Invisible Business: Ruth Swissa Permanent Makeup and Skin

It’s every woman’s dream – effortless beauty in the least amount of time possible.

Through a non-surgical procedure called micro-pigmentation or permanent make-up, the options are endless and the results are immediate and beautiful.

Tucked away in an inconspicuous strip mall off of Agoura Road, Ruth Swissa, a permanent make-up artist, wields her wand and works with women in achieving their desired look effortlessly.

All in the family

A third generation professional aesthetician, Swissa learned by watching her mother and grandmother at work in her native Morocco.

By the age of 17, she was a licensed aesthetician. She also studied fine arts abroad and immersed herself in calligraphy, drawing, painting, sculpture and photography.

In the past, she has worked with the best in the field of plastic surgery, most notable of which was Dr. Stephen Bresnick. “He was my mentor and I owe a lot to him,” says Swissa of the Encino-based plastic surgeon.

Enhancing natural beauty

Swissa specializes in both cosmetic and medical permanent make-up procedures. Eyeliner, eyebrows and full lip enhancements are only some of the procedures she routinely performs.

“She’s really artistic and has a good eye for color,” said staff member Elizabeth Lieber, who joined the permanent make-up practice last year. Swissa uses the multi-method approach on clients, a combination of hand and machine techniques to customize colors and achieve an over-all look.

Clients from Santa Barbara to downtown LA, and even Palm Springs, make the trek to see her. As expected, women comprise a majority of Swissa’s clientele, most which are in the 25 to 40-year-old range.

Swissa is also known for her treatment of skin conditions such as vitiligo, a chronic skin disorder that's characterized by lack of pigmentation. “It’s those white patches you see on people like Michael Jackson,” she explained.

She also treats Steven Johnson’s syndrome, a potentially deadly skin condition, usually caused by a drug reaction or allergy, in which the skin continually sloughs off.

Skin treatments such as micro-dermabrasion, oxygen treatment and chemical peels, are also available in the Moroccan-themed spa. Product lines from Skinceuticals, Colorscience, Dermaheal and Chella are also available to suit various skin types.

Conservative and natural approach

According to Swissa, clients seek out her permanent make-up services for a variety fo reasons. “Some of them are pressed for time or are into sports and don’t want to bother with putting on make-up everyday,” she said. “Then there are those who are clueless about make-up application, and those who have vision or allergy problems.”

Most procedures require at least two visits, including touch-ups and eyebrow maintenance, for example. The enhancements can last anywhere from two to five years, depending on the individual’s skin tone and hair color.

Swissa considers her approach conservative and her goal is a natural look. “I’d rather go light on color to see if it looks good on the person and then adjust later,” she said.

Prices range from $395 to about $800. Swissa also does revisions, corrections and removal of old, permanent make-up.

Swissa, a mother of three, easily puts in 40 to 50 hours a week, personally attending to her clients, consulting with her staff of four, and doing charity work.

Helping others heal

Not many people know that Swissa is also a healer. For the past 15 years, she has been helping breast cancer survivors regain their inner beauty and confidence.

Plastic surgeons do breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. Then it is up to medical micro-pigmentation artists like Swissa to repair that dark, circular area around the nipples in a procedure called areola restoration.

Also noteworthy is her partnership with the Grossman Burn Foundation with which she treats burn victims and camouflages scars. Recently, she treated a sushi chef who burned his hand and a lady with third-degree burns on 30 percent of her upper body.

The actual work does not faze her; it’s the emotional part. “I get attached to them, and I feel their pain,” said Swissa.