“Lip Blushing” Is the Cosmetic Procedure You Didn’t Know You Wanted

Lip blushing is the new semipermanent makeup procedure on everyone’s, well, lips. Similar to other semipermanent makeup services like brow microblading and tattooed eyeliner, lip blushing allows you wake up with picture-perfect, beautifully flushed lips without applying a stitch of lipstick, balm, or gloss. Lip blush tattoos are expensive, for sure, but fans of the procedure rave about the natural-looking results and time-saving benefits.

We talked to top cosmetic tattoo professionals and skincare experts to learn more about this trending service—and why it’s not what you may expect.

Keep scrolling to get the details on lip blush tattoos.

What Is Lip Blushing?

Lip blushing is a type of cosmetic tattooing that semipermanently enhances lip color by depositing colored ink into the lips with a mechanical needle. The resulting lip tattoo is subtle, not saturated, thanks to recent advances in semipermanent makeup.

“Lip blush tattooing is similar to the whip-shading or pepper-shading techniques seen in traditional tattooing,” explains Shaughnessy Otsuji, cosmetic tattoo artist and cofounder of Studio Sashiko in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. “Using a single needle and a quick, consistent hand motion, we are able to create a series of dots as opposed to a solid line as the needle goes in and out of the machine, penetrating the skin.”

The resulting tattoo, which typically lasts for two to three years, imbues lips with a flattering tint, like a stain or balm. After getting lip blush, you can still wear lipsticks and lip colors to switch up your look, if you like—but many lip blush clients are happy to go without lip makeup.

“For some clients… the goal is not having to apply a daily lip color or gloss,” Otsuji says. “At the end of the procedure, the client should feel more confident with baring their ’natural,’ product-free lips.”

Benefits of Lip Blushing