There’s a sharp divide in the tattooing community over the legitimacy of tattoo pain. Is it a rite of passage or just a (literal) pain?
If you’ve made it to this article, you probably think that subjecting yourself to pain that you could otherwise avoid is madness. We don’t blame you.
Whether you want to block out all pain during your tattoo application or just cut down on itchiness during the healing process, the perfect cream is out there waiting for you. Let’s help you find it!
- What Is a Tattoo Numbing Cream?
- What to Look for in a Tattoo Numbing Cream
- Top 11 Best Tattoo Numbing Creams 2026
- 1. Best Overall Pick: Viking Revolution Tattoo Care Balm
- 2. Best Budget Pick: Aspercreme Maximum Strength Pain Relief Cream
- 3. Best Premium Pick: Hustle Butter Deluxe
- 4. Best for Pain Relief: Icy Hot Max Strength Pain Relief Cream
- 5. Best Natural Ingredients: Platinum Rose Tattoo Butter
- 6. Best Natural Herbs: Tattoo Goo Original After Care Salve
- 7. Best Eco-Friendly: Ora's Amazing Herbal Tattoo Salve
- 8. Best for Aftercare: Blue Emu Original Analgesic Cream
- 9. Best with Peppermint: Fisticuffs Tattoo Balm
- 10. Best Spray: Aspercreme Pain Relief Dry Spray
- 11. Best Complete Kit: Tattoo Goo Aftercare Kit
- How Do Numbing Creams Work?
- How to Use Tattoo Numbing Cream
- Ingredients to Look Out For
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Bottom Line
What Is a Tattoo Numbing Cream?
It’s no secret that getting a tattoo can be painful. Although some people enjoy that (masochists!), not everyone has a high pain tolerance. No shame in that. In fact, flinching or sudden movement while getting a tattoo is one of the main causes of tattoo blowouts.
Luckily, modern science is sufficiently advanced to block most of that pain out. Just like dentists can give their patients anesthesia, tattoo artists can apply numbing creams to the skin they’re about to tattoo. This reduces — and sometimes completely removes — the sensation of pain.
In fact, lots of the strongest numbing creams available are also suitable for other numbing purposes, like waxing or even everyday neck pain.
There are also lots of creams that provide aftercare for tattoos by soothing the skin and reducing irritation. While these solutions don’t provide enough pain relief to block out the feeling of a needle continuously pricking your skin, they do an excellent job of making an inflamed area of your body feel normal.
Although we focus on creams, there are products that do the same job in the form of gels, balms, and sprays.
What to Look for in a Tattoo Numbing Cream
Search for “tattoo numbing cream” online and you’ll find a selection of products that range from clinical-looking topical anesthetic cream to tubs that look like moisturizers with punky packaging.
Which should you pick? Ultimately, that depends on what you hope to get out of your cream. We recommend paying special attention to the ingredients, scent, hydration, pain relief, and longevity of each product.
Ingredients
When you’re applying something to your skin, you want to be sure that it doesn’t end up irritating it — or, even worse, causing an allergic reaction. That won’t aid the healing process!
If you have sensitive skin or known allergies, the safest option is a cream with natural, organic ingredients. Luckily, this is a growing market, and you’ll have a few items to choose from. You can read more about potential allergens and harmful chemicals here.
If you’re a vegan, you should also look out for petroleum jelly and beeswax, which are both common ingredients in tattoo creams.
Scent
The odor of a numbing cream might be a triviality compared to choosing something that doesn’t make your ankle tattoo blow up like a balloon. Still, you deserve the best of both worlds!
If you’re sensitive to scents, select a product that is odor-free or with a more subtle, natural smell. Organic creams infused with essential oils and extracts are an excellent option.
Hydration
Anyone who’s ever had a tattoo knows that your skin won’t magically return to normal the second you leave the tattoo parlor — for the following few weeks, you can expect soreness, irritation, and dryness.
It makes sense to choose a pain-numbing cream that doubles as a moisturizer. Some creams are so effective with this that buyers continue to use them even after their pain has gone, to keep their skin looking smooth, and to bring out the colors in their tattoo.
Avoid anything that’s too greasy. Unless you’re into that — in which case, more power to you.
Pain Relief
Pay special attention to the level of pain relief a product promises before buying. Not all the items we’ve picked out will stop your suffering altogether — some will simply soothe your irritation.
To make sure you choose the right cream for you, make sure you know how numbing creams work.
As you might have guessed, there’s a tradeoff between pain relief and hydration. You can’t expect the cream that blocked your nerves and stopped all pain during a tattoo procedure to double as a staple in your daily skincare routine. Just buy two creams.
Longevity
You need a numbing cream with the longevity required to get you through your tattoo procedure — if the pain relief wears off before it’s finished, you’ll be in trouble. Or, rather, in pain.
The strongest creams last for up to eight hours, whereas weaker creams lose their potency after just a few hours.
Aftercare lotions also vary in their longevity. Some remain effective for most of the day, whilst you need to reapply others at regular intervals.
@killerