Mad Rabbit
Tattoo Balm
★ 4.4·21,355 reviews·$18.85
Vegan, petroleum-free tattoo balm that Mad Rabbit markets as a lightweight, non-greasy daily balm for existing tattoos.
- +Fully vegan
- +Non-comedogenic
- +Zero petroleum
- −Premium price
- −Small tin
The catalog · 17 products, every category
Every product, for aftercare.
Independent product picks,
with reviews labeled clearly.
Our reviews are research roundups: ingredient lists, manufacturer claims and published dermatology guidance, not first-hand skin tests. Affiliate picks awaiting a write-up are labeled “Review Coming Soon.” No press samples, no pay-to-play.
How we research →Balms & ointments · 6
The core healing product: what you rub on daily while a fresh tattoo settles.
Hustle Butter
Hustle Butter Deluxe
★ 4.7·40,044 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
★ 4.8·88,088 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
★ 4.6·349 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
Mad Rabbit
Tattoo Artist Glide
★ 4.6·488 reviews·Currently unavailable
A vegan, no-petroleum glide artists can use during the session that doubles as aftercare once the machine stops, so it is 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
Read Our ReviewOut of stock
Mad Rabbit
Enhance Tattoo Balm Stick
★ 4.0·1,358 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)
★ 4.6·17,527 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
3M Health Care 16004 Transparent Film Roll (4" × 11 yd)
★ 4.5·3,161 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)
★ 4.8·40,987 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
Moisturizers · 2
For weeks 2–4 once the peel is done and the skin just needs hydration.
CeraVe
Daily Moisturizing Lotion
★ 4.7·153,006 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
Lubriderm
Advanced Therapy Lotion (16 fl oz)
Price varies
Fragrance-free lotion for extra-dry skin, with pro-vitamin B5 and vitamin E. A moisturizer option for weeks 2–4, after peeling has finished.
- +Fragrance-free
- +Made for extra-dry skin
- +Large 16 fl oz bottle
- −No ReviewTattoo write-up yet
- −Designed for body skin, so patch test first
Review Coming SoonBuy on Amazon
Sunscreen · healed-ink SPF · 2
Once healed, sunscreen is the single biggest thing protecting saturation from fading.
Blue Lizard
Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
★ 4.4·22,157 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
Mad Rabbit
Defend Tattoo Sunscreen SPF 30
★ 4.5·2,035 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.
Tattoo Care
Tattoo Aftercare Kit - Cream and Soap (50-Pack)
★ 4.6·204 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
Mad Rabbit
Tattoo Care Bundle Kit (3-Piece)
★ 4.7·793 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
★ 4.2·828 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
★ 4.1·78,067 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 →