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9 Best Tattoo Aftercare Products
Tattoo aftercare products have developed into an integral part of the tattoo industry over the past two decades, and are important at all levels of the healing and aftercare process.
When once a newly finished tattoo was accompanied by instructions from the tattoo artist to ‘dry out,’ or ‘keep out of the sun’, these days myriad different soaps, ink salve, balms, lotions and ointments have been designed to help your tattooed skin heal and keep the inked skin looking vibrant and fresh.
Some industry aftercare products are meant to work in tandem or handle one specific part of the process, while others are designed to work alone, bearing the burden of your skin’s healing alone.
The process of narrowing down the right aftercare products can be daunting, so below we’ve put together a list of 9 aftercare products that are outstanding for comprehensive tattoo healing and protection.
1. Barker Goods Organic Tattoo Balm
Barker Goods Organic Tattoo Balm uses high quality, organic USDA approved ingredients and is made in Iowa. It’s an odorless balm formulated specifically for healing tissue to aid in reducing inflammation, and the risk of infection.
Barker Goods Tattoo Balm uses only 5 ingredients: olive oil, beeswax, coconut oil, carnauba wax, and vitamin E.
Applying a thin layer of the tattoo balm to new tattoos will help to protect and keep the wound area supple and soothe while healing, while avoiding pore clogging and pulling out fresh ink.
Key Info:
- 2 oz. pot
- Lanolin, petroleum, and alcohol free
- USDA certified organic ingredients
- Odorless formula
- Price: $$
2. After Inked Tattoo Moisturizer and Aftercare Lotions
Made in the USA, this After Inked Tattoo Moisturizer twin pack features the combination of a lightweight lotion and impactful moisturizer to keep your healing tattoo and skin in top shape.
After Inked products are highly recommended by tattoo professionals for effective results and are vegan-friendly and cruelty free.
Upon application you’ll notice they don’t feel too heavy upon your new tattoo but absorb into the freshly tattooed area immediately. If directions are followed, after application you shouldn’t have any issues with aftercare product sticking to your clothes afterwards. After Inked Tattoo Moisturizer and Aftercare Lotions are clinically and dermatologist tested, featuring a non-allergenic and non-irritant formula. Plus, you’ll be glad to know After Inked after care product use unscented lotion free of parabens, and it isn’t petroleum based either.
Key Info:
- 3 oz. twin pack
- Made in the USA
- Vegan friendly, non-petroleum based, paraben-free, fragrance-free, gluten-free
- Clinically and dermatologist tested, non-irritant patented formula
- Price: $$$
3. Tattoo Goo Original Aftercare Lotion
Tattoo Goo is a popular choice for both tattoo artists and their clients because the ingredients are quite limited. It’s a more natural aftercare product than most choices featuring olive oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, and wheat germ as the top ingredients. Tattoo Goo is petroleum, lanolin and mineral oil free. When applied, just dig into the gooey green salve and lightly coat your skin with a thin layer of ointment. It’s quite a bit thicker than regular lotions but is immediately soothing, helping scabbed, itchy, and sensitive skin.
The product is designed to speed up your tattoo healing process, limit damage to ink color, and protect your skin for the life of the ink.
Key Info:
- 2 Oz. twin pack
- Made in the USA
- Petroleum, lanolin and mineral oil free
- Dermatologist approved
- Price: $$
4. H2Ocean Blue Green Foam Soap
Blue Green Foam Soap is formulated to wash your freshly tattooed without causing skin irritation, excessive damage to the ink or dry skin.
Replace harsh, skin irritating soaps with the Blue Green Foam Soap to ensure a better tattoo healing experience.
H2Ocean is antimicrobial, antibacterial and fragrance free. It contains aloe vera and minerals and is designed to moisturize the skin while disinfecting the fresh tattoo.
Key Info:
- 1.7 fluid ounce
- Made in USA
- Active ingredient Benzalkonium Chloride 0.13%
- Vegan friendly and paraben free
- Price: $$$
5. Hustle Butter Deluxe Tattoo Butter
The most popular ranked product on Amazon for healing skin tattoo aftercare means that Hustle Butter Deluxe gets the tattoo aftercare process right.
The all natural, 100% vegan tattoo butter cream will help your skin stay moisturized after you get your skin tattooed. The tattoo butter is specially designed to help speed up the healing process by allowing the skin to breathe and reducing the chance of infection.
Hustle butter is not just an after-tattoo skin care cream, it’s also meant to helps your skin become moisturized and stay healthy, so you don’t feel too much pain during the process of getting a tattoo. Hustle Butter’s ingredients include Shea butter, mango, aloe butter, sunflower and rice bran oils along with the traces of papaya and coconut.
Key Info:
- 1 oz tub
- 100% natural, Vegan ingredients
- Paraben and petroleum free
- Manufactured by skincare specialists
- Price: $$$
6. Nat-A-Tat2 Tattoo Healing Foam Cleanser and Ointment Bundle
Nat-A-Tat2 is an all-natural, 100% USDA certified organic tattoo after care line foam cleanser and ointment pot.
