We’re all familiar with lip filler.
The injections, the migration, the dissolving when it becomes too much.
Filler can look great on a lot of people – it adds a light plump to the lip, filling it out and creating a new shape that looks gorgeous when glossed.
On some people, though, filler can look, well, a bit much. Opting for cheaper treatments and too much product can lead to a pout that’s less than perfect, asymmetrical, and ultimately far too big for your face.
These days, it seems like fewer and fewer people are opting for Big Lips™, and going for more subtle looks; a lip flip here, a 0.5ml there.
Elsewhere, they’re trying a relatively new trend – Lip Blush. A permanent tattoo in a neutral colour, this treatment promises to enhance the natural beauty of your lips, creating a light pigment that’s there 24/7.
So, how does it work? Lip blush is carried out by an aesthetician using a small tool similar to a tattoo gun. The machine creates small abrasions in the lips to deposit the colour and outline the edges.
The process can take between an hour to an hour and a half, and clients can choose between a spectrum of subtle colours to give the illusion of volume.
MySkincare clinic founder Karan Burke says that lip blush differs from regular lip tattooing, as it’s focused on enhancing the lips, rather than simply applying a full colour.
“Being a lip semi permanent fan now over 12 years, lip blush is a quicker and a lot easier than doing a full lip colour,” she says.
“Compared to a full lip pigmentation it’s designed to define and outline the lips and then softly blush tone into the lips without it been a full block colour.”
Most lip blush treatments will last between one-two years, depending on the client’s lifestyle (those who smoke or spend a lot of time in the sun may notice their blush fades faster. A lighter colour may also not last as long).
After treatment, you can expect a little swelling and dryness, but this will reduce over a few days. Your colour also may look more vivid at first, but this will also calm down as your lips heal.
Karan says that lip blush is fast becoming a great alternative to filler. “It’s designed for absolutely anyone, and there a whole selection of colours and tones.”