How to Prepare for Derma-Rolling Your Lips
It’s best to use a lip scrub before derma-rolling because then the needles can really push the treatment beneath the surface of the skin. “Just as it is important to properly prep the area of the face or the body for rolling, it is equally important for the lips as well. I choose to utilize a lip scrub prior to rolling my lips to exfoliate away any dead skin cells,” says Holmes. “As you would normally apply a serum following rolling, I also suggest using a lip serum or hyaluronic acid after rolling the lips.”
Holmes’s personal favorite pre-rolling product (for both the lips and other parts of the body) is Neocutis Hyalis+ ($120), an oil-free but highly moisturizing serum that utilizes a variety of molecular weights of hyaluronic acid and sodium hyaluronate. “The multifunctional blend helps to soothe and calm stressed skin following cosmetic procedures,” she says.
Sometimes, though, you just have to utilize what you have on hand. So, for pout-boosting purposes, I dug up my tube of G.M. Collin’s Lip Plumping Complex ($34)—a wonderful tingly gloss that’s great to use on its own if needles make you queasy. After slathering that on, I pulled the derma-roller out of its packaging and tried to convince myself that I was a lot braver than I actually felt.
What to Expect From Derma-Rolling Your Lips
For the most effective treatment, you’re supposed to make the surface area for the needles as flat and hard as possible,2 so I smiled widely (in spite of myself) and pressed my lips against my teeth. Then, I got to work: I rolled the needles back and forth, in horizontal and vertical patterns, as hard as I could bear. Yes, it was painful. Yes, there was a TINY bit of blood—although, miraculously, no tears. (It’s worth noting: Now that I use a roller with smaller needles, bleeding isn’t part of the equation at all—and it hurts a lot less.) After rolling for a few minutes and deciding I had probably done enough damage, I applied more of the lip-plumping gloss and went on my merry way.
Of course, the results of derma-rolling lips aren’t forever—but they can last a while. “These results may be temporary, but can last up to two weeks,” says Holmes. “If you are looking to continuously see these results, it is recommended to roll the lips at least once a month but no more than every two weeks.”
Side Effects
As mentioned above, a little bit of blood is to be expected. “When derma-rolling your lips, you may notice a tiny amount of blood as the lips are very well-circulated, but if you regularly sanitize your roller heads and replace them as needed you should have no problems,” notes Holmes.
Fortunately, I didn’t notice many other side effects. And after the bruising debacle that was the #KylieJennerLipChallenge, I was fully prepared to hide my face in public if need be. But aside from a little bit of redness and a sensation similar to a mild sunburn, I was totally fine. Then, it was time to begin the waiting game to let the collagen regeneration do its work.
The Final Takeaway
And huzzah! It wasn’t a mega-pout or anything, but two days later, there was a difference for sure. My lips were definitely firmer and slightly bigger—which, if nothing else, provides a much better canvas for liner and lipstick. And given that this was just the first round, I had high hopes for the months ahead—sure enough, keeping up with once-a-month retouching has proven great for my pout. Take that, #KylieJennerLipChallenge.
All credits: https://www.byrdie.com/derma-roller-for-bigger-lips
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