The foam cleanser is designed to soothe sensitive skin, keep new ink clean and free of infections while helping heal tattooed skin, while using the ointment reduces redness and irritation, and helps healthy recovery for both skin and ink.
The Nat-A-Tat2 foam cleanser and ointment are made with an all-natural vegan formula infused with organic oils to create a protective barrier for the skin and is free of artificial fragrance to further reduce skin irritation.
Key Info:
- 1.6 fluid ounce/2 oz. salve pot bundle
- 100% USDA certified organic
- Vegan friendly and cruelty free
- Foam application
- Price: $$$
7. Tattoo Care Sunscreen
While the healing skin of tattoos hold up best if not exposed to direct sunlight, for most people its unavoidable.
Tattoo Care sun block is designed for tattooed skin and features a 30 SPF with UVA/UVB broad spectrum sun filter and deep tissue moisturizer to aid against tattoos fading.
The Tattoo Care sunscreen is made from the finest natural ingredients including bisabolol, calendula, cocoa butter, jojoba, and Vitamin A and E, and has been dermatologically tested to be suitable for every skin type.
If the sun is unavoidable for the stages of your tattoo aftercare post healing and peeling, then a Tattoo Care sunscreen is the type of product to best protect your ink investment.
Key Info:
- 1.35 oz tube
- 30 SPF with UVA/UVB broad spectrum sun filter
- Deep tissue moisturizer
- All-natural ingredients, allergen and paraben free
- Price: $$$
8. Aquaphor Ointment Body Spray
Aquaphor Ointment Body Spray, while not tattoo specific, is highly recommended by tattoo artists for those with new tattoos in hard to reach places. As a spray on hypo-allergenic moisturizer, Aquaphor is a good product for tattoos on the back, shoulders, and legs.
Unlike a spray lotion, the tattoo ointment is water-free so locks moisture in for hydration. The spray moisturizer also helps to reduce inflammation and itchiness that comes with a healing tattoo.
Key Info:
- 3.7 oz spray bottle
- For dry rough skin
- Hypo-allergenic
- Non touch spray application
- Price: $$$
9. Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion
This rich, yet fragrance-free triple acting formula goes to work by moisturizing, exfoliating and conditioning your skin while the tattoo heals. Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion is backed by clinically proven results and dermatologist recommendations.
Eucerin’s extremely gentle non-greasy formula contains alpha hydroxy and extra-enriched moisturizers and is extremely gentle. It won’t clog your pores, which speeds up the healing time.
Please note that you should keep your tattoo out of sunlight, both for healing and because the alpha hydroxy acid in this lotion often makes your skin more sensitive to the sunlight while it’s healing.
Key Info:
- 16.9 oz pump bottle
- Fragrance free
- Dermatologically tested
- Moisturizes, exfoliates and conditions
- Price: $
Tattoo Aftercare Product FAQs
What are the best tattoo soaps?
A range of different soaps are good options to use while your tattoo heals and it’s your choice to use a product or combination. Some are specific to tattoos, while others are versatile for everyday use.
The best tattoo wash and soaps are most often:
- Artificial fragrance free and mild soap
- Antimicrobial, antiseptic and antibacterial soap
- Deep cleansing soap for sensitive skin
- Versatile for everyday use without harsh ingredients
- Paraben free
When do I start applying tattoo lotion?
When your tattoo bandage is first removed it’s best to use a tattoo soap and warm water to clean it, however some tattooists recommend an antimicrobial ointment After 3 days is generally the best time to start incorporating tattoo lotion into your aftercare routine.
Remember, even after applying lotion you could have the type of body that wants to scab regardless. No matter what you do, you simply won’t be able to prevent it, so stay the course and keep your skin supple and moisturized.
What do I do when my tattoo itches?
If you are experiencing intense itching, there are a few things you can do to relieve it. You can try a different tattoo aftercare lotion or balm.
You can also take an over the counter antihistamine to help reduce skin irritation, swelling and redness.
As a last resort, apply some hydrocortisone. Hydrocortisone shouldn’t be used frequently or on a long-term basis. Limit your use of it to only when the itchiness is unbearable.
Whether it’s liquid, lotion, spray foam, bar, or ointment, it’s in your new tattoo’s best interest for you to actively utilize the products available and keep your healing tattoo in the best, most healthy shape possible.
Did you enjoy this best tattoo aftercare product article? Click on the links below for others in our tattooing product and information guides:
- The 9 Best antibacterial soap for tattoos
- The 9 best tattoo aftercare lotions
- Top 9 best tattoo numbing creams for a tattoo procedure
- Tattoo Infection 101
- Tattoo peeling and healing
- Why is my Tattoo Raised?
- What is tattoo blowout and can it be fixed?
- Coconut oil and tattoos – All you need to know
- Tattoo Ink- Everything you Need to Know
