What Is Lip Blushing and How Much Does It Cost?

While growing older is natural and welcome, some changes that come with age, such as fading lip color, can take a toll on a person’s sense of self. Fortunately, lip blushing, a semipermanent form of makeup for the lips, can bring back a rosy hue, restoring your lips to a more youthful look.¹ Find out more about lip blushing and how it works.

What Is Lip Blushing?

Lip blushing is a form of semipermanent cosmetic tattooing that puts pigment directly onto the lips using handheld tools similar to those used in microblading. The technique allows the practitioner to be very precise and make sure both lips are well-shaded.¹

In addition to enhancing lip color, lip blushing has the potential to correct the appearance of asymmetry in the lips, though this is done completely with pigment, with no filler or augmentation involved. It offers a form of lip rejuvenation without lip fillers, injections or surgery.¹

Picking the right lip shade

While lip blushing is designed to restore a natural look to the lips, the truth is that you can pick any color of blushing, even a bright or bold color. You’ll work with your lip blush practitioner to find a shade that feels true to you.²

Lip blushing vs. injections

Another frequently obtained cosmetic lip procedure is lip fillers, in which a solution — such as hyaluronic acid — is injected into the lips to add volume and shape. Fillers do not change the color of the lips, however, and do not last as long as lip blushing. They may also be more expensive than lip blushing.¹

How Much Does Lip Blushing Cost?

The national average cost* of a lip blushing treatment is $297 and can range from $229 to $535. As with most cosmetic procedures, the treatment cost can vary widely depending on the practitioner’s experience, location and other factors.³

Average cost of lip blushing by state/district

Here is a look at average costs* for all 50 states and the District of Columbia:³

Is lip blushing covered by insurance?

Like most cosmetic procedures, lip blushing is not covered by health insurance.⁴

How Does Lip Blushing Work?

The lip blushing process is similar to a tattoo on other parts of your body, though the lip pigment is only semipermanent.² Your treatment will likely follow the three steps below.

1. Consultation

You’ll meet with your lip blushing practitioner to discuss your desired look and expectations for the treatment. Your practitioner will let you know what is feasible and work with you to choose the shade that is most natural for your skin tone and lip color.²

2. Preparation

The practitioner will clean and prep your lips for the procedure. You may have been asked to refrain from using certain types of products in the weeks before your first treatment. Your practitioner will outline your lips with foundation to give you the perfect shape for the pigment placement.²

3. Procedure

Similar to a regular tattoo, the practitioner will deposit lip pigment via a very small needle to the outline of your lips first to define the shape. You’ll likely then get a numbing cream for your lips before the lip color is filled in.²

Possible Side Effects of Lip Blushing

Though rare, tattooing of any kind includes a likelihood of transmission of infectious diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis C.⁵

If you have or plan to get cosmetic fillers or BOTOX® Cosmetic injections, there is a chance that it can alter the appearance of any permanent makeup, including lip blushing. More serious, but equally rare complications can include bacterial and fungal infections and allergic reactions to tattoo ink.⁵

Recovery: Tips and Timing

You should expect the healing process after lip blushing to take around seven to 10 days. In that time, your healing may follow these stages:⁶

1. Swelling and tenderness
2. Dryness and scabbing
3. Peeling
4. Color ghosting (where color appears paler as scabs and peeling occur before it returns)

By the end of your healing process, you’ll have a clear picture of your new lip color and can see if you need any touch-ups in the coming weeks.

What Results Can You Expect From Lip Blushing?

With the right maintenance and care, you can expect your lip blushing to enhance the color of your lips and even provide the illusion of greater fullness. On average, a lip blushing treatment can last around two to three years, though this can vary.¹

Some people have gotten as many as four years out of their lip blushing.⁷ Just as with regular tattoos, after you heal from the treatment, the color may be lighter than it was on the first few days after treatment.²

Your practitioner may recommend a follow-up visit around six to eight weeks after your initial treatment to fill in any pigment that came away during the healing process.⁷

Aftercare is very important to get the most out of your treatment. You’ll want to follow your practitioner’s advice, which will likely include the following:²

• Hydrate. Regularly apply whichever lip balm your practitioner recommends to keep your lips protected and hydrated.
• Don’t pick. It’s possible for scabs to form after the treatment. Avoid picking at these to ensure the best results in your blushing.
• Cleanse. Clean your lips with mild and gentle products as recommended by your practitioner. Don’t wear lipstick or lip gloss until cleared to do so.¹
• Protect. Avoid tanning beds and direct sun while lips are healing.⁷ Use sunblock on your lips every day.
• Avoid petroleum products. Petroleum-based products can speed up color fading.⁷
• Don’t smoke. Smoking can cause pigment to fade more quickly.⁷

Frequently Asked Questions About Lip Blushing

Do you still have questions about lip blushing? Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about this treatment.

Financing Lip Blushing With the CareCredit Credit Card

When getting lip blushing or another cosmetic procedure, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic specialist near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Jordan Rosenfeld has been freelance writing for 21 years about finances, health, education and more. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Billfold, Good Magazine, GOBankingRates, Daily Worth, Quartz, Medical Economics, The New York Times, PayPal, The Washington Post and more.