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Tattoo Lotion vs. Ointment vs. Body Lotion
With so many different types of tattoo aftercare products, choosing among them might be the first topic that you need to tackle in order to narrow down your options. So which one should you choose?
To be quite honest, these are just very technical classifications of the products that are marketed for tattoo aftercare. If you’ll look at their ingredients, they’re all the same as they are all made to help heal and protect the skin. So at the end of the day, it’s really up to you which one to go for.
If you want to differentiate tattoo lotions vs ointments vs body lotions, the process is quite simple. Each product is labeled according to their intended purpose, so it’s pretty easy to tell which is which.
In terms of performance, they don’t necessarily have major differences as their formulation can be quite similar. In most cases, their consistency would be where the differences lie. Ointments, for one, are always meant to be lightweight and fast-absorbing.
Tattoo lotions and balms are often a bit heavier, some even mimic the consistency of petroleum. Body lotions, however, come in different consistencies, depending on what skin type they’re for.
10 Best Lotion to Keep Tattoos Bright
1. Ora’s Amazing Herbal
If you are looking for the best tattoo aftercare cream for your tattoo and skin, then these products from Ora’s amazing herbal care products would be the most ideal place to start.
Quick Summary
- Slow infused herbal composition
- Accelerated healing
- Soothes and optimally minimizes itching
- Extended application
- Tattoo quality enhancing
- Ethically, socially and environmentally friendly
- Consistent and smooth application
- Travel friendly
These products are made specifically for optimal counteracting of the effects of getting a tattoo. Providing soothing and anti-itch properties to complement the accelerated healing as well as enhancing a tattoo’s authentic highlights.
Ora’s tattoo aftercare products will ensure you have an appealing recovery and successful tattoo procedure as it provides continued aftercare services that result in healthy skin and quality tattoo expressions.
Ora’s tattoo aftercare products are formulated using natural ingredients free from petroleum, paraben, synthetic material, lanolin, aloe, mineral oils, dyes, grains and wheat among other potential allergens and hazardous health materials.
The main composition of Ora’s tattoo aftercare products includes slow infused herbal components that provide medicinal value which facilitates accelerated skin healing as well as optimal condition tattoo maintenance.
- Dominantly herbal composition
- Non-irritant and non-allergenic
- Ethically, socially and environmentally friendly
- Versatile and extended use
- Consistent and smooth application
- Tattoo quality enhancing
- There may be some shipping inconveniences
2. Platinum Rose Tattoo Butter
If you’re looking for an all-around tattoo butter that can do a lot, the Platinum Rose Tattoo Butter would be a solid pick for you.
Quick Summary
- Tattoo butter
- Made for lubricating, moisturizing, soothing, and nourishing the skin
- Shea butter, avocado oil, cocoa butter, aloe butter, vitamin E, English rose oil
Touted as a product for the pre, during, and post tattoo period, this is another versatile option that tattooists and tattooed folks love. It offers effective skin healing and nourishment so it can ease the recovery of your tattooed skin.
Like many other items on this list, this product comes with all-natural ingredients. However, it takes things up a notch by not just using organic ingredients but also utilizing food-grade ingredients to further ensure your safety.
This makes it extra attractive to those who want to use the best ingredients for their skin.
- Promises faster healing
- Works as an effective tattoo lubricant
- Made with all-natural food-grade ingredients
- Useful at every stage of the tattooing process
- Has a nice but temporary mild rosy scent
- Paraben-free
- Quite expensive
- Contains fragrance
3. Dr Pickles Premium Tattoo Balm
In case you haven’t found the perfect ingredient that will work wonders on your skin yet, you might want to give the Dr Pickles Premium Tattoo Balm a shot.
Quick Summary
- Tattoo balm
- Contains papaw, d-panthenol, beeswax, sweet almond oil, and coconut oil
- For tattoo lubrication and aftercare
- Paraben and chemical-free
This product’s main ingredient is papaya, also known as papaw or pawpaw, a tropical fruit that is rich with antioxidants and antibacterial components.
Formulated for use during the tattoo procedure and the aftercare process, this item is also quite a versatile choice.
And since papaw has already established itself as an all-cure for skin woes, we’re pretty confident that it might just be the very item you need to get the best results from your fresh ink.
- Doesn’t have a sticky or greasy feel
- Goes on smoothly
- Made with natural ingredients
- Highly versatile
- Made in Australia
- Tube packaging
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan-friendly but not vegan as it contains a small amount of beeswax
- Quite pricey
4. Eucerin Original Healing Lotion
If you want to look at a product offered by a tried and tested brand, the Eucerin Original Healing Lotion is for you.
Quick Summary
- Body lotion for dry skin
- Thick and rich formula
- Contains water, mineral oil, lanolin oil, sorbitol
While this item isn’t specifically made for tattooing, it can hold a candle against many tattoo creams in the market for how moisturizing and healing it can be. It also has a century-long legacy, so the formulation of Eucerin’s products aren’t up for debate.
As a healing lotion, this product is formulated to help repair skin damage by packing in the moisture and sealing it in for long periods of time. This makes it a perfect option for tattoo aftercare.
