Lip blush is one of the most popular permanent makeup treatments to date. It involves the implementation of cosmetic tattoo pigments into the lips to give them either a natural enhancement or a bold, solid color.
The duration of the treatment itself depends on several factors such as your skin type, lifestyle, and the aftercare steps you choose to follow. That’s why the lip blush you get today, probably won’t look as vibrant in a couple of months.
Read this article to find out all about lip blush fading, why it happens, and what it looks like year after year.
How Long Does Lip Blush Last?
The cosmetic pigments used during lip blushing last 2 to 3 years on average.
Lip blush results gradually fade over time and depend mostly on factors like how well your skin holds pigments, how hard your system works to extract them, and how you take care of your lips post-treatment.
PMU pigments are meant to be broken down and absorbed by our bodies, that’s why lip blushing is considered a cosmetic tattoo, not a traditional one. But how quickly this process unfolds differs from person to person.
Some of the external factors that affect your lip blush results, like sunlight exposure, can be controlled, while others, like your body chemistry, cannot.
If you wish to prolong the effect of your treatment and reverse some of that lip blush fading you’ve experienced, a touch-up every couple of years is in order.
Learn everything about lip blush longevity and what can affect it here.
Lip Blushing After a Year – What to Expect?
One thing’s for sure – lip blush that’s a year old won’t look as fresh as it did immediately after the procedure.
Right after your treatment, the color will look very bright and intense, but after the healing process is over you will notice your lip blush fading significantly – this is normal.
As your lips are healing from the procedure, a portion of pigment is naturally lost, which can result in about 30%-50% less color vibrancy. Only after 6 weeks, your lip blush will settle and take its final color.
And the actual fading starts from there.
What Happens with Your Lip Blush 1 Year Later?
When talking about lip blush 1 year later, we first have to note that the color may fade by an additional 30% during this time, depending on your skin type. If you have dry skin, the color may fade more quickly than for someone with oily skin.
Also, lifestyle factors such as frequent sun exposure, smoking, and using certain skincare products can also affect the longevity of your lip blush color.
It is essential to keep your lips moisturized in the first year after your treatment to minimize lip blush fading.
You can use a lip balm or an aftercare ointment to keep your lips hydrated. Just remember to avoid using products that contain retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid as they can cause the lip blush color to fade.
Image source: Instagram @sandraslewa.pmu
What About Possible Gone Wrong Scenarios?
If you notice your lip blush color getting slightly patchy and uneven during the first year – this is to be expected. One of the main factors when it comes to unevenness in color is aftercare.
Remember to always be careful when exfoliating your facial skin as well as the skin on your lips, as regular exfoliation can cause the lip blush to fade more quickly. And always wear your daily SPF over your lip blush to prevent the color from fading.
However, if you notice a dark patch of pigment around your lips remaining after your lip blush has significantly faded, this can indicate improper pigment implementation during the initial procedure.
In this case, your artist has probably applied pigment above the vermillion border onto your facial skin. This is a problem because the pigment implemented into the skin fades at a slower rate when compared to the pigment in your lips.
Read more about the potential side effects and gone-wrong scenarios of lip tattoos here.
Image source: Instagram @tattoo_byjulie
What Does Lip Blush After 2 Years Look Like?
Lip blush tattoo after 2 years looks significantly faded. The color loss is now an additional 20% when compared to the results of lip blush fading after a year.
During this time, you may notice that the edges of your lips are not as defined as they were initially.
However, the good news is that the color will still look natural, and you will not have any harsh lines. The faded color may be more noticeable if you had a darker shade initially.
Image source: Instagram @luxseriesjanice
What Does Lip Blush After 3 Years Look Like?
After three years, the color will have faded almost completely, so you may need a touch-up or two if you want to maintain the color and definition of your lips. The color left on your lips will be barely noticeable at this time.
Since longevity depends on the individual’s lifestyle, some notice that the color lasts longer or shorter than average. To ensure that the color lasts as long as possible, follow the aftercare instructions provided by your technician.
Image source: Instagram @goldcoast.cosmetictattoo
How to Prolong the Effect of Your Lip Blush Tattoo
Lip blush is a form of cosmetic tattooing, and as such, it implies breaking the surface of the skin of the lips and causing micro-trauma, which needs the right amount of time to heal – approximately 10 days for superficial healing, and about a month for the pigments to settle.
During the healing process, you should refrain from certain activities, clean the treated area regularly, and hydrate it with a specialized lip blush aftercare ointment.
Until the lips are healed or until the peeling is over, here’s a look at the activities and products to avoid for prolonging the color of your lip blush tattoo:
- Don’t touch your lips or pick at scabs.
- Don’t get your lips soaking wet.
- Refrain from swimming and working out.
- Don’t get toothpaste on your lips.
- Don’t put any makeup on your lips.
- Don’t eat spicy or very salty foods.
- Avoid drinking hot beverages and alcohol.
- Minimize exposure to direct sunlight.
- Don’t sleep on your face.
Some of the mentioned activities like exposure to direct sunlight, play a very important role in how your lip blush looks a year or two after the procedure.
Direct sunlight exposure, like tanning for example, can cause the cosmetic pigments on your lips to fade much faster than they normally would so always apply a daily SPF.
Final Notes on Lip Blush Fading
Lip blush is a popular cosmetic tattooing technique that gives the lips a long-lasting pop of color.
Although the implemented color gradually fades, you can expect the results to last as long as 3 years – or longer with regular touchups.
It is essential to keep your lips moisturized in the years after your treatment and take simple steps like avoiding tanning without SPF on your lips, to experience the longest result this treatment can offer.
Cover image source: Freepik
