The timeline
| When | What you'll see |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Bright, bold color, and some swelling for a few hours. Lips can feel tender or tight. |
| Days 2–3 | Swelling goes down. Color may look darker or more saturated than you expected. This is normal. |
| Days 3–7 | Lips feel dry and start to flake or peel. Let it shed on its own. |
| Days 7–14 | The "ghosting" stage: color can look faded, patchy or milky. It hasn't disappeared. The skin is still settling. |
| Weeks 2–4 | Color gradually comes back and "blooms" into a soft, natural tint. |
| Weeks 4–6 | Healed. This is your true result. |
| Weeks 6–8 | Touch-up session to perfect color and even out any light spots. |
What helps
- Keep lips moisturized with the balm Erica gives you, exactly as directed.
- For the first few days, drink through a straw and skip very spicy, salty or acidic food.
- Avoid lipstick, lip scrubs and lip plumpers until you're fully healed.
- Stay out of the sun, pools and saunas for about two weeks.
What to avoid
- Picking or pulling at flakes. It can pull color out and leave patches.
- Judging the color in week two. The ghosting stage fools almost everyone.
When to call
Call Erica at (559) 290-9383 with questions about healing. If you're prone to cold sores and feel one starting, contact your doctor. See a doctor right away for increasing redness, heat, pus or fever.
Full instructions are in the lip aftercare guide.