Yahoo Lifestyle Exactly What It’s Like to Get Permanent Lip Makeup
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Lip blushing had been on my mind for years, but skepticism always held me back. The social media horror stories were hard to ignore, and the idea of doing something so semipermanent to my face felt daunting. Still, as someone who loved experimenting with makeup, my daily routine had become a grind. Each morning, I meticulously lined and filled in my lips with lip pencils and lipsticks to create a natural tint and camouflage the pigment loss around the edges—one of the many gifts of aging. But no matter how precise I was, my lip makeup never stayed perfect all day. Between my busy lifestyle and constant touch-ups, the maintenance was exhausting.
Months passed as I wavered between curiosity and fear. Would lip blushing hurt? Would it look too bold? Hours of research, testimonials, and scrolling through flawless before-and-afters gradually reassured me. Friends who had taken the plunge raved about their results. One friend recommended Savannah Messenger at Velvet, a cosmetic tattoo artist whose work was impeccable.
After one too many smudged lipstick mishaps, I finally booked my appointment with Messenger at her Brooklyn studio. Keep reading for my personal experience with lip blushing—plus everything you need to know about the treatment if you decide to try it for yourself.
My lip blushing before-and-after photos
My lips before my lip blushing treatment:
Before I got lip blushing, my natural lips were uneven—both in shape and pigment— especially around the edges. Uneven lip tone had always been a sore spot for me, and as I got older (and after dabbling in lip filler), the discoloration seemed more pronounced. My skin and my lips sort of blurred together and lacked distinct definition. I told Messenger (the artist who did my lip blushing) that I wanted a more noticeable lip line and a more uniform tint to my lips. What I didn’t want? A dramatic transformation. Subtlety was key. I just wanted to enhance what I already had—without the elaborate morning makeup routine.
My lips immediately after lip blushing
Unlike many cosmetic procedures that take time for the results to kick in, you can see the effects of lip blushing instantly. The whole process took about 2.5 hours, but as I walked out of Messenger’s studio, my lips had more even and defined edges and a gorgeous peachy-pink tint throughout. At this point, my lips were still a little swollen, but hey, not mad at that temporary volume!
My lips one week after the final touch-up
Once the swelling went down, I was really able to appreciate my results. They were honestly beyond anything I could have imagined—soft, natural, and effortlessly beautiful. Messenger told me it can take a full six to eight weeks for the color to fully develop on lips depending on your skin tone, so I’m excited to see how they look in a few more weeks.
FAQ
What is lip blushing?
Lip blushing is a type of cosmetic tattoo or semipermanent makeup that can be used to alter your lips—specifically, balance your lip shape, increase the appearance of the size of your lips, camouflage any scars on your lip tissue, and/or change the color of your lips,
The result is kind of similar to lip fillers—in that your lips will look a little fuller simply by being defined and enhanced with pigment—but lip blushing won’t actually change the shape or feeling of your lips. Instead, it’ll just leave you with a soft, shaded-in color that can enhance your lip symmetry, cover uneven pigmentation or scars, and give you the illusion of bigger, fuller lips.
Super Stay Vinyl Ink Lipstick
Balmy Tint Hydrating Lip Balm
Lip Liner Stay-N
Wonder Blading Lip Stain Peel Off Masque
What does lip blushing cost?
The cost will totally depend on where you live (bigger cities will cost more than rural areas) and how skilled your tattoo artist is. Lip blushing with Savannah Messenger, the artist who did my lips, costs $700 for the first session and $250 for a touch-up done 6 weeks after the initial appointment. Refreshes, which can be done typically anywhere from one to two years later, are $300.
And please don’t go for the cheapest deal just to save some cash—this is a tattoo that’ll last for years…on your face. If it doesn’t feel a little pricey, it’s probably too good to be true.
How long does lip blushing last?
Typically, lip blushing lasts between two to three years and will gradually lighten and fade over time, until your lips slowly return to their natural shade. So you can expect your lips to look far lighter after two years than they will after six months, which is why many tattoo artists recommend yearly touch-ups to prolong the lip color you want.
What are the pros and cons of lip blushing?
As long as you find the right artist and follow your pre- and post-care instructions, there really aren’t any cons to lip blushing. When it comes to finding the right artist, it’s all about doing your research. Read reviews! Find their Instagram! Look through their tagged photos! DM strangers for their honest opinions on their experience! And when you’re perusing an artist’s portfolio, look for a wide range of photos of healed lips because those are the true results you can expect from your own lip blushing appointment. Remember, it’s a semipermanent procedure, so it can be difficult (and sometimes impossible) to remove the pigments from your lips if you don’t like the outcome.
The pros of lip blushing are that you can achieve naturally fuller-looking lips while adding a tint of color (which is fully customizable, so it can be as bold or subtle as you wish) and that’s long-lasting. Lip blushing can also help cosmetically restore and minimize signs of aging or scarring.
Is lip blushing painful?
On a scale from 1 to 10, I would rate lip blushing a 2. As long as you follow pre-care instructions, pain should be minimal. Even though lip blushing is a form of tattooing, if your artist applies a topical numbing cream to your lips and leaves it on for at least 30 minutes before starting the process, it will significantly dull your pain. Most people report feeling a mild scratching or pinching sensation during the process.
The bottom line:
I’m truly obsessed with my lip blushing results. Waking up with perfectly flushed and even-looking lips every day is totally worth the cost, IMO. Just remember: The results of lip blushing are largely dependent on how skilled your cosmetic tattoo artist is, so make sure you do a ton of research before you book your appointment.
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