- Recommended by tattooists
- Made by a doctor-recommended brand for various skin woes
- Thick but fast-absorbing and non-greasy
- Very affordable
- Brand is developed by dermatologists and medical experts
- Great for dry skin
- Quite heavy and difficult to spread
5. Viva Naturals
Rounding out our selection of products is the Viva Naturals Organic Shea Butter. This item is also more of a repurposed choice for tattoo aftercare because of how potent shea butter is in caring for your skin.
Quick Summary
- Raw, unrefined organic shea butter
- Thoughtfully processed to preserve its nutrients
The most important thing to note about this product is the fact that it’s a singular ingredient item. It’s only really just shea butter in its pure form. There are no other ingredients in this product as it’s also meant to be used as an ingredient for other DIY skincare recipes.
Because of this, it promises to offer you all of the great benefits of this natural ingredient. Since it’s also carefully processed so as not to burn off and degrade its nutrients, you’re further guaranteed to get a lot out of this product.
- Guaranteed to be an all-natural product
- Doesn’t contain any other ingredients
- Can be used for other DIY skincare creations
- Pure shea butter with most of its nutrients intact
- Has a mild scent
- Some folks aren’t too happy with the consistency of the product
6. Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion
Vaseline is another trusted brand in skin care and many of its lotions can actually be used in tattoo aftercare. The Vaseline Intensive Care tattoo lotion is our best choice because it’s unscented and it’s effective against dry skin.
Quick Summary
- Available in a large 32-ounce bottle
- Formulated with Vaseline Jelly for locking in moisture
- It’s completely fragrance free
- Over-the-counter yet prescription-strength moisturizes
- This lotion is paraben and scent-free, and its affordable price tag
- This tattoo aftercare is key if you wish for your body art to remain in good condition as well as prevent any sort of skin problems
- It’s the richest formula they make with clinical trials that show it can help heal dry skin in five days
- Non-greasy formulation
We also like that it’s been awarded the National Aczema Seal of Acceptance, a proof that it contains gentle yet effective ingredients against extremely sensitive or dry skin.
The Vaseline Jelly formulation makes the lotion feel almost like gel in the hands but feel like creamy lotion when applied on the skin. But it isn’t just the feel that matters – more importantly, it’s the actual effect on the skin!
Thanks to its wide variety of skin-nourishing ingredients, particularly glycerine, it brings in more moisture into the skin and locks it in, too.
- Prescription-strength formulation but gentle on skin
- No side effects on sensitive and/or dry skin
- Large bottle for longer use
- Applies easily, absorbs quickly
- May have a slightly oily after-feel but goes away in a few minutes
7. Hustle Butter Deluxe
The Hustle Butter Deluxe is, in our books, the best petroleum free lotion for tattoo aftercare – or more appropriately, it’s a tattoo butter.
Quick Summary
- Suitable for use at every stage of the tattoo process
- Made with vegan, cruelty-free ingredients
- Comes in a 5-ounce tub
- Free of petroleum, parabens and other harmful materials
We love it because it’s an all-around tattoo-specific product that can actually be used before, during and after the tattooing process! We have to say that it’s one-of-a-kind!
In this case, the best lotion for tattoo aftercare isn’t actually a lotion! Instead, it’s a butter that contains numerous skin-friendly ingredients including aloe butter, shea butter, sunflower oil, rice bran oil, green tea, mint essential oil, Vitamin E complex, rosemary oleoresin and essence of papaya and coconut.
These ingredients apparently work in synergy to prepare the skin for the physical trauma of tattoos and to aid in its healing afterwards.
Before you get your new tattoo, you can apply it for a few days so as to make your skin stronger against the needles’ trauma.
While the tattooing session will still involve a certain level of pain, it may not be as painful as you expected it. This is because your skin is more moisturized and, thus, better able to take the stress.
- Specifically formulated for tattooed skin care
- Traps extra moisture in the skin
- Preserves the color of the tattoos
- Easy to apply on all skin types
- Slightly pricey
8. H2Ocean Aquatat Moisturizer
Yet another tattoo-specific moisturizer is the H2Ocean Aquatat moisturizer. Many tattoo artists and enthusiasts actually recommend it because it’s an effective product.
Quick Summary
- Enriched with Vitamins A, B, C, D and E as well as palm seed oil
- Free of fragrances, dyes and mineral oils
- Comes in a 1.75-ounce bottle
Within a day or two, your newly-tattooed skin will show signs of positive improvement after applying this lotion. Your skin will likely be less itchy and irritated while also showing signs of faster healing than with other lotions.
Your skin may even be less reddish within a shorter period, a bonus point since reddish skin gets in the way of appreciating the beauty of tattoos.
You can apply the lotion as many as three times a day, if necessary, without worrying about your still sensitive skin becoming clogged or irritated.
This is because the lotion doesn’t have clog-causing ingredients like fragrances, petroleum and parabens and it’s fairly thin enough to be quickly absorbed by the skin.
