The Best Tattoo Lotions to Keep Your Ink Looking Fresh

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

When I got my first tattoo *mumble mumble* years ago, I don’t remember what exactly the artist told me about aftercare. It was probably the standard—use fragrance-free soap to clean it, don’t pick the scabs off, don’t scratch it even when it itches, and apply an aftercare ointment. I do remember he recommended A&D Ointment, an old-school salve most commonly used for diaper rash. I diligently used the goo for a few days to help along the healing process and was happy with how the tiny tattoo on my wrist turned out. What I wasn’t happy about was walking around all day feeling greasy and smelling like a baby’s ass.

In the many (many!) years since that first tattoo, I’ve gotten so many more that I’ve honestly lost count. And every time I get a new one, I thank god that aftercare technology has moved on from diaper rash ointment. The products available now for tattoo aftercare are demonstrably better. They’re less greasy and often have ingredients you’d usually find in your moisturizer or body lotion - in some cases, they even have SPF. Which is great news because aftercare doesn’t stop once your tattoo heals. The right lotion can help your ink look fresh for years to come.

“An aftercare lotion should be unscented and help a tattoo heal versus a lotion for maintenance will be about taking care of the skin and tattoo,” says Ghinko, a tattoo artist at Bang Bang Tattoo in New York City. One the tattoo is healed (with the help of an aftercare product), the general tenets of skincare should be followed to keep a tattoo in shape for years - moisturizing, exfoliation, and sun protection. The good news is that many of the newest aftercare products can double as both healers and maintenance lotions, but when in doubt, look for something that specifically says it’s for aftercare if you have fresh ink and stick to that for a while.

Whether you’re looking for an aftercare lotion for a fresh tattoo or something to help your older ink look its best, “play it safe and make sure it’s fragrance free and as clean as possible,” says celebrity tattoo artist Dr. Woo. “Apply it with clean hands and don’t overuse it and suffocate the pores [especially during the healing process]. Less is always more in amount and application times.” Our list of the best tattoo lotions won’t steer you wrong—you just need the ink first.

I got my first tattoo *mumble mumble* years ago, and I don’t remember what exactly the artist told me about aftercare. It was probably the standard—use fragrance-free soap to clean it, don’t pick the scabs off, don’t scratch it even when it itches, and apply an aftercare ointment. I do remember he recommended A&D Ointment, an old-school salve most commonly used for diaper rash. I diligently used the goo for a few days to help along the healing process and was happy with how the tiny tattoo on my wrist turned out. What I wasn’t happy about was walking around all day feeling greasy and smelling like a baby’s ass.

In the many (many!) years since that first tattoo, I’ve gotten so many more that I’ve honestly lost count. And every time I get a new one, I thank god that aftercare technology has moved on from diaper rash ointment. The products available now for tattoo aftercare are demonstrably better. They’re less greasy and often have ingredients you’d usually find in your moisturizer or body lotion. In some cases, they even have SPF. Which is great news because aftercare doesn’t stop once your tattoo heals. The right lotion can help your ink look fresh for years to come.

“An aftercare lotion should be unscented and help a tattoo heal versus a lotion for maintenance, which will be about taking care of the skin and tattoo,” says Ghinko, a tattoo artist at Bang Bang Tattoo in New York City. One the tattoo is healed (with the help of an aftercare product), the general tenets of skincare should be followed to keep a tattoo in shape for years: moisturizing, exfoliation, and sun protection. The good news is that many of the newest aftercare products can double as both healers and maintenance lotions, but when in doubt, look for something that specifically says it’s for aftercare if you have fresh ink and stick to that for a while.

Whether you’re looking for an aftercare lotion for a fresh tattoo or something to help your older ink look its best, “play it safe and make sure it’s fragrance free and as clean as possible,” says celebrity tattoo artist Dr. Woo. “Apply it with clean hands and don’t overuse it and suffocate the pores [especially during the healing process]. Less is always more in amount and application times.” Our list of the best tattoo lotions won’t steer you wrong—you just need the ink first.

Want essential shopping tips on the regular? Sign up for Esquire Select.

