While I was waiting for my appointment at the ophthalmologist today, I was browsing through the June 2019 issue of ELLE magazine. I came across an article by Kate Foster about a new-to-me beauty procedure, “Lip Blushing”. I googled lip blushing, and it appears that lip blushing, a form of permanent makeup, has been around at least since 2013.
What is Lip Blushing?
Lip Blushing is a semipermanent tattooing of the lips using needles with an indelible tint in custom blended, subtle shades of pink, red or coral. The tattooing can be done as fine lines, dots/pixels or wider sweeps. The tint can last up to two years. And you can get touch-ups, if needed.
The goal of lip blushing is ultimately to make lips look fuller and more youthful. An indistinct lip line can be corrected with lip blushing. If the upper lip is thin or small compared to the lower lip, it can be enhanced by redrawing the lip line.
Where is it done, how much and what’s it like?
Kate Foster of ELLE magazine decided to undergo the procedure in NYC at FFrankMD Salon with a specially trained technician. At that salon, the process was done with a digital machine with 15 needles that apply organic pigments. The procedure typically costs between $1200-1500, and a touch-up session is $350. Kate chose a soft rosy color with a slightly lighter shade applied in the center to give the lips more dimension and the look of plumpness. She admitted that when the tech first started tattooing, she felt a sharp pinch and her eyes watered. But as the process went on, she said it felt “like a finger running over (my) lips” and that she almost fell asleep. (Hmm, why don’t I believe that?)
Another permanent makeup artist, Jackie David from Jackie David Skincare also in New York, that I read about in an April 2019 article on the ELLE website, uses a “rotary pen” to line and deposit color on the lips. The rotary pen is similar to the tool she uses for microblading eyebrows She was even more candid than Kate Foster. Jackie David warned that the lips are one of the most sensitive parts of the body so pain can be considerable. She said that she gives clients a prescription topical numbing cream that is applied 15 minutes before the start of the procedure. She also mentioned that the process takes about two hours. She charges about $1200.
Because the pigment fades as the lips heal over the first couple of weeks, the color initially looks much darker than the final result. Kate admitted that initially her lips felt dry and sore and after a couple of days, they began to peel while the outline of her lips continued to look dark. By day 5, she said her lips looked and felt more normal. After a month, she got the rosy pink tone she was promised. Nevertheless, Kate Foster still wears lipstick. But when she forgoes lipstick, she says she feels more confident.
I’m sorry I don’t have any photos that I can show in this post. But here are Instagram before and after pix from “carlybrowness_pmua” who is a permanent makeup artist who does the procedure in Utah. Her photos were shown in the ELLE April 2019 online article. Check Carly out on IG where she has lots more photos of her work, if you’re interested in seeing more permanent makeup.
Are you tempted?
If you are tempted or if you are just curious, I recommend that you go to the source and read Kate Foster’s article “Lip Blushing” in the June 2019 edition of ELLE. Also, check out ELLE’s article “Everything you need to know about permanent makeup”, from April 20, 2019. In addition to lip blushing, the online article also describes microblading, permanent eyeliner and permanent concealer.
As for me, I’m a total chicken. I detest needles so there’s no way I would consider any of those procedures. Also, I don’t consider myself a real candidate for lip blushing. I adore lipstick, and I have no problem applying and reapplying lipstick, gloss or tinted balm most days. Even the Kate Foster admitted that she still wore lipstick just about as much as she always did.
Nevertheless, I can understand doing lip blushing if you want to redefine the outline of your lips to balance uneven lips. Also, lip blushing would be very helpful to those who have very thin and/or colorless lips. The photos I saw looked much plumper, better defined, and fuller as well as well balanced, size-wise.
But in my case, I’ll stick with my lipstick.
Let me know what you think about lip blushing in the comments. Any interest?
The post Lip Blushing: Is It For You? first appeared on Never Say Die Beauty.
