As a girl whose lip products make up about 90% of her makeup collection, it's safe to say that lippies are the one thing you'll never catch me not having in any of my bags. However, it can be a chore to keep reapplying my preferred lip product every few hours—especially since my preferred lippies are mostly glosses and tints.
When I was offered the chance to try getting a lip tattoo (also known as a lip blush), a beauty procedure that aims to give your pout a semipermanent tint, I was more than game! I felt that I was the perfect candidate for this procedure because 1) My lips were two-toned, and 2) I wanted something that could lessen my time getting ready in the morning (and make my everyday makeup bag lighter, LOL).
So...is having a lip tattoo worth ditching all my fave lippies? Read my Real Girl Review to find out:
What is a lip tattoo?
A lip tattoo is just one of the many forms of semipermanent makeup. Its main goal is to enhance the hue and shape of your pout by depositing colored pigments via a mechanical needle. The result is a soft, natural wash of color on your lips that can last up to two (!) years with proper care.
It's also a procedure that's minimally invasive. Yes, it does involve needles—more on the pain level later!—but don't worry because your lip tattoo artist will make sure to apply topical anesthesia beforehand. The entire experience has little to no downtime, which means you can go about your day with minimal discomfort!
READ MORE: Dealing With A Two-Toned Pout? A Lip Tattoo Might Be The Solution—Here's Everything You Need To Know
An honest review of my lip tattoo experience
I got my lip tattoo done at Pino Beauty Lounge (PBL), an aesthetics center that offers different beauty services and treatments—including the procedure I wanted. I was under the *experienced* hands of Chris Pino, one of PBL's senior artists who's also their Chief Marketing Officer and co-owner.
For my desired end result, I didn't want a crazy tint on my lips. I just wanted something that would look like an MLBB (my lips but better) shade—a shade that would look good even with just clear lip gloss applied on top of it!
The Process
Before we could get to the actual procedure, Chris had me answer a form—a screening process, if you will—that would allow her to gauge whether or not I was actually qualified to get a lip tattoo. She also asked me if I had a preferred lip shade, and I gave her my Tinted Lip Glaze in 90s Brown from GRWM Cosmetics. She then mixed it up with her pigments to create the color I wanted.
After cleaning my lips and making sure they were devoid of any product, Chris applied a topical numbing cream all over my lips and left it for about 20 minutes. Once my lips were numb AF, she used surgical markers to dot the outline of my lips, which will act as a guide for the pigment she'll be applying later on.
We actually did two sessions: the first one was for neutralizing my lips (because I had a two-toned pout) and the second was for perfecting the color I wanted. For the first session, Chris color-corrected the shade of my lips, focusing the pigment on the outer part since that's where the discoloration was. She then proceeded to do multiple passes with the actual pigment she mixed up and applied a tattoo balm for comfort after every pass. Once I was deemed good to go, she applied a moisturizing lip treatment to my puckers.
When I went back for my second session after 12 weeks, the process was pretty much the same, except Chris focused on perfecting the color I wanted, which took slightly longer since I wanted a more *natural* look. However, it was worth it since she explained that MLBB shades last two to three years compared to brighter colors that will fade faster!
The Pain Level
I have a generally high pain tolerance, so I wasn't too bothered by the needle. It also helped that there was a topical numbing cream applied beforehand—I legit couldn't feel my lips during the procedure, lol. However, there were times when the anesthesia would start to lose its effect and I could feel the scraping and poking of the needle (which were comparable to a cat scratch or a light paper cut), so I had to ask Chris to apply more numbing cream before she resumed her passes.
Overall, I'd rate the pain level a 2/10. But of course, pain tolerance is different for everyone, so what may not hurt for me may be painful for someone else. YMMV!
The Cost
Be prepared to shell out P20,000 to P25,000 for a lip tattoo at Pino Beauty Lounge. I was worked on by Chris, a senior artist, so her rate was at the higher end of the spectrum. All prices are inclusive of two sessions: the first for neutralizing your lip color and the second for perfecting it.
The Result
My healed result is a medium pinkish shade that didn't look too far off my natural lip color—I'm obsessed! Although I still love my (admittedly smaller) collection of tints, there are days when I can just run out of the house with a bare pout without having to worry if I look ghostly or casket-ready, LOL. It also looks super good even with just a clear gloss on top!
Is a lip tattoo procedure worth getting?
Short answer: YES! If you're someone dealing with two-toned lips or you have a pale pout, a lip tattoo is worth investing in. It has little to no downtime, the results last long (major ROI, fr), and you don't have to worry about your natural lip color anymore.
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