Best Tattoo Brightener: A Complete Guide

If there is something really sad to see for a tattoo lover is how a tattoo has faded, losing the intensity of its colors, the clarity of its drawing lines, and even getting to look blurred as a whole and making it complicated for others to decipher what exactly that tattoo contains or intends to show us with its design.

And what is the main reason why this can happen? Lack of skincare and hydration through the use of products specially formulated to extend the life of tattoos and enhance their beauty.

Is it worth getting a tattoo, then? If we are not even going to take the trouble to learn how to take care of it and our skin? I don’t think so. And that’s precisely what we want to explain to you today, how to prevent your tattoos from fading and list the best lotion to keep tattoos bright.

Now the aim of this article is not to look at those people who unfortunately do not take care of their skin and their tattoos, but quite the opposite. Our main objective throughout this article is to explain to tattoo lovers in a clear way and through real data and references, what is the best way to prevent a tattoo from fading and to learn how to identify the best products on the market today for this purpose.

Ready to learn all about how to properly care for your tattoos? Let’s get started!

How to prevent tattoos from fading

After many years of waiting and saving for a while, you have finally gotten a tattoo. There are those who decide to wait a while to take this step, either because they feel too young to dare to engrave something on their skin permanently, or for economic reasons.

In both cases, the wait will have been worth it because they will finally be able to show off on their skin what they care so much about, a phrase from a movie you love, the image of your first pet, the crest of your favorite soccer team, a realistic design of an animal you adore, etc. Whatever you have chosen, when you can finally see it on your skin, you will be overcome with a feeling of euphoria and immense admiration.

Young woman looking at tattoo catalog.

However, once the tattoo is on your skin, another inevitable process that not many people tell you about before sitting in the tattoo artist’s chair begins, the natural fading of its colors and shapes. Because yes, a tattoo looks bright and beautiful on the first day and it seems that it will always stay that way.

But it will not. I’m sorry to tell you that just as it happens with a photograph or a painting exposed to sunlight, a tattoo over time will suffer natural wear and tear by the inevitable exposure of our skin to solar radiation.

What if my tattoo is in an area that I always keep covered by my clothes and that I don’t show even when I wear my swimsuit at the beach? Well, we are sorry to tell you that it will also have wear and tear, much less and whose progress of deterioration will be much slower, but that will not prevent the loss of intensity of its colors and lines.

So our recommendation will always be the same: use lotions and oils that moisturize and polish your tattoos always, whatever the design and the area where you are tattooed.

For example, imagine the windows of a building that are exposed 24 hours a day to the weather and the sun’s rays. What do you think would happen to them if nobody cleaned them every day with a special glass gel and a mop to remove all the dirt they accumulate without damaging them?

Indeed, they would end up looking dull and disheveled as a result of overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays and the accumulation of dust in the air. This is precisely what happens to our tattoos, especially those with a wide variety of intense colors.

If our skin remains constantly dehydrated and we do not take care of it with quality lotions and oils, the tattoo will fade and all its colors will lose strength. And who wants their beloved tattoo to end up as a faded spot on their skin? Surely no one, otherwise we wouldn’t have invested our money in getting it done.

Women revealing her back tattoos.

Therefore, it is crucial that when we get a tattoo we not only think about the cost of getting it done but also about the money we will inevitably have to invest in its maintenance by using appropriate tattoo polishing lotions.

For this reason, and because we know that there are as many skin types as there are lotions on the market, we are going to list the five best moisturizing and brightening lotions for tattoos. We will explain their main characteristics and the type of skin they are recommended for, their pros and cons, and their price.

So that the search for your ideal tattoo lotion is not so complex and you can start taking care of your skin properly from the first day you decide to get a tattoo.

Take note!

The five best moisturizing and brightening creams and oils for tattoos

1. Hustle Butter Deluxe

Hustle Butter Deluxe

If you are vegan and your skin is easily irritated by any cream that is not suitable for atopic skin, Hustle Butter Deluxe tattoo lotion is the perfect choice for you that will take care of your skin both before and after you have been tattooed.

