Now that lip injections have become so ultra-democratic they’re almost like the luxe lipstick we indulge in every few years or so, it’s time to try out a different lip treat that’s somewhat more affordable, and that will bring both definition and colour to your pout. Alas, still with the sting of a needle. But what wouldn’t we do for selfies. Right?
Enter lip blush. “A new generation of semi-permanent lip procedure that enhances the colour of the lips, their natural shape, and in many cases can also correct symmetry,” explains Ekaterina Ulyanoff, an award-winning Makeup Artist, Lash Extension Expert and Owner of Studio Halo located in Saint-Henri, Montreal.
Yes, it is a tattoo. But unlike the permanent makeup from decades ago, lip blushing uses a technique called pixilation that gently deposits tiny dots of ultra-customized organic pigments on the lips in a very natural pattern, so no visible strokes are created — a bit like microblading only leaves a feathered, natural shape on your eyebrows, without drawing a full line.
“The main difference is that lip blush is not going to stay on your lips forever or change colour. The newly developed pigments that are used for this beauty service are formulated to naturally fade over time. While permanent lip tattoos do not.” It also helps that lip blushing uses digital tools that feature several needle configurations instead of one single setting, so the end result is always super natural and pretty.
Since lip blush will gradually fade over time (the speed at which it does depends on your skin type and tone, lifestyle, sun exposure, and the colour chosen originally), most experts recommend a touch-up every year or so, to maintain the results. A bit like when you go back to your medical aesthetics practitioner to get your lips plumped up with more fillers.
Who is it for?
“After the age of 25, most start seeing their lips lose natural colour, and the need to reapply lip pencils and lipstick intensifies,” shares Ekaterina. So why not just wake up and already look beautiful with a naturally flushed lip, or even a kiss-proof coral or berry pout?
Anyone who would love to have their lips appear more defined, fuller and rosier, while almost completely eliminating the need for lip liner or fill-in pencil, could benefit from this new beauty technique. Also, if you want to visually correct the shape of the lip or improve its symmetry, lip blush is ideal and sometimes better than fillers! You can decide with the technician whether to do the full lip with contour or just to shade them.
What’s more, in this era of increased health protocols requiring face masks in most social situations or when going into public spaces, “This procedure will likely become more popular since we won’t want to deal with lipstick or lip gloss smudging all the time.” Something to definitely keep in mind for your new fall or winter 2021 beauty looks!
However, like most aesthetic procedures involving needles and the potential for scars or infection, anyone with blood or immune deficiencies, teenagers under 18, or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, should avoid lip blushing. Also, as Ekaterina points out: “Women should wait at least 60 days from the last time they breastfed to make sure hormonal activity resumes back to normal levels.”
What to expect during the service?
So, what happens the day of your much-anticipated appointment for more beautiful lips? After the consultation and signing a consent form, you will decide with the specialist what shade you desire.
Next, you lay down on a cosmetologist bed and the lip blush specialist shapes your lips with lip pencils. A topical anesthetic cream is applied to decrease sensitivity. Afterwards, the technician will draw the shape of the ‘new’ lips so that you can evaluate and make any changes. Then the actual procedure begins, and the entire process takes about an hour to an hour and a half.
OK, but is it really painful? “The discomfort varies from person to person. Some clients fall asleep during the procedure, while others are more sensitive and will feel the sting more. But considering that a numbing cream is applied, it feels more like strong micro vibrations on the lips when the tattoo pen is used.”
Once the appointment is completed, your lips will be swollen—it is a tattoo, after all. Over the next week they will scab slightly, which is part of the healing process. So it’s really important to keep them as moisturized as possible and not to pick at the scabs, which may result in scarring or loss of pigment. Something you definitely don’t want.
Initially the colour will be deeper and super vibrant, almost like a lip stain, but that will change over time. “Once healed, the colour fades to about 30 to 50 percent of the original shade, beautifully blending with your own natural lip colour. That’s why a touch-up appointment is always necessary, to make sure the final shade is the one you want, and to fill in areas where there might be less colour.”
Choosing the Right Shade
With Lip Blush, the colour possibilities are almost endless as the pigments can be mixed as much as needed to achieve the desired colour. It’s almost like having your own personal makeup artist customize the ideal shade! You can also bring a favourite lip liner or lipstick to get the perfect colour match on the day of your appointment. From pale and delicate to darker and more dramatic, the technician will help guide you in choosing the ideal shade.
If you don’t end up liking the colour you first chose, it can always be modified after the lips have healed – a process that takes about three weeks. In fact, a touch-up session is always scheduled six to eight weeks after the first appointment. Lip blush is designed to act like as a base so you can still enjoy wearing other different shades of lipstick over it, if you so desire.
With Lip Blush, you are on your way to perfectly beautiful lips that are completely kiss-proof and smudge-proof, even under the tightest, biggest face mask or most passionate kiss.