- Highly recommended by tattoo artists
- Keeps irritation and itchiness at bay
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- A bit pricey
9. After Inked Moisturizer
Getting a tattoo requires effective follow-up and aftercare to achieve the best possible results.
The after inked moisturizer & aftercare lotion are considered to be the best products to use for skin care purposes considering it offers optimal aftercare services that ensure your skin maintains optimal health and nourishment while your tattoo maintains the best possible expression to suit the artistic vision achieved by a tattoo artist.
Quick Summary
- Grape seed oil, coconut oil enriched, Shea Butter formula
- Clinically and dermatologist tested
- Ethical, social and environmental development
- Premium brand highly recommended by professional tattoo artists.
- Skin moisturizer
- Tattoo quality enhancement
The after inked tattoo moisturizer & aftercare lotion comes clinically tested and as well further dermatologist tested to ensure no skin irritation or harm results from its utilization.
This makes the after inked tattoo moisturizer & aftercare lotion the ideal aftercare products for any skin type thanks to the non-allergenic and non-irritant formulation.
- Tattoo quality enhancement
- Natural formulation
- Grape seed oil, coconut oil infusion
- Effective skin moisturizer
- Clinically and dermatologist tested
- Enhanced healing
- Professional tattoo artist recommended
- Premium brand
- Easy application
- Optimal consistency
- May not be ideal for use immediately after getting a tattoo.
10. Tattoo Care Sunscreen
Next on our list of best sunscreen lotion for tattoos is the Tattoo Care Sunscreen UVA UVB 30+ 1.35oz. We recommend because it contains special ingredients that both facilitate faster healing of the skin and protect the tattoo.
Quick Summary
- Contains 30+ SPF
- Skin protection and water-resistant
- Accelerates skin healing
- Soothing effect for sensitive skin
- 1.35 oz / 40 ml packaging
If you wondered why this is a top pick in this list of the best type of sunscreen for tattoos, this would be the reason. The Tattoo Care Sunscreen UVA UVB 30+ 1.35oz contains special 30+ SPF that blocks both the harmful UVA and UVB sun rays from affecting your skin.
Did you know that this lotion adds a second layer to your tattoo hence protecting the ink from fading or washing away?
The 30+ SPF lotion is water-resistant and hence will not be washed away during that swimming vacation. Additionally, it contains unique ingredients such as Cocoa Butter, Jojoba, Calendula, Vitamin E, and Bisabolol, which helps accelerates the healing process of the skin after getting that tattoo.
- Contains 30+ SPF that block against UVA and UVB sun rays
- Accelerates skin healing process
- Contains special ingredients such as Vitamin E and Calendula and which soothes and moistens the skin
- Water-resistant
- Developed by dermatologists with over 30 years’ experience hence ideal for use on sensitive skin
- The lotion comes in smaller packaging and might not be ideal for those with medium to large tattoos
How to Care for a New Tattoo
Here are the most basic steps in caring for a new tattoo:
- Keep your skin properly moisturized to keep it in top shape.
- Use the best soap and lotion for new tattoos to make sure that you will be able to take care of your damaged skin.
- Do not expose your skin to things that can damage it like sunlight, high-temperatures, sweat, fragrance, and chemicals among many others.
- Let your tattoo breathe so it can heal itself naturally.
- Do not scratch or pick at the healing tattoo as that will hamper the process.
- Do not keep it wet for long periods, too. This can also prevent the skin from healing properly.
- Follow your tattooist’s advice to a T. They will let you know what you should and shouldn’t do as your new ink heals.
- Be patient with healing times. Your new ink might take some time to heal and rushing the healing process can do more harm than good, so don’t be impatient.
What Not to Do After Getting a Tattoo
Aside from avoiding putting certain items on your new tattoo, you should also avoid doing certain activities to ensure the proper healing of your skin. Here are the ones that you should delay if you just got inked:
- Going swimming as that will keep your tattooed skin wet and can introduce bacteria to the open wounds.
- Going to a sauna as this will expose your skin to too much moisture and heat.
- Sunbathing as sunburn can cause more damage to your already damaged skin.
- Wearing tight clothing as the fabric will rub and put pressure on your new tattoo which can irritate and keep it from healing faster.
- Scratch or peel at the flakes as this will further slow down the healing process.
- Let other people touch the new ink as this can cause an infection.
- Over moisturizing as this will cause irritation and other complications.
Picking the Best Lotion for New Tattoos for You
We’re going to be quite honest with you, picking the best lotion for new tattoos might not be the easiest thing to do, especially if your skin is sensitive.
This is why you need to know what you should look for and arm yourself with the right information in order to find your perfect match.
You shouldn’t risk the output of your tattoo and the health of your skin by just going for the first lotion you find and thinking that all of these skin care products are the same.
If you still can’t take a pick and need our help to pinpoint one product to try, we’d tell you to go for something tried and tested like the Hustle Butter Deluxe product above.
This cure-all skin care product is a multipurpose pick that lots of people recommend for tattoo aftercare so we believe it’s worth a shot. If it doesn’t work on your fresh ink, at least it’s cheap and it can be used for other purposes.