pitt and Serkan. The line also includes Orange, a warm organic corrector that neutralises cool and ashy brows.
Choose when: you want rich saturation and a defined finish.
Popular mix: Johny + Leo for a soft, natural brown.
Shop the organic shades
Mineral pigments: soft, stable and predictable
Mineral (inorganic) pigments are based on iron oxides and other metal oxides. The particles are larger, so the colour builds more gradually and heals softer. Many artists love them for natural powder and nano brows because what you see is close to what you get, and there is room to correct if you go a little light.
Minerals do not drift towards grey or blue, but in some clients they can soften towards warmer, orange or reddish tones over time. That is why a mineral palette usually comes with cool and warm correctors.
FACE Mineral line for brows
A compact palette that covers most clients: Blonde, Light, Medium (the line’s best seller), Warm, Dark and Black Brown, plus Gold and Bronze.
Choose when: you want a soft, natural healed brow and a predictable result.
Suitable for: Medium works on Fitzpatrick II–IV; Dark on IV–V.
Shop the mineral shades
Hybrid pigments: the best of both
Hybrid pigments combine organic and mineral colourants in one formula. The organic part brings saturation and a wide shade range; the mineral base brings stability. Because organic colour tends to fade cooler and mineral colour warmer, together they balance out, and the healed colour stays closer to the shade in the bottle.
This is why hybrids are the most versatile choice today: they work for brows, lips and eyeliner, and suit most everyday procedures.
FACE Hybrid line: brows, lips and eyeliner
Brows: Sandy, Hazel, Mocco, Cinnamon, Espresso.
Lips: from the nude Caramel and Toffee to Cherry, Strawberry and the Face Love shades Jennifer, Jolie and Megan.
Eyeliner: Space and Coal.
Choose when: you want vivid colour that heals true, or one line for every zone.
Popular mixes: Mocco + Cinnamon (1:1) for a warm rich brown; Caramel + Cherry (1:1) for a cool pink.
Brow shades
Lip shades
Eyeliner
How to choose: quick guide
- Soft, natural powder or nano brows → mineral, or a hybrid in a lighter shade.
- Rich, defined brows for a client who wants colour → organic or hybrid.
- Lip blush and full lips → hybrid, for bright colour that heals evenly.
- Eyeliner → hybrid blacks such as Space or Coal.
- You are still building confidence → mineral is more forgiving, since colour builds gradually.
Correcting old work? Match the corrector to the shift
Brows that healed cool, grey or ashy need warmth: use Orange (organic) or Mustard (hybrid). Brows that healed red or orange need a green base: use Olive (hybrid). You can also add a corrector to your main shade as a warmer or a neutraliser.
Shop the correctors
Shop FACE pigments by type
All pigments are filtered by base in our store, so you can compare shades side by side. Explore the full FACE collection or jump straight to a type:
Frequently asked questions
Are mineral pigments better than organic ones?
Neither is better in general. Mineral pigments are softer and more predictable; organic pigments are brighter and more saturated. The right choice depends on the client, the zone and the result you want.
Why do brows turn grey or orange years after the procedure?
As pigment fades, the colourants in it break down at different speeds. Organic brow colour tends to shift cooler (grey or blue), mineral colour warmer (orange or red). Hybrids reduce both effects, and correctors can fix them.
Can I mix hybrid, mineral and organic pigments?
Mixing within one brand’s system is the safest way to keep results predictable. Always follow the manufacturer’s mixing recommendations, which you will find on each product page.
Not sure which pigment fits your client? We are always online. Ask us about colour theory, mixes or MSDS, and we will help you choose. Visit PMU Master Boutique for professional permanent makeup pigments and supplies with fast delivery across Europe.
