But it goes transfer-proof almost immediately, giving a stain-like effect on my lips that darkens a bit as it dries. Simply apply a lip gloss like the Lip Plumping Lip Gloss to the center of your lower lip, press your lips together and go. That being said, there are always risks to be aware of with any cosmetic procedure, especially if you’re prone to irritation around your lips, so make sure to discuss any concerns, allergies, and skin sensitivities with your artist before you make the appointment. Everyone’s skin is different, but what I’ve learned from years of experience is that most lips start to swell at the one-hour mark, and it creates too much trauma.

I, however, was in so much pain, even after lidocaine, that I was contemplating tapping out while my limbs were still mobile. Read it carefully below, then go forth, armed with all of the knowledge, before making yourself an appointment. Like, you’ll rarely see me leave the house without something defining my lips, which is ultimately what led me to consider lip blushing, a type of semi- permanent makeup that adds a wash of color to your lips and helps define your lip shape for years.

The lips take pigment very well, and unless a client wants a bolder look, I don’t require second appointments. And if the one that you absolutely love still lacks in moisture, top it with a lip balm or gloss after the top layer of the stain has faded to prevent dryness. Siena Gagliano is the associate editor at Cosmopolitan , where she primarily covers beauty, fashion, travel, and lifestyle. It gives my lips a really natural, just-bitten color but makes them look a bit warmer and bigger if I overline. Always vegan, our professional quality cosmetics are filled to the brim with cruelty-free goodness, and never tested on animals – garnering the Leaping Bunny!

Before writing this story, she tested dozens of lip stains on her own lips, then chatted with experts about their favorite formulas. So when the artist swore that adding more pigment would correct all my problems, I believed her—and I was desperate. FYI: This is what good, professional lip blushing should look like (courtesy of LA-based permanent makeup artist and educator Stella Fixman, whose entire Instagram is filled with screenshot-worthy before-and-afters). It can also be a makeup skincare hybrid where it can also treat your lips such as moisturizing lip balms that can help nourish and hydrate, while lip scrubs and lip exfoliators can be used to buff away dry skin and help prepare lips for a smooth, flawless application. Sometimes I just want a teensy-bit of a tint on my lips without adding all that much color at all, and in those moments, I reach for these lip stains from Huda Beauty.And please don’t go for the cheapest deal just to save some cash—this is a tattoo that’ll last for years…on your face. Please note that you may be liable to pay import customs fees into your country from the United Kingdom. She’s an authority in all skincare categories, but is an expert when it comes to lip blushing from interviewing dermatologists and permanent makeup artists. Start by exfoliating your lips with a lip exfoliating scrub to remove dry skin and create a smooth, moisturized lip surface. She assured me the healing phase would last only one week and sent me home with a custom ointment that would help with any dryness and shedding over the next few days.