For starters, its base is not composed of a petroleum base and also does not contain any type of fragrance that adds artificial scents, making it not only a lotion that will take care of the environment but will also prevent your skin from irritation, flaking or any type of allergic reaction during or after getting a tattoo.

So if your skin is very sensitive and you don’t want to risk a bad experience, this lotion is perfect for you.

On the other hand, it is composed of pure shea butter and aloe that will deeply moisturize your skin and keep it elastic and full of vitality. For this reason, many tattoo artists use it before starting tattooing, as it ensures that the skin remains elastic and soft throughout the process, also helping the client to feel less discomfort during a process that is already annoying and irritates the skin irremediably.

In addition, it is available in large format so that you can wear it comfortably at home or in travel format so that you can continue to take care of your tattoos all over the world without the lack of space in your vanity case being an inconvenience.

Pros

  • Vegan
  • Made with essential oils

Cons

  • A bit expensive

2. After Inked Tattoo Lotion

After Inked Tattoo Lotion

Another vegan option, free of artificial fragrances and parabens that will delight those who want to take care of their tattoos from all-natural ingredients that do not disturb the environment or the well-being of their skin.

It is composed of grape seed oil, whose regenerating and moisturizing properties will keep the color of your tattoos beautiful for much longer while preventing your skin from drying out and flaking easily during the winter or after getting a tattoo.

You can buy it in a convenient tube format and its texture is very pleasant, penetrating easily into the skin and preventing a “sticky” feeling on the tattoo area after applying it. If you are a person who has very colorful tattoos and exposed for a long time to the sun, this cream with a transparent appearance and light texture is perfect for you and your skin.

Pros

  • Vegan
  • Easy to apply
  • Contains essential oils

Cons

  • Quite expensive
  • Only sold in small format

3. Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Lotion

Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Lotion

First of all, we warn you that if you are a person who is very committed to the environment and who does not usually buy personal care products that contain any chemical compound or that are made with a petroleum base, perhaps Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy is not the tattoo lotion you are looking for and you would prefer to continue reading the two previous options that we have recommended.

However, leaving aside the composition of the cream (which only contains a small number of chemical elements that have been proven not to be harmful to our dermatological health), opting to buy Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy as your regular tattoo moisturizing lotion is a great idea.

In fact, it is the lotion preferred by dermatologists for this and for the treatment of multiple skin ailments. If a doctor recommends it, there’s a reason. No? Its main ingredient is derived from petroleum but it is extremely beneficial for moisturizing your skin, preventing it from drying or flaking before, during, and after you get a tattoo.

It is also important for you to know that its texture is somewhat thicker and oilier than the other options, but that is because it is much more moisturizing and its protective effect will last longer, without the need to apply new layers after several hours.

Finally, we are happy to tell you that this wonderful lotion is not only good for your skin and is a favorite among experts, but it is really cheap and is sold in a large format that will allow you to enjoy it and its benefits for much longer at a much lower price.

Pros

  • It is very moisturizing
  • It is cheap
  • Sold in large format

Cons

  • Not vegan
  • Contains chemicals in its composition

4. Tattoo Goo

Tattoo Goo

This lotion is perfect for people who get tattoos and practice some kind of extreme outdoor sports, preventing their skin from drying out and cracking easily thanks to its multiple natural compounds: beeswax, vitamin E, and olive oil.

The base of this lotion is totally free of fragrances or chemical compounds, making it perfect for the most sensitive skins and for those who love the environment and want to preserve it through the conscious use of the products they consume on daily basis.

The olive oil and vitamin E, as well as many other ingredients and vitamins contained in the formula of this lotion, will keep the skin deeply moisturized and fresh, preventing the most colorful tattoos from becoming dulled by sun exposure and your skin from becoming easily irritated in that area.

