Tattoos are a perfect body art that bearers are often proud of. If you have gotten one for the first time or have a new addition to the family, it is important to let it heal before flaunting it. Avoid itching and scratching it, avoid direct sunlight, and get suitable aftercare products to make healing easier.
How to Choose an Aftercare Product
When choosing a lotion, balm, or sunscreen, go for the generic option in an unscented formula for sensitive skin. Tattooing permanently alters your skin, and if the tattoo is to heal as it should. Most tattoo-specific products are made in a special extra–light formula with special restorative additives that help the skin heal faster. Below are some of the most popular tattoo aftercare products.
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
While this is not a lotion or balm, it is a powerful tattoo-healing ointment with anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it suitable for relieving redness and inflammation that occurs immediately after tattooing. It also has hydrating properties that help prevent itching. This ointment costs about $10 on Amazon.
Woo Skin Moisturizer
Dr. Woo is a renowned tattoo artist in the larger Los Angeles area. He is a popular celeb tattoo artist, and you can tell that his product line works by looking at the tattoos of celebrities such as Drake, Justin Bieber, and the Kardashians. This moisturizer contains shea butter for hydration and vitamin E, loaded with antioxidants that prevent bacterial infection and irritation.
Mad Rabbit Daily Lotion
While it has a high price tag, it comes in equally large packaging that allows daily use. Its quality is way higher than regular drugstore formulas meant for general use. It is fragrance-free, has anti-aging properties, and is super hydrating thanks to its formulation of Vitamin A, shea butter, and sesame oil.
Aveeno Moisturizing Lotion
This is a daily moisturizing lotion you can use on more than your tattoo area. It is non-greasy, fragrance-free, and does not clog your pores. Clogged pores trap heat and moisture, a factor that can cause the tattoo to be inconsistent in texture and tone. This is why petroleum jelly is not recommended for tattoo healing.
Saniderm Lotion
Saniderm is a household name in the tattoo world. They not only manufacture wraps for new tattoos but also make this top-rated lotion, among other tattoo lotions and balms. You can apply it to the tattoo as frequently as you wish. It contains various oils, Omega 3, 6, 7, and 9, citrus, shea butter, and antioxidants.
Brooklyn Grooming Tattoo Balm
Unlike lotions, this balm is not for full-body use. It is a small-sized balm meant for tattoos and is packaged in a small container to make it portable. Since you cannot carry a whole bottle of mad rabbit lotion, the balm comes in handy.
Aveeno Sunscreen SPF 50
This positively mineral-sensitive skin daily sunscreen ranks among the best sunscreens suitable for a tattoo. It offers maximum protection against UVB and UVA rays. It is made from zinc oxide, has no parabens, fragrances, or phthalates, and is gentle on the skin. If you do not like the lotion application, it also comes in a stick format for easy application.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunscreen SPF 70
While the SPF 55 from Neutrogena is an award-winning product, most dermatologists and tattoo artists recommend the SPF 70. The lightweight product has a non-greasy formula and offers maximum protection on a fresh tattoo without leaving behind the white sunscreen cast. Fast drying does not clog pores, making it a perfect fit for acne-prone skin.
La Roche-Posay Ultra-Light Sunscreen SPF 50
This sunscreen gives maximum sun protection to your tattoo without leaving a white cast. It effectively blocks UVA and UVB rays with its special formula that combines mineral sunblock bases titanium oxide and zinc oxide. It is also fragrance-free.
Blue Lizard Mineral Sunscreen
This tattoo is suitable for tattooing after as it is non-comedogenic. It has no harmful additives such as parabens, fragrances, oxybenzone, and actinote, making it ideal for use on sensitive tattooed skin. It is made of soothing aloe vera, vitamins, antioxidants, and shea butter that promotes skin healing and protects it against radicals.
Coola Sunscreen Spray
While lotions and sticks are perfect, have you ever tried applying them on your back? This is where Coola Sunscreen spray comes in handy. It has a non-greasy, fragrance-free formulation. When used, it appears white but dries fast to a sheer matte finish on all skin types. It is rich in antioxidants and ingredients that promote faster healing through hydration and protection against the sun.
Vacation
If aesthetics are your language, even when putting on sunscreens, then you must try the Vacation’s retro-looking formula. Besides the chic appearance in your summer bag, this sunscreen offers broad-spectrum protection for your new tattoo. It also contains ingredients such as niacinamide and cucumber extract that help soothe the redness and swelling.
Supergoop Sunscreen
Most people love all the positive benefits of sunscreens but hate the chalky look and feel that most mineral sunscreens offer. If you are in this category, this everyday sunscreen is your best bet. It is soft and velvety and contains sunflower extract that makes it feel like a soft moisturizer on the skin, not a sunscreen.
Woody’s Beard and Tattoo Oil
Consider Woody’s tattoo oil if creams, lotions, and balms are not your thing. It has a pleasant lightweight formula full of nourishing ingredients such as Macadamia and Moringa oils. It is also a perfect product for fading tattoos and is suitable for both men and women.
Palmers Cocoa Butter
If you prefer something familiar, the good old palmer’s cocoa butter is perfect. Its thick and buttery texture is easily absorbed into the skin. Moreover, you only need a small amount for long-lasting moisture. That means it is much more affordable than its price point as it will last you much longer than other formulas. It feels and smells very nice, making it a perfect choice for your body, including the tattoos.
Previse SOS Skincare Healing Slave
This is a somewhat high-end product but worth every extra penny you spend on it. It is a perfect buy for anyone who prefers thick formulas; it is free of essential oils and only uses marine and botanical formulas instead, thus reducing the possibility of irritation. It is a natural vegan product that is plant-based. Its small size makes it easy to carry for your on-the-go moisture requirements. While it is expensive, it lasts for a long time with a good shelf life such that you can use it for your future tattoos.
CeraVe Moisturising Cream
The brand is popular for products with essential ceramides that help create a healthy skin barrier. As such, it is a good choice for tattooed skin as the formula is thick, rich, and as velvety as you would want. The formula is suitable for use on other body parts, and you can slather it as soon as you are done healing the tattoo.
Taking care of a tattoo is the only way to ensure it heals fast and comes out as intended. The above lotions, balms, and sunscreens should help you as desired. Whether it’s your first tattoo or a cover-up tattoo, Ensure to apply, as needed, on a clean and dry tattoo wound.
