Lip Aftercare

• Keep lips clean and moist: Gently clean lips with lukewarm water and a clean paper towel or gauze. Pat dry.
• Apply a thin layer of the provided aftercare ointment (or approved balm) every 2–3 hours or whenever lips feel dry/tight. Do not over-apply — a little goes a long way.
• Expect swelling, tenderness, and darker/intense color. This is completely normal.
• Sleep with your head slightly elevated to reduce swelling.
• Avoid: kissing, licking lips, straws, spicy/acidic/salty foods, alcohol, and smoking.

• Lips will start to peel or flake. Do not pick, scratch, or peel the skin — let it fall off naturally. Pulling it early can cause patchy color or scarring.
• Continue applying ointment lightly when lips feel dry.
• Color will look very light or patchy during this phase — this is normal. True color normally re-emerges in the following weeks.

• The final color develops gradually over 8 weeks.
• You may resume most normal activities, but continue protecting the area.
• Avoid direct sun exposure, tanning beds, and saunas for at least 4 weeks.
• Final results vary greatly, especially for the first session.  They typically heal light, very light, or like the pigment didn't take.  Don't get discouraged if the pigment doesn't take the first session. The pigment is a foreign intruder and the lips want to push it out.  The touch-up usually retains the pigment better because the lips are getting use to the pigment. 

Eating - No spicy, acidic, or heavily seasoned foods  Eat soft and easy food. Clean your lips and use the lip treatment we give you each time you eat or drink.  Try to use a straw when drinking to keep the lips clean. 

Hot drinks are not recommended for a couple weeks because it increase the flow of blood to the lips.  If you have to drink coffee, use a straw to minimize the contact area. 

Kissing:  No kissing or oral contact.  You need to keep your lips clean and free of bacteria for at least a week. 

Beach:  It is recommended to minimize the sun for a couple weeks.  If you have to go to the beach, use a hat or umbrella to keep the sun off. 

Swimming:  No swimming, hot tubs, or excessive sweating. It is recommended to not swim for a couple weeks due to the chemicals in the water could affect the color during the healing process. 

Showering:  Yes, but be gentle.  If you are showing, do not let the shower hit you directly in the face and reduce the temperature.  Don't use a steamy shower.  

Brushing Teeth:   Yes, but be very gentle. Use a soft toothbrush and avoid getting toothpaste on the lips for the first few days.

Lip stick:   No makeup, lip products, or tinted balms on the treated area. We recommend waiting a minimum of 10–14 days, or until all flaking has finished and the skin feels fully healed.

Smoking or vaping:  Avoid unnecessary contact with the lips.

Facials: Facial treatments, chemical peels, or laser near the lips

Medications: Avoid blood-thinning supplements and medications (if medically safe)

 Yes.  Lips can be very painful right after the procedure.  You can use Tylenol to ease the pain. 

Yes, swelling after lip permanent makeup is completely normal and expected. It’s your body’s natural response to the procedure. Most clients look puffier or fuller right after, and the color often appears darker initially. This typically peaks in the first 24–48 hours and significantly improves within 2–3 days, with most swelling gone by day 3–5.

• Cold compresses: Apply for 10–15 minutes at a time, several times a day. Use an ice pack, bag of frozen peas, or cool cloth wrapped in a clean barrier (never direct ice on the lips).
• Pain relief: Take Tylenol (acetaminophen) as needed for discomfort. Avoid aspirin or blood thinners unless approved, as they can increase swelling/bruising.
• Hydration: Drink plenty of water to help your body heal and prevent dryness.
• Sleep elevated: Keep your head raised with extra pillows at night to reduce fluid buildup.
• Rest & avoid triggers: Minimize talking, exercise, hot drinks, saunas, spicy/salty/acidic foods, alcohol, and caffeine for the first 48 hours.
• Aftercare: Keep lips clean and apply the recommended ointment or balm 3–5 times daily with a clean cotton swab. Gently rinse with warm water after eating.
• Optional extras: Many clients benefit from arnica tablets or gel for swelling and bruising. A non-drowsy antihistamine (like Claritin or Zyrtec) can also help.

When to contact us: Reach out right away if swelling worsens after 48–72 hours, becomes severe or one-sided, or if you develop intense pain, pus, fever, or spreading redness.

Don’t hesitate to send us photos if you’re concerned — we’re here to help you through the healing process! Most clients find the short recovery well worth the final outcome.

Cold sores (caused by the herpes simplex virus) are a common reaction after lip permanent makeup procedures like lip blush, especially if you have a history of them. The trauma from the procedure can trigger an outbreak.  (Note that clients can have the herpes simplex virus and not know about it.)

• If you’ve ever had a cold sore, tell your artist before booking. Many recommend starting a prescription antiviral (such as Valtrex/valacyclovir or Acyclovir) 1–2 days before the procedure, on the day of, and for a few days after. Consult your doctor for the right dosage and timing.
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• Start antiviral treatment right away: Contact your doctor for medication. Over-the-counter Abreva (docosanol) cream can also help shorten the outbreak.
• Cold compress: Yes — apply a cold compress or ice pack wrapped in a clean cloth for 10–15 minutes at a time to reduce pain, swelling, and discomfort. This is safe and soothing during a cold sore outbreak.
• Keep the area clean and moisturized: Follow your regular lip aftercare instructions. Gently clean as directed and apply the recommended healing balm/ointment. Do not pick or peel.
• Avoid triggers: Skip spicy, salty, acidic foods, hot drinks, alcohol, and touching the area. Stay hydrated and get plenty of rest.
• Tylenol: Cold sores are often very painful so Tylenol may help manage the pain.
• Optional support: Some people use L-lysine supplements (consult your doctor or pharmacist).

