Is Tattoo Blush the Next Big Beauty Trend?

Marketing consultant (and former Allure editor) Grace Clarke describes herself to me as “the first person in her friend group to try something.” So when she posted on TikTok about having blush semi-permanently tattooed onto her face at Brooklyn’s Velvet Cosmetic Tattoos, it was just a normal Monday. But then the algorithm—and commenters—did their thing. Over a million views later, she’s found herself in the middle of a heated debate.

Multiple commenters called the tattoo blush treatment, which takes roughly an hour and a half and costs about $400, “insane.” The reaction is understandable—at the end of the 30-second video, Clarke reveals Cabbage Patch Kids-level pink cheeks. But Savannah Messenger, who owns the tattoo shop and gave Clarke the treatment, says “most of that redness was just the skin’s reaction to being tattooed.”

When you think of tattoos, likely Travis Barker’s entire body comes to mind. But Messenger explains that cosmetic tattoos are totally different than the standard ink. “In a traditional tattoo, color is pushed into the skin with a needle,” Messenger says. “For cosmetic tattoos, I keep the pressure very light. It’s more about buffing the color onto the top layers of the skin to create a watercolor finish. The pressure is very soft, so there’s never harsh lines.” Typically, it takes a few sessions (an application and at least one touch-up) to get to the desired pigment level. As with every tattoo, there’s a healing period where things look less-than-ideal before the final result takes shape.

Messenger adds that this procedure only works on lighter skin tones (specifically those that fall into the Fitzpatrick scale of 1 to 4); people with skin conditions like rosacea or eczema, or who are prone to large breakouts are also cautioned against the procedure. If you decide to get this treatment, you can’t use retinol or exfoliants like BHAs or AHAs on the tattooed area, as well as no skin lasers until it’s fully faded, which takes about three years.

Clarke was shocked that this video went viral since she’d posted about the tattoo treatment before (in fact, this was a touch-up appointment). “That’s the cost of posting online,” she tells me. “I’m very open about my life,” adding that her experience in Messenger’s tattoo chair has been nothing but positive. During the pre-treatment consultation, she brought in mood boards to show the placement she liked, as well as her most-worn blush shades (ILIA Multi-Stick Cream Blush in All of Me and Tenderly and Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Believe). From there, Messenger created a custom blush color, mapped out the application area, and it was time to tattoo. “I’ve had skin extractions during a facial that hurt more,” she says with a laugh.

There has been no shortage of blush trends in 2024 (boyfriend blush, workout flush, and sunset blush have all had their moment this year). But for Clarke, this decision transcended those moments. “I’ve never, ever, ever been trend-driven and my approach to beauty,” Clarke says. “I just want my face to look the best it can, and trends aren’t a big part of that for me.”

While the majority of Messenger’s clients come to her for lip-blushing treatments, she says “cheek tint tattoos are turning into the next big thing for me.” Especially with videos from Korea and Eastern Europe, where cosmetic tattoos are more widely used, continue to go viral on social media.

For Clarke, it’s all about making her day-to-day life easier so she can focus on the important things. “A big luxury to me is the freedom of space and time in my life,” she shares. “I like to cheat the system, and this is one of those high-maintenance to be low-maintenance treatments that everybody is talking about.”

Clarke’s face, fully-healed on day 6