There are also professionals who recommend using it before tattooing, as it keeps the skin more elastic and allows it to breathe while tattooing, which is a process that already invades the most superficial layers of our skin, so an extra help-based on natural lotions is not bad at all.

Although the appearance, texture, and smell of this lotion is not ideal, as it is a very viscous green cream with a herbal smell, its effect is really good and everyone who has tried it before and after tattooing has been amazed at its results.

The format in which it is sold is generally small although it is not exactly cheap, being a 3/4 ounce can that we can take with us anywhere to continue taking care of our skin and our tattoos.

Pros

  • It is very moisturizing
  • Made with natural oils and vitamins

Cons

  • Quite expensive
  • Only sold in small format
  • Smell and texture are not very pleasant

5. Viking Revolution Tattoo Balm

Viking Revolution Tattoo Balm

Both for its packaging and design, its smell, its texture, and all the ingredients it contains, the new Viking Revolution Tattoo Balm has arrived to become what is surely the perfect tattoo lotion for men looking to keep their skin and the design of their tattoos well cared for with high-quality products.

Viking Revolution Tattoo Balm is part of a wide range of men’s care products from the prestigious Viking Revolution brand, something that makes its small can of just 2 oz never go unnoticed and captivates anyone who is looking for a new moisturizing lotion to keep the colors of their beloved tattoos alive.

Its price is not the most affordable, but the truth is that the product is worth every dollar you pay for it. Because besides being totally vegan and free of chemical compounds, this cream smells wonderful and your skin will absorb it quickly.

Although it says in the title that it is a balm, its texture is not greasy or sticky, as you would expect from a traditional balm for men, but quite the opposite. It is light, transparent in appearance, and pleasant smelling, unctuous but easy to apply and your skin will be deeply moisturized instantly without leaving a trace.

Its natural ingredients include coconut oil, grapeseed oil, vitamin E, and shea butter, making it possibly one of the best moisturizing formulations currently available based on vitamins and vegetable oils for tattoo maintenance.

Pros

  • Vegan
  • Nice packaging
  • Light texture and good smell
  • Easy to apply

Cons

  • Expensive

Does lotion prevent tattoos from fading?

Indeed, as we have explained throughout this article, the use of quality moisturizing lotions for tattoos will play a crucial role in maintaining and delaying fading.

However, as we have indicated, it is also crucial to use these lotions before and after you get a tattoo, since thanks to the moisturizing and hydrating properties that the lotions possess, they will prevent the skin from peeling and accelerate the healing process of the skin.

Woman spraying lotion to keep her tattoos looking good.

Tattoos are beautiful images that we capture on our skin in order to beautify it and record part of our life on it, making our history and our most beautiful memories visible to others. However, it is not a very pleasant process and it is not risk-free.

When we get a tattoo, what the tattoo artist does to engrave the image is to pierce our skin with needles full of ink, which will generate a wound that we will have to take care of so that it heals properly.

Using these lotions that we have explained will speed up the process, avoid infections, the appearance of wounds or flaking, and preserve the tattoo design in perfect condition, giving it the shine and freshness it needs. The more lotion we use, the longer our tattoos will remain beautiful, and even those older tattoos that time has dulled can shine again if we use some of these lotions correctly.

Therefore, the answer to this question is yes. Using moisturizing lotions for tattoos will prevent them from fading prematurely.

Conclusion

We hope and wish that through this simple guide of tips and the list of five moisturizing lotions for tattoos that we have explained, you can start taking proper care of your tattooed skin.

Because something as valuable and beautiful as a tattoo is worth preserving over the years, and the best way to do it is to do something as simple as taking care of our skin, keeping it healthy and hydrated with the use of quality lotions that keep it in perfect condition no matter what.

This is how we will take care of our tattoos and their colors. Don’t forget!

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About Hugh Vinson

Hi there! My name is Hugh, and I am the owner and founder of GentlemenCenter. From Texas, USA, and with 2 sons in recent years I have had the experience of raising 2 young men. I am here to share my experiences with you, and help you with any questions you may have!

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