Moisturizing Do’s and Don’t’s
Congratulations on your new tattoo! Aftercare should be as simplistic as possible, and so should the products you’re using. I put together a list of products that I think work really well for recovering skin, and some I personally avoid for my own tattoos. Every artist recommends something different based on the style of tattooing they specialize in, so make sure to ask your artist what they recommend for your piece!
Soap products:
Liquid Gold Dial soap- I’ve been using this soap since I’ve gotten my first tattoo, and it’s honestly still my favorite product. It’s very light and natural, and only costs $1-$2 from most stores. It’s also antibacterial which is a little trickier to find in non-scented hand soaps, so this is my top rated product. 12/10, love this!
Non-scented foaming or liquid face wash- If I run out of my Dial soap, this is my go-to second method. Facial soaps are artisanally created to coexist with the natural oils and PH levels in your skin, and are made with light, natural ingredients in mind since your facial skin is so delicate. Make sure the soap your using is FRAGRANCE FREE and doesn’t have any added ingredients that causes a tingly or light burning sensation, and doesn’t have any micro beads or exfoliants in it.
Soaps to avoid:
Any soaps or products that aren’t fragrance free. My skin personally breaks out in hives if I use any artificially fragranced products on my non-tattooed skin, so I can only imagine what it would do on an open, recovering wound. I’ve had clients say that it caused a burning, irritating sensation and it can sometimes get infected because of this. The products I recommend are either extremely affordable or probably somewhere in your house already. I recommend those products because you shouldn’t go out of your way to wash it, or try to hit that “3 times a day” quota. It’s easy to over-do your tattoo aftercare and kill it with kindness. I wash my tattoo when I first remove the bandage to clean off any excess ink or plasma pooled up on the surface of the skin, but unless there’s visible dirt or sweat on the surface, I leave it alone.
Moisturizers:
All Natural- Recently, I’ve been doing a “dry heal” for a majority of my pieces, where I let my body heal itself naturally without adding any outside products to it. This can be an uncomfortable healing process, and sometimes more saturated color or black and grey work need a little extra love as they go through their scabby period, so make sure to pay attention to your own skin and decide what methods or products work best for you.
Fragrance-free Curel- This is such a light, delicate moisturizer that works great for sensitive skin. I can’t use many fragranced products due to my sensitive skin, so I’ve been using this lotion way before I even began getting tattooed. It’s very breathable and water based, so it allows your skin to oxidize and go through it’s natural-drying out process that it needs to undergo to heal correctly, while alleviating some of the itchy sensation that healing tattoos go through.
Salves/balms- There are a lot of salves and balms on the market, and these are also great products to use, but make sure you are buying fragrance free products from tattoo artists or tattoo companies. Many balms are made with artificial fragrances which can cause irritation or infection, so keep an eye out on the label for those. I have yet to try a balm made from other artists that I haven’t enjoyed, but they are a more expensive product and not necessary, so it’s up to you what works best for your artwork!
Vitamin E oil- Any products that contain vitamin E are amazing for cell rejuvenation and skin healing. Most skincare products contain this, but it has so many benefits for skin repair and moisturizing, so it’s the best of both worlds!
Moisturizer’s to avoid:
I like to preface this by saying that I am not all-knowing, and I’m only recommending products that did and didn’t work for me, so if you use one of these products and your tattoos healed perfectly, then keep doing what works best for you!
Aquaphor- I know I know. When I first started getting tattooed, I bought some Aquaphor because that was tattooing aftercare 101 a few years ago. This product does have minerals and healing aspects that can be good for your skin, but it’s easy to over do this and suffocate your tattoo. I had ink fall out of my tattoos when I tried this healing method, and it also made my skin break out, which is another reason why I’ve stopped using it. It also contains Lanolin Oil, which is not vegan.
Vaseline/Petroleum Jelly based products- I avoid any products that are Vaseline or petroleum jelly based because it was originally used by workers in the oil mines back in the 1800’s to block any dirt or grease from getting into their open wounds. It works great if you need a skin barrier from outside debris or grease, but your skin doesn’t actually absorb petroleum jelly. When you block the oxygen from reaching your skin and over saturate it with moisturizer, your scab will become soggy and will fall off before it needs to, which can pull out the ink. It’s essentially the same as soaking it in a bath tub, so let those scabs do their thing! You can also run the risk of trapping germs and dirt into your wound due to it’s heavy nature, which can cause infection. It’s also a by product of the oil industry, and new studies have been coming out that it’s probably not as good for your skin as we originally thought it was due to the carcinogens and contaminants from unrefined jellys, but research is still ongoing. I’ll attach a link below of the positive and negative aspects of Petroleum Jelly:
Fragranced lotions- I know some of you love using perfumed lotion products from bath and body works, and while they smell great, they contain a bunch of artificial fragrances and contaminants that can cause infections in your open wounds. I would avoid using these until your tattoo is completely healed and settled!
These are only a few products that I’ve had experience with that I either really enjoyed or disliked. There are many more products out there that are also amazing, so do what works best for your skin! Also, make sure to listen to your artist, as they know what’s best for your healing tattoo.
What’s products do you enjoy using? Feel free to let me know below!
