Lip blush is the latest cosmetics trend sweeping Australia, and influencers are raving about it online.
An alternative to lip filler, the procedure involves applying a clear color over the entire lips and “tattooing” it into the skin for fuller, pinker, kissable lips.
It can also correct uneven or discolored lips.
Despite some doctors warning against the procedure, several big-name Australian stars on social media are sharing their positive and horror stories about the treatment.
Model Laura Dundovic, 36, recently underwent a lip blushing process and revealed the results on Instagram.
The brunette beauty, who shot to fame when she was crowned Miss Universe Australia in 2008, was all smiles as she pouted at the camera with her new, voluptuous lips.
Laura told her followers that she “wishes I had done it sooner.”
Big-name Australian social media stars including Laura Dundovic (pictured) have recently joined the lip tattoo trend.
She shared a gallery of stunning photos on Instagram showing the incredible end result of her recent lip tattoo.
“When this goes away, I’ll do it again,” he said.
‘These are my lips with nothing on them now. Attention to detail is (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 gotten her lips tattooed when she shared a gallery of photos from her living room couch.
On Instagram, Martha confirmed that the treatment was “much less painful” than she thought it would be.
“In good hands. Much less painful than I expected,” he assured his followers.
However, some influencers have not had the same positive results.
Last year, Bella Johnston was brutally criticized online after getting a cosmetic lip tattoo.
Former Married At First Sight star Martha Kalifatidis (pictured) showed off her dramatic lip transformation in April, confirming the treatment was “much less painful” than she thought.
The Bachelors star, who appeared on season 10 of the show early last year, took to TikTok to show off her “uneven” lips that had been tinted a pinkish red color.
In the video, the 27-year-old said she was afraid she had “ruined her face.”
“I got my lips tattooed about a month ago and I’m still hoping I like them but it’s not getting better,” she wrote in the clip.
“Are they supposed to be irregular? Why is the outline so marked?”
‘Has anyone had their lips done before? Please tell me the color fades more. I better not have ruined my face.’
While the reality star received some tips and advice in the comments, several users trolled her for undergoing the cosmetic procedure.
“Why would you do this to yourself?” one user asked, while another added: “Ronald McDonald over here.”
“Never get a face tattoo, 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 offered good advice and encouraged the influencer to come get them touched up.
Last year, Bella Johnston (pictured) was brutally criticised online after getting a cosmetic tattoo on her lips.
“With cosmetic tattoos after the first session, uneven appearance is very common, which is why a second appointment is necessary to make sure everything matches,” one person said.
Former Big Brother star Skye Wheatley also had alarming results.
A few years ago, the 30-year-old model and TV personality had fans wondering if she had gone too far after debuting extremely inflated lips online.
Sharing a TikTok video of herself immediately after getting her lips tattooed, Skye explained that she wanted to trick her boyfriend Lachlan Waugh into believing she had permanently filled her lips with filler.
A year earlier, she showed images of a beauty therapist gently gliding over her lips with the tattoo gun, enhancing the tone of her lips.
“I can’t feel anything thanks to this anesthetic patch,” he explained.
Several sessions are required to achieve the desired shade and the lip tattoo can last between one and five years.
A few years ago, Skye Wheatley (pictured in 2020) had fans wondering if she had gone too far after debuting an extremely puffed-up pout online.
A photo of a woman’s lips after receiving a permanent full lip contour at a dermatology clinic in London.
The procedure can cost between $450 and $1,400 for an initial session, as well as several subsequent ‘touch-up’ appointments, with each session lasting approximately 90 minutes.
Experts say the treatments can be painful because the skin on the lips is very sensitive.
Additionally, experts warn that allergic reactions to cosmetic tattoo procedures are common and the risk increases when lips become red due to the red pigment in the dye used.
Dermatologist Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal said: “Red is one of the most common allergenic tattoo colors. When the lips are pink or red, when you deposit that color, there is a risk of an allergic reaction.”
And if an allergic reaction occurs, there is no easy solution.
Dr. Ava Shamban, a Los Angeles-based dermatologist, told Allure: “When you do laser correction to remove red pigment, it almost always turns black. Experience, artistry, proper care, and advanced knowledge of the skin will provide the patient with the lowest risk of complications.’