Our lips are one of the most dynamic facial features that we have at our disposal. They aid us in expressing ourselves through speech. They help us to convey our mood and emotions. They are a key tool in connecting to other human beings socially and romantically. Lips are so integral to our lives in ways that we don’t always notice.

While we do not usually appreciate the function of our lips, we do often pay attention to the way they look. We prefer non-chapped, plump lips that are well-defined, symmetric and visibly stand out. We do what we can to avoid damage (e.g. licking our lips) and try to protect our lips as best as we can (e.g., by using lip balm with SPF). Despite our best efforts, lips thin out, lose color and become wrinkled over time. Fortunately, we’ve developed ways to make our lips look more vibrant and full.

Putting on Your Lips with Traditional Cosmetics

Women and men use modern lip cosmetics as a means of putting their best face forward and expressing themselves. Lipstick is one of the primary cosmetics used on the lips. A combination of wax, natural and synthetic oils, pigments, fats, and emollients, lipstick is available in an array of colors and finishes (from shimmer to matte, and anywhere in between). To keep lipstick from running and to provide fine definition to the lips, lip liner is often applied before lipstick. Lip balm is often applied before lip cosmetics, and sometimes afterward.

Traditional Lip Cosmetic Limitations

Unfortunately, lip cosmetics can disappoint those who wear them. Lipstick often does not last long, leaving lip liner as the only remaining product on the lips. Similarly, lip gloss must be reapplied frequently. Long wear lipstick and lip stains provide more reliable coverage, but are drying to the lips and require good makeup remover. Those who wear lip cosmetics must be diligent to ensure their lips have continuous coverage and do not dry out because of the products they use.

Dehydration is only one of the possible harmful effects that lip cosmetics can have on the lips. Some lipsticks contain trace metals, like lead, that can be carcinogenic. Even colored lip balms can contain irritants (such as phenol and petrolatum). Even trying on sample lip products can be dangerous: you can possibly get oral herpes (that causes cold sores) or staph infections if you use a sample that another customer has already used.

Creating Vibrant Lips with Permanent Makeup

For these reasons and more, women and men are choosing to design their own lips. Cosmetic artists create permanent lips through injecting permanent pigments under the lip surface using either a manual tool (i.e., the microblade) or a precise digital machine. Using this process, cosmetic artists can given your lips the illusion of fullness, camouflage unwanted scars or uneven pigmentation, and make lips appear perfectly symmetrical. Those who undergo this process should get permanent lip coloration as the same time as receiving permanent lip liner to generate a more even look to their lips than is possible when receiving either procedure alone.

Those who choose to wear permanent lips should expect the effect to last for just over one year. Permanent lips do not last as long as other permanent makeup procedures because the lips are constantly exposed to food and drink, which can cause up to 50% color loss over time. Those who have permanent lip procedures often need a few touch ups to maintain their look.

Post-Procedure Side Effects of Permanent Lip Application

The lips are delicate and require attentive care for the first month after permanent lip application. It is expected that permanent lip wearers will experience the following on their lips during the healing period:

These side effects are temporary. Rarely, permanent lip application can have unwanted side effects. Those with darker skin can sometimes experience hyper pigmentation. Also, those with pre-existing oral herpes can sometimes experience a cold sore outbreak.

Those who undergo permanent lip application must take special care of what they place on or near their lips in the first 3 weeks following the procedure. As the lips are sore and extremely sensitive, permanent lip wearers should avoid the following during the healing period:

  • Touching the lips directly with food or drink
  • Consuming oily, salty, acidic or spicy foods
  • Consuming alcoholic beverages
  • Using toothpaste directly on the lips
  • Using soap with alcohol on the lips
  • Scrubbing, wiping, scratching or rubbing the lips

During the healing period, permanent lip wearers need to baby their lips. They should drink through straws and eat tiny bites of food. They should cleanse with non-alcoholic soap and water, and apply aftercare product to lips as directed. After the healing period, permanent lip wearers can return to their regular routines.

Loving Your Permanent Lips

Permanent lip application can provide more than a continuous hue for your lips. It can correct imperfections and create a more even appearance. It can add definition to your lips and correct asymmetry. It can create fullness that rivals temporary fillers. It can eliminate the skill and time needed to apply lip cosmetics. And if you are still interested in using lip cosmetics, it provides a strong foundation from which to create your custom look for the day or evening.

For an optimal experience creating your custom lips, choose Blooming Beauty for your permanent lip application. Located in sunny, Orlando, FL, we design custom mixed color choices for your look and style. Visit us today, and bring along your favorite lipstick, lip liner and ideas for your permanent lips.