If you’re obsessed with the naturally flushed, youthful effect that lip tints lend, a lip blushing treatment might just be up your alley. This cosmetic technique basically imparts a blush-tint to your lips and makes them look fuller with the help of tattooing. Don’t let the thought of needles alarm you, beauty actually *is* pain sometimes—or at least that’s what the TikToker-helmed and patriarchy-fuelled beauty trends want us to believe.
Having said that, if having thinner or paler lips has always been one of your insecurities, the lip blushing treatment may be the answer to your prayers.
What is Lip Blushing?
Lip blushing is a semi-permanent method of tattooing skin-deep make-up or colour pigments into your lips, designed to boost their natural colour and shape. It’s like having a flattering lip combo on forever—or a year or two in this case—without needing to care about smudging or reapplication. As we age, we begin losing the natural pigment and definition in our lips, which is especially common in women. This is where lip blushing comes into the picture.
How does the treatment work?
The aesthetician uses a tiny mechanised needle to deposit and embed undetectable dots of a coloured pigment and water-based ink into the lips to give you a “your lips, but better” kind of an effect. Besides adding a natural tinge to the lips, the service may even add symmetry to your pout and make it appear juicier and plumper. To start off the process, first, numbing cream is applied to your lips and left on for 30 minutes. Then, the lip outline is drawn with a tattoo gun or disposable needle, after which the canvas is coloured evenly with the pigment. The colour of the ink is customised as per the desired hue.
The result is a colour that looks natural and healthy, with an enhanced lip shape and size. Today, the procedure is performed by aestheticians rather than traditional tattoo artists like it was done decades ago. They usually use organic pigments and advanced, digital tools with various needle configurations instead of just one single harsh setting. And if you’re worried about it being painful, just pop some pain relievers recommended by your dermatologist prior to your appointment.
How long does lip blushing last?
Not too different from cosmetic enhancements like microblading, microshading and eyeliner tattoos, which utilise a blade to manually create small punctures in the skin, only to fill them with ink, the results of lip blushing vary from person to person. Generally, the effect lasts for 1-2 years depending on the person’s lifestyle and how well it is maintained—smoking and sun exposure can sometimes fasten the fading process. Similarly, if your skin is oil-prone, or you frequently use exfoliating products, or if you have an iron deficiency, the lip blush may dissipate more quickly.
How much does the treatment cost?
Since this cosmetic treatment requires medical expertise along with tattooing skills, the cost can range between ₹30,000 to 35,000, or above, based on the doctor and your location. And from one beauty junkie to another—never look for a bargain while choosing your doctor or technician, because lip blushing is a fairly invasive procedure and also lasts for over a year. You don’t want to be stuck with a botched lip job while trying to save a few bucks.
Do your research, go through client reviews, consult with multiple licensed and certified clinics and only then go in for the treatment. And, while Instagram is a great discovery tool for learning about these procedures and potentially locating a technician to work with, proceed with caution and study the tech’s portfolio, not just the flashy photos or videos from their social media profiles.
How to take care of your lips post-appointment?
Healing is a crucial part of any cosmetic procedure and lip blushing is no exception. After the appointment, expect your lips to be bruised, swollen, inflamed and scabbed (phew!) for upto one week since it’s a tattoo after all. Ice them if necessary, and over the next two weeks, make sure the scabs fall off naturally. If you pick your scabs, it may cause scarring or loss of pigment in those areas.
To care for your fresh tint, be sure to apply a petroleum jelly or an ultra nourishing lip balm topically to lock in the pigment and the moisture everyday until your lips are fully healed. Also, avoid workouts, sun exposure, incessant lip-licking and smoking for two weeks to get the best results.
Seems like a lot, but the idea of having an in-built lipstick that doesn’t budge, is really starting to sound appealing to chapstick-addicted girlies like us, don’t you agree?
