Lip blushing is the latest cosmetic craze to sweep Australia, and influencers online are raving about it.
An alternative to lip fillers is the treatment where a transparent, tinted color is applied over the lips and ‘tattooed’ into the skin, creating fuller, rosier, kissable lips.
It can also correct uneven or discolored lips.
Despite some doctors warning against the procedure, several major Aussie stars are sharing their positive and horror stories about the treatment on social media.
Model Laura Dundovic, 36, recently underwent lip blush and revealed the results on Instagram.
The brunette beauty, who shot to fame in 2008 when she was crowned Miss Universe Australia, had the biggest smile on her face as she looked at the camera with her luscious new lips.
Laura told her followers that ‘she wished she had done it sooner’.
Major Australian social media stars including Laura Dundovic (pictured) have recently jumped on the lip tattoo trend
She shared a gallery of striking photos on Instagram, showing off the incredible end result of her recent lip tattoo
“When these wear out, I’ll do it again,” she said.
‘These are my lips with nothing on them now. Attention to detail though [thumbs up emoji].
Meanwhile, former Married At First Sight star Martha Kalifatidis showed off her dramatic lip transformation in April.
The former reality star, 34, confirmed she had her lips tattooed as she shared a photo gallery from the salon chair.
Martha confirmed on Instagram that the treatment was “much less painful” than she thought.
‘In good hands. Much less painful than I expected,” she assured her fans.
However, some influencers have not achieved the same positive results.
Last year, Bella Johnston was brutally criticized online after getting cosmetic lip tattoos.
Former Married At First Sight star Martha Kalifatidis (pictured) showed off her dramatic lip transformation in April, confirming the procedure was ‘much less painful’ than she thought
The Bachelors star, who previously appeared on season 10 of the show last year, took to TikTok to show off her ‘patchy’ lips which were inked with a pinkish red colour.
In the video, the 27-year-old said she was afraid she had “ruined her face.”
“I got my lips tattooed a month ago and I keep waiting to like them but it doesn’t get better,” she wrote in the clip.
“Are they meant to be irregular? Why is the outline so strong?
“Has anyone had their lips done before? Please tell me the color fades more. I shouldn’t have messed up my face.”
Although the reality star received some advice and tips in the comments, she was trolled by several users for undergoing the cosmetic procedure.
“Why would you ever do this to yourself,” one user asked, while another added, “Ronald McDonald here.”
“Never tattoo your face, it’s always a bad idea,” one fan wrote, while another said, “I’ve never seen it look good on anyone, sorry.”
Meanwhile, several users gave good advice and encouraged the influencer to get himself updated.
Last year, Bella Johnston (pictured) was brutally criticized online after getting a cosmetic lip tattoo
‘With cosmetic tattoos it is very normal for blotchy spots to appear after the first session. That’s why the second appointment is necessary to make sure everything goes together well,” one person said.
Former Big Brother star Skye Wheatley also had alarming results.
A few years ago, fans of the model and TV personality, 30, questioned whether she had gone too far after she showcased an extremely inflated pout online.
Skye shared a TikTok video of herself immediately after getting her lips tattooed, explaining that she wanted to fool her boyfriend Lachlan Waugh into thinking she had permanently packed her lips with filler.
A year earlier, she showed footage of a beautician gently running the tattoo gun over her lips, enhancing the shadow of her pout.
“Thanks to that numbing patch, I can’t feel anything anymore,” she explained.
It takes several sessions to achieve the desired shade and a lip tattoo can last from one to five years.
A few years ago, fans of Skye Wheatley (pictured in 2020) questioned whether she had gone too far after she introduced an extremely inflated pout online
A photo of a woman’s lips after permanent full lip contouring at a dermatology clinic in London
The cost for an initial session, plus several follow-up appointments, ranges from $450 to $1,400. Each session lasts approximately 90 minutes.
According to experts, the treatments can be painful because the skin of the lips is very sensitive.
In addition, experts warn that allergic reactions to cosmetic tattooing procedures are common and the risk is greater with lip blushing due to the red pigment in the dye used.
Dermatologist Dr Shilpi Khetarpal said: ‘Red is one of the most common allergenic tattoo colours. If your lips are pink or red, there is a risk of an allergic reaction if you apply that colour.’
And if an allergic reaction does occur, there is no easy solution.
Dr. Ava Shamban, a Los Angeles dermatologist, told Allure, “When a corrective laser is used to remove the red pigment, it almost always turns black. Expertise, artistry, proper care, and advanced knowledge of the skin give the patient the lowest risk of complications.”
