if you haven’t stumbled across the buzz about ‘lip blush’ I’m guessing you’re not spending much time on Instagram. The tattoo make-up treatment is having its moment right now. Celebs like I’m A Celeb’s Tulisa and social media sensation Chloe Morello showing off their semi-permanently tinted lips, and their results are gorgeous.
I’ve been flirting with the idea of trying this treatment ever since I heard about it a couple of years ago. But it wasn’t until two months ago when I reached out to Karen Betts– semi-permanent make-up specialists – to take the plunge after seeing Chloe’s lip transformation with them. My request? I wanted them to create a shade exactly like Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Medium Lipstick, £29 – my forever favourite lip product.
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If you’re new to the concept of lip blushing, here’s the lowdown: it’s all about having a custom pigment semi-permanently applied to your lips with a needle. Sounds intense, right? But don’t worry, numbing cream is used to minimise any discomfort, and the whole process takes about two hours. That includes the time it takes for your practitioner to carefully outline your lips and fill them in with your dreamy new colour.
I wanted that perfect rosy neutral that goes with all make-up or bare skin – something about two shades darker than my natural lip colour, and nothing too bold that I’d get tired of seeing every day. Spoiler: Karen, who did my lips herself, absolutely nailed it. She whipped up the perfect Pillow Talk-esque shade just for me.
I know what you’re really curious about – did it hurt? Honestly, it wasn’t bad at all. I’d rate it maybe a 4/10 on the ouch scale. The first pass before the numbness really sets in is a tiny bit scratchy and sore, but I didn’t need to take any breaks. It also takes around 90 minutes in total to do two passes on the upper and lower lips.
Post-treatment, there’s a little swelling for about 24 hours, and then your lips will peel before they fully heal. Heads up: the colour you leave the clinic with isn’t the one you’ll end up with – that takes about a week or two to settle. Your lips will also go through a ‘frost’ stage where they look paler before settling on your final shade.
My final result was a gorgeous Pillow Talk Medium shade that looked so natural and pretty – exactly what I asked for. I had a top-up session (included in the price) a month on from my first treatment, and that second one really helped to get the shade to the exact tone I wanted. Now, eight weeks on from my first session, my lips are fully healed and looking fabulous. It’s like I’m wearing Pillow Talk 24/7, and I’m obsessed.
My friends keep asking me what lipstick I’m wearing, and it’s such a flex to casually say, “Oh, just a little gloss.”
The treatment, including the initial session and a follow-up top-up about six weeks later, costs from £695 at Karen Betts. It’s an investment, but as a regular lipstick wearer, I’ve done the maths. One £27 lipstick adds up when you’re buying it on repeat. This tattoo pigment lasts solidly up to two years before you’ll need another session (though a touch-up every 12-18 months is recommended), so it feels like a pretty good deal to me.
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