Lip blush is the latest cosmetic craze to sweep Australia, and influencers are raving about it online.
An alternative to lip filler, this procedure involves applying a sheer, tinted color all over the lips and “tattooing” it into the skin to create fuller, pinker, more 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 got her lips blushed 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 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 in season 10 of the series last year, showed off her ‘smudged’ lips, which she had tattooed in a pinkish-red color, on TikTok.
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 fragmentary? Why is the outline so strong?
“Has anyone ever had their lips done? Please tell me the color fades more. I better not mess up my face.”
While the reality star got some advice and tips in the comments, several users made fun of her for having 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. I’m 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 tattooing, a blotchy appearance is very common after the first session, so a second appointment is necessary to make sure everything blends in,” 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 demonstrating an extremely puffy pout online.
Skye shared a TikTok video of herself moments after getting her lips tattooed. She explained that she wanted her boyfriend Lachlan Waugh to think she had permanently swollen her lips with fillers.
A year earlier, she showed footage of a beautician gently running the tattoo gun over her lips, enhancing the color of her lips.
“I don’t feel anything because of this numbing patch,” 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) wondered if she had gone too far after showing off an extremely puffy pout online
A photo of a woman’s lips after permanent full-lip contouring at a dermatology clinic in London
The procedure can cost between $450 and $1,400 for an initial session, as well as several “touch-up” appointments afterward, and each session lasts about 90 minutes.
Experts say the treatments can be painful because the skin on the lips is very sensitive.
In addition, experts warn that allergic reactions to cosmetic tattoo procedures are common and the risk is greater with blush on the lips 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-based dermatologist, told Allure, “When correction laser is performed to remove the red pigment, it almost always turns black. Expertise, artistry, good care and advanced knowledge of the skin give the patient the lowest risk of complications.’