Mad Rabbit
Tattoo Balm
★ 4.4 · 7,545 reviews · $18.85
All-natural, vegan balm with the smoothest finish of anything we tested. Non-greasy, absorbs in seconds.
- + Fully vegan
- + Non-comedogenic
- + Zero petroleum
- − Premium price
- − Small tin
The catalog · 16 products, every category
Every product,
reviewed.
Bought at retail,
tested on real ink,
scored the same way.
Every product here was purchased at retail and put through the same six-week protocol on a real, fresh tattoo — scored on absorption, healed saturation, skin reaction, and value. No press samples, no pay-to-play.
How we score → Balms & ointments · 6
The core healing product — what you rub on daily while a fresh tattoo settles.
Hustle Butter
Hustle Butter Deluxe
★ 4.7 · 35,578 reviews · $25
A shop-floor staple for a reason. Shea + mango + coconut. Works during AND after the session.
- + Dual-purpose (during + after)
- + Reef-safe
- + Pleasant scent
- − Greasy on first application
Aquaphor
Healing Ointment
★ 4.8 · 139,088 reviews · $18.37
The classic. Cheap, widely available, petroleum-based — use thinly for the first 2–3 days only.
- + Cheapest option
- + At every drugstore
- + Dermatologist-recommended
- − Petroleum base
- − Can clog pores if over-applied
INK-EEZE
Green Glide Tattoo Ointment
★ 4.6 · 313 reviews · $14.99
Vegan, lavender-essential-oil glide and aftercare in one. Used by artists who want a single-product workflow during and after the session.
- + Doubles as glide + aftercare
- + Vegan + cruelty-free
- + Pro-grade
- − Pricier per ounce
- − Lavender scent not for everyone
Review Coming Soon
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PRODUCT
AFTERCARE
Mad Rabbit
Tattoo Artist Glide
★ 4.6 · 449 reviews · $14.99
A vegan, no-petroleum glide artists can use during the session that doubles as aftercare once the machine stops — one product instead of two.
- + Doubles as during-session glide and aftercare
- + Vegan, no petroleum
- + Essential-oil formula
- − Pricier than a plain glide-only product
- − Essential oils are not for every sensitive-skin client
PRODUCT
AFTERCARE
Mad Rabbit
Enhance Tattoo Balm Stick
★ 4.0 · 1,304 reviews · $11.98
The fragrance-free, no-mess version of Mad Rabbit's tin balm — solid stick format, no fingers in a tub, easy to toss in a bag.
- + Fragrance-free — safer for reactive skin
- + No-mess stick application
- + Cheaper entry point than the tin
- − Lower average rating than the tin formula
- − Smaller volume per dollar than the tin
Second-skin bandages · 2
Adhesive film worn over the fresh tattoo for the first days. Cheaper by the roll than by the sheet.
Saniderm
Adhesive Bandage Roll (4" × 8 yd)
★ 4.6 · 17,413 reviews · $39.95
The industry-standard second-skin bandage. What your artist probably used, but cheaper by the roll.
- + Breathable
- + Waterproof
- + Used by pro shops
- − Not for sensitive skin
3M Tegaderm
Transparent Film Dressing Roll (4" × 11 yd)
★ 4.5 · 3,331 reviews · $34.64
The medical-grade film that Saniderm is based on. Sold in hospital supply quantities, usually cheaper per square inch.
- + Medical-grade adhesive
- + Widely available
- + Cheaper per sq in on large rolls
- − Less stretch than Saniderm
- − Harder to cut cleanly
Cleansing · 1
Fragrance-free wash for the twice-daily clean during healing.
Dr. Bronner's
Pure-Castile Liquid Soap (Unscented)
★ 4.7 · 40,006 reviews · $17.17
Fragrance-free, plant-based wash. The gold-standard recommendation across nearly every pro shop.
- + Fragrance-free
- + Concentrated — lasts forever
- + Gentle
- − Must dilute
Review Coming Soon
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Moisturizers · 1
For weeks 2–4 once the peel is done and the skin just needs hydration.
CeraVe
Daily Moisturizing Lotion
★ 4.7 · 146,692 reviews · $18.13
For weeks 2–4 once the tattoo is done peeling. Ceramides + hyaluronic acid keep saturation looking fresh.
- + Non-comedogenic
- + Derm-recommended
- + Cheap
- − Boring packaging
Review Coming Soon
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Sunscreen · healed-ink SPF · 2
Once healed, sunscreen is the single biggest thing protecting saturation from fading.
Blue Lizard
Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
★ 4.6 · 14,575 reviews · $15.94
Mineral-only, fragrance-free. Once you're healed, sunscreen is the #1 thing protecting your ink from fading.
- + Mineral (zinc oxide)
- + Reef-safe
- + Water-resistant 80 min
- − White cast on darker skin
Review Coming Soon
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PRODUCT
AFTERCARE
Mad Rabbit
Defend Tattoo Sunscreen SPF 30
★ 4.4 · 1,967 reviews · $21.00
Mineral SPF 30 sized and marketed specifically for healed ink — sunscreen is the single biggest thing protecting saturation once healing is done.
- + Mineral formula
- + Sized/marketed for tattoo use
- + Doubles as an anti-aging moisturizer
- − SPF 30, not the highest available
- − Premium price for a 100mL tube
Aftercare kits · 2
Bundled multi-stage sets — convenient, and often cheaper than buying each piece alone.
PRODUCT
AFTERCARE
Tattoo Care
Tattoo Aftercare Kit - Cream and Soap (50-Pack)
★ 4.6 · 187 reviews · $38.99
Single-use cream + soap pillow packs built for artists and travel — no tub to dip dirty fingers into, no bottle to leak in a bag.
- + Single-use packs — no cross-contamination
- + Travel-friendly
- + Bulk value for shops
- − Not a daily long-term maintenance product
- − Less economical per-use than a tub for solo use
PRODUCT
AFTERCARE
Mad Rabbit
Tattoo Care Bundle Kit (3-Piece)
★ 4.8 · 738 reviews · $45.00
Repair Soothing Gel, Enhance Balm, and Defend SPF 30 in one bundle — Mad Rabbit's answer to 'which one do I actually need' for new and current work.
- + Covers fresh + healed + sun protection in one order
- + Cheaper than buying all three separately
- + Good gift option
- − You may not need all three at once
- − Locks you into one brand across every stage
Numbing cream · pre-tattoo · 2
Not aftercare — a pain-management product applied before the session. Listed here for completeness.
Zensa
Numbing Cream 5% Lidocaine
★ 4.2 · 697 reviews · $35.99
Water-based, vegan, fast-absorbing 5% lidocaine — the formulation most often stocked at pro shops. Premium price, premium consistency.
- + Water-based (no residue artists hate)
- + Vegan + cruelty-free
- + Hypoallergenic with vitamin E
- − Most expensive 5% lidocaine option
- − Wears off in 60–90 min
Ebanel
5% Lidocaine Numbing Cream
★ 4.1 · 77,972 reviews · $17.69
Same 5% lidocaine concentration as the pro-shop brands at roughly half the cost per ounce. Slightly slower onset, comparable ceiling.
- + Cheapest 5% lidocaine option
- + Includes vitamin E
- + Good for larger areas
- − Slower onset (~60 min)
- − Thinner consistency
New to this?
Not sure what you actually need?
This page is the full catalog. If you just want to know what to buy for a fresh tattoo — step by step, one pick per stage — start with the aftercare buyer's guide.
Aftercare buyer's guide →