Cold sores usually heal within 7–10 days. The lip blush pigment may heal lighter or unevenly in the affected area, but this can typically be corrected at your touch-up appointment.

When to contact us or a doctor: Reach out right away if the cold sore worsens, shows signs of infection (increasing pain, pus, fever), or if you’re unsure how to proceed. We can advise and support you through healing.

Always follow your specific aftercare guidelines, and feel free to send photos if you have concerns. Most clients still achieve beautiful final results with proper care!

You can get some more Aquaphor at most pharmacies.  Do not use Vaseline,  Neosporin,  or any scented products.

Why can’t I use Vaseline or regular lip balm? Vaseline forms a thick barrier that traps moisture and bacteria while preventing the skin from breathing. This can slow healing, increase infection risk, and lead to uneven or faded pigment. Use only the thin layer of aftercare ointment provided — a little goes a long way.

Why can’t I use scented lip balms or creams?  Scented products contain fragrances, essential oils, or alcohols that can irritate the treated skin, cause allergic reactions, increase swelling, and lead to uneven healing or color loss. For best results, use only plain, unscented Aquaphor (or the ointment we provide) during the initial healing phase.

Yes, the white area under your top lip is likely normal right after a permanent makeup (lip blush or similar) procedure done. This often appears as blanching or temporary whitening/paleness. It's typically caused by:

• The numbing agent (topical anesthetic) used during the procedure, which frequently contains epinephrine (adrenaline). This ingredient constricts blood vessels to reduce bleeding and swelling, leading to temporary blanching or white patches around or near the lips. It usually resolves as the numbing wears off and normal blood flow returns—often within hours or by the next day.
• Mild swelling, pressure from the procedure, or localized vasoconstriction, which can make small areas look pale or white temporarily.

The white/pale appearance right after is a common side effect of the numbing, not the pigment itself or an error. It's not the same as longer-term issues like pigment loss (which happens later in healing, like the "ghost phase" around days 6–10 when color fades temporarily before settling).

What to watch for:

• It should fade gradually as the day goes on and over the next 24 hours.
• Lips are often swollen, shiny, and darker/intense in color immediately after (with possible unevenness due to swelling).
• Normal healing continues with potential dryness, light peeling/scabbing in days 3–7, and color settling over 4–6 weeks (with a touch-up usually recommended around 6–8 weeks).

If the white area persists beyond a day or two, spreads, becomes painful, cold, turns gray/dusky, or you has other concerns (e.g., severe swelling, numbness that doesn't improve, signs of infection like pus/fever), contact us right away or seek medical attention to rule out anything unusual like vascular issues (though rare in topical numbing cases).

Follow your standard aftercare instructions closely (keep moisturized with the recommended ointment, avoid picking, stay hydrated, etc.).

Yes, some degree of cracking and dryness is quite common during the healing process after permanent makeup for lips (like lip blushing or lip tattooing), especially around the one-week mark. — it's the skin exfoliating and renewing. The dryness often leads to that chapped, cracked feeling, and keeping lips heavily moisturized with the provided balm (applied frequently) helps minimize discomfort and prevents worse splitting.

Continue diligent aftercare: Keep lips constantly hydrated with the recommended ointment/balm (avoid licking lips, as saliva dries them out more). Drink plenty of water, avoid spicy/salty/acidic foods, no direct sun/excessive heat, and don't pick at any peeling skin.

Bleeding - Monitor closely. If the bleeding is light spotting from a crack and stops quickly with balm + rest, it's often manageable as part of dryness/peeling. But contact us if:

• Bleeding is persistent, heavy, or increasing.
• There's pus, foul odor, yellow/green discharge, fever, excessive redness/swelling beyond the first few days, or severe pain.
• Cracking feels extreme or isn't improving with moisture.

If you've experienced a cold sore (fever blister) during or shortly after your lip permanent makeup (lip blush/tattoo) procedure, it's not uncommon for the healing process to be affected in that specific area.

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), which can be triggered by the trauma of the needling process—even if you've gone years without an outbreak. When a cold sore forms, it goes through stages: blistering, oozing, scabbing, and then the scab naturally falls off as the skin heals underneath.

Once the scab peels off (or falls off naturally), you may notice a lighter or pale spot in that area. This happens because:

• The cold sore disrupts normal healing in the lip tissue.
• Scabbing and the virus activity can cause temporary pigment loss or uneven retention where the pigment was implanted.
• The skin in that spot may heal with less pigment settled in, appearing lighter, patchy, or "bald" compared to the surrounding treated area.

Important note: Never pick or peel the scab early—this significantly increases the risk of pigment loss, uneven color, scarring, or infection. Always let it fall off on its own.

What to do now:

• Keep the area clean and moisturized as per your aftercare instructions (usually with a recommended ointment like Aquaphor or similar, applied sparingly).
• Avoid picking, rubbing, or exposing the lips to irritants (sun, spicy foods, etc.).
• The light spot should improve somewhat as your lips continue to heal fully (full results are typically visible around 6-8 weeks post-procedure).
• Most cases like this resolve well with a touch-up/perfecting session (scheduled 8 weeks after the initial procedure). During the touch-up, your artist can carefully reapply pigment to the lighter area for even, beautiful results.

If the spot persists, looks unusual, or you're concerned about infection/scarring, contact us right away so we can assess and guide you. We're here to help ensure you love your final healed results!

Prevention tip for the future: If you have a history of cold sores (even just once), we always recommend consulting your doctor for a prescription antiviral (like Zovirax/Valtrex/Valacyclovir) to take before and after the procedure—this greatly reduces the chance of an outbreak and helps protect your investment in perfect lips.

Feel free to reach out with any questions—we're happy to chat! 💋