Tattoo Brightener Balm

If lotions aren’t really your thing, this balm is a great alternative. Don’t confuse it with an aftercare balm though; it’s designed for older tattoos to really help them pop. You won’t find any petroleum in this formula, which can clog pores and inhibit air flow to the skin. Instead, it’s packed with coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter to moisturize skin and a shot of Vitamin C to help brighten and gently exfoliate. We especially like that you can easily use it as a spot treatment on smaller tattoos.

Tattoo Aftercare Tattoo Balm

This thick cream is packed with natural ingredients—shea, mango, aloe, coconut, and more!—which help to deeply moisturize and protect your skin. Don’t worry about buying a ton of different products for each stage in the tattoo healing process, either. This balm is designed to every part of the process. Use it before that tattoo to help soften your skin, after it’s done to help it heal, and in the future to help your tattoo stay looking its best.

Soothing Gel

For immediate aftercare, Ghinko likes this aloe vera and argan oil-packed soothing gel to “reduce itching, scarring, and tissue damage.” It’s ideal for those two weeks post-inking when your skin feels irritated and needs extra TLC. And for older tattoos, don’t sleep on the brand’s Tattoo Balm, which helps moisturize the skin and bring older tattoos back to life.

Tattoo Moisturizer and Aftercare Lotion

This light lotion is designed to be used on fresh tattoos to help them heal, but can also transition to just a lotion to use every time you want to make your ink pop—even for years to come. The formula is packed with grapeseed oil, which helps nourish and protect inked skin and is non-irritating and sensitive skin-friendly, so much so that it can even be used on your face if you run out of moisturizer (or you’re living that Post Malone life).

Daily Moisture Hydrating Lotion

After the initial aftercare phase is over and your tattoo is healed, you still want to treat it with care. That means, as Dr. Woo says, looking for fragrance-free options that are less likely to irritate the skin. You can’t go wrong with this classic lotion, which for the record is also a favorite of tattooers to keep skin and tattoos healthy—no matter how old they are.

Tattoo Lotion & Aftercare Tattoo Cream

Not only does this tattoo lotion take care of your tattoos, but it enhances them as time goes on, too. That means no fading, no itching, no peeling. With vitamin E in this unscented lotion, tattoos old or new can look and feel fresh as ever.

Deep Cleansing Soap

This is a tattoo lotion unlike others, in that it isn't really a lotion. It's a gel-like oil that glides on your skin smoothly, and removes dead skin cells and dirt from your skin. Say hello to a deep clean that'll leave your tattoos looking and feeling fully healed.

Hemp Tattoo Enhancing Body Moisturizer

If you have a tattoo sleeve, this is the moisturizer for you. It dispenses from an easy-to-use bottle, but moreover, you get true bang for your buck—for less than six bucks, you get 18 fluid ounces of an ultra-nourishing, full-body lotion.

Aquatat Tattoo Aftercare Healing Ointment

This is a tattoo lotion that covers all the bases. Seriously—you can use it before you get a tattoo as well as after, to prep and clean your skin and then soothe your tattoo once you have it. The formula creates a protective moisture barrier to seal nutrients in your skin, so don't worry about scabbing or peeling.

Daily Dry Skin and Tattoo Lotion

This travel-size tattoo lotion is from the brand that you're definitely familiar with if you're not a newbie to tattoos. Saniderm does it best when it comes to aftercare, and their lotion is no different than their bandages. This nourishing formula is ultra-protective, and makes tattoos look fresh and clean.

Hydration Cream with SPF 30

We’ve already established that sun protection is essential in keeping tattoos looking their best, right? But if you’re not into the idea of applying a lotion and a sunscreen every time you go outside, then you’re in luck. This two-in-one lotion moisturizes the skin on your body and includes a healthy dose of sunscreen for overall skin protection.

Healing Ointment

Like the aforementioned A&D, this healing ointment is a go-to tattooer recommendation for aftercare. The rich healing salve helps heal extremely dry skin and tattoos the same way: by providing a protective barrier that allows the skin to do it’s thing (heal itself). A word of caution though. “People tend to overapply Aquaphor,” says Ghinko. “Apply just a thin layer every time so your skin can still breathe.” Using too much can actually do more harm than good.

You Might Also Like

• Kid Cudi Is All Right

• 16 Best Shoe Organizers For Storing and Displaying Your Kicks