Lip blush, also referred to as lip tattooing is a form of permanent makeup where a digital machine and a needle cartridge are used to deposit pigment into the lips.

Lip blush can be a cosmetic tattoo treatment to improve the appearance of the lips or a medical tattoo treatment for clients with cleft lip or scarring.

The popularity of this treatment has skyrocketed in recent years, and many clients now opt for the procedure over lip fillers to improve their pout without injections or needing to add any volume.

Long gone is the obvious, blue-toned permanent lip-liner of the 1990s, as advances in technology and technique mean that artists offering lip blush can now create super-natural results that suit any lip shape or skin tone.


@gabriellaspmu


What are the benefits of lip blush?



Restores pigment

Clients can lose pigment over time due to ageing or having lip fillers and some clients will naturally have cool-toned lips. Lip blush helps restore pigment and creates a subtle hint of colour, bringing warmth back into the lips.


Adds definition & illusion of volume

Lip blush is a great treatment for adding definition to the vermillion border and cupid’s bow whilst also creating the illusion of fuller lips, without adding any volume with lip fillers. This in turn creates a more healthy, youthful look.


Cool or dark lip correction

As mentioned above, lip blush is great for correcting cool toned lips but experienced technicians can also offer dark lip correction for clients with hyperpigmentation to create a completely neutral and natural lip.


Corrects asymmetry

Lip blush can be used to even out any natural asymmetry in the lips and the results will be completely natural and almost undetectable, depending on the colour the client opts for.


Adds a hint of colour

Immediately after treatment, the lip colour can appear more intense, but results will heal up to 80% lighter leaving a subtle hint of colour and a ‘lip stain’ effect.




Is lip blush permanent?


Here at Killer Beauty, we will always refer to cosmetic tattoo procedures as permanent makeup. Even though treatments fade significantly over time, some pigment will always remain in the skin unless the client undergoes removal. The pigment will be very faded and sometimes undetectable, but it’ll never disappear completely – hence why we use the term permanent.

Lip blush is a permanent makeup procedure, but regular colour boost appointments are required to keep results looking fresh and pigmented. How often clients need a top-up will depend on their skin type and how it reacts to the pigment – some clients require colour boosts every 12 to 18 months whereas others can get up to 3 years out of a treatment.

Unfortunately, clients with oily skin types tend to experience fading a lot quicker than those with normal to dry skin. Lifestyle also plays a key role, and clients who use sunbeds, regularly sunbathe, or use skincare containing acids, retinol or vitamin C will experience premature fading.

Pigment will however, fade enough between treatments to opt for slightly different shades at the colour boost if the client’s preferences do change. If the treatment doesn’t turn out as planned (which can happen sometimes!) or the client just isn’t happy with the results, removal is always an option – check out our full blog post on when PMU goes wrong here.



Can you have lip blush if you have lip fillers?


Some clients may be concerned that they are not eligible for lip blush if they’ve had lip fillers previously. Fortunately, this is not the case! In fact, lip blush works extremely well on clients with fillers and can further enhance the area with beautiful results.

Clients who have lip fillers may experience a loss of pigment over time and the lips can develop more cool, blue, or ashy tones. This loss of pigment can also mean the vermillion border is less defined and overall lip shape lacks definition.

Most artists would always recommend getting filler first, as this can change the shape of the lips and affect the shape and lip border if you have existing permanent makeup. As long as clients wait the recommended amount of time between lip fillers and lip blush (usually 4-6 weeks depending on the aesthetician and artist), it is perfectly safe to go ahead with the treatment.

Lip blush can then be super-effective in restoring that lost pigment as well as completely warming up the cool tones within the lips, which gives the lips a healthier and more youthful appearance. It also helps restore definition to the lip border, overall shape and can really enhance the previous filler treatment to create breath-taking results.


@sophieclarebeauty


Can you have lip blush instead of lip fillers?


Absolutely! In fact, a lot of clients are now opting to have lip blush treatments instead of fillers to create the illusion of fuller, healthier lips without any injections. Lip blush can provide a more natural enhancement for clients who want softer, understated results.

The treatment is also suitable for clients who have opted to dissolve previous lip filler and may be unhappy with their lip shape afterwards. PMU artists can enhance their lip shape, create symmetry and add the illusion of volume where it has been lost, for an overall healthier appearance.




How can I become a PMU artist to offer lip blush?


With the popularity of this treatment exploding recently, more and more people are wanting to train in lip blush and offer these services. From people with no previous experience to PMU artists who offer other treatments, everyone wants to learn how to lip blush!

In our blog How to Become a Cosmetic Tattooer, we’ve created a step-by-step guide on how to become a fully qualified and insured permanent makeup artist.

In our When PMU Goes Wrong blog, we also have a section dedicated to the importance of training! We would always recommend fully researching your trainer or academy and making sure they are fully accredited before committing to a course.

We always want to remind PMU artists of the importance of using high-quality equipment and products from reputable brands. Here at Killer Beauty, we only stock products that meet the highest standards, to ensure that our artists have access to the best equipment that the industry has to offer.


And there you have it! Our intro to one of the most popular PMU procedures on the market today! We have no doubt that this treatment and the technology and products used will continue to evolve and we can’t wait to see what comes along next from the global brands that we stock.