Days 1 to 7
| Do | Do not |
|---|---|
| Blot gently as instructed | Pick or peel the flaking |
| Apply the recommended ointment | Use random lip products |
| Drink through a straw initially | Lick your lips excessively |
| Keep lips clean | Kiss or share drinks |
| Sleep on your back if you can | Sleep face-down into a pillow |
A straw is genuinely useful for the first few days, and it is the single most practical item on this page.
Foods to avoid for the first several days
| Avoid | Why |
|---|---|
| Spicy food | Irritation |
| Salty food | Stings on healing skin |
| Acidic food — citrus, tomato | Stings |
| Very hot food and drinks | Heat on healing tissue |
| Greasy food requiring lip contact | Messy on healing skin |
This is a short list and a short window. Plan meals for the first three days rather than discovering the problem halfway through something you were looking forward to.
Also avoid
| Item | How long |
|---|---|
| Sun exposure | 4 weeks, then SPF lip balm ongoing |
| Swimming and saunas | 2 weeks |
| Exfoliating lip scrubs | 4 weeks |
| Makeup on the lips | 10 - 14 days |
| Retinoids or acids near the lips | 4 weeks |
| Facials or peels | 4 weeks |
The last row surprises people who have a facial already booked. Mention the lip blush when you book anything else on your face — the four-week gap applies to the treatment being near your lips, not just on them.
Why picking is the main thing to avoid
During days four to seven the lips flake, and a partly-attached flake is almost designed to be pulled. Pulling it removes pigment along with the skin, and the result is patchy colour that then needs correcting.
The practical trick is the same as for any healing skin: keep the recommended ointment within reach and apply it whenever you notice yourself touching your mouth. The flaking resolves on its own within a few days and nothing you do speeds it up.
Once healed
SPF lip balm meaningfully extends how long the colour lasts. Sun is the main fading factor, and lips get more of it than almost any other area because they are rarely covered.
- SPF lip balm daily — the single highest-return habit for longevity.
- Avoid exfoliating lip scrubs, which strip pigment along with dead skin.
- Keep retinoids and acids away from the lip border.
- Book the touch-up at 6 to 8 weeks — it completes the result rather than fixing a fault.
- Refresh before the colour has faded completely; a refresh costs less than starting over.
See a doctor if
| Sign | Action |
|---|---|
| Increasing pain | Contact a doctor |
| Spreading redness or warmth | Contact a doctor |
| Pus or unusual discharge | Contact a doctor promptly |
| Fever | Contact a doctor promptly |
| Cold sore blisters | Contact your doctor, and tell your artist |
Frequently asked questions
Q.Can I eat normally after lip blush?
Avoid spicy, salty, acidic and very hot foods for the first several days. A straw helps for drinks.
Q.When can I wear lipstick?
Usually 10 to 14 days, but follow your artist’s specific protocol.
Q.Can I pick the flakes?
No. Picking pulls pigment out with the skin and causes the patchy healing people then ask to have corrected.
Q.How do I make it last?
SPF lip balm daily once healed, and avoid exfoliating lip scrubs.
Q.What if I get a cold sore?
Contact your doctor promptly and tell your artist. Raise any history of cold sores before the appointment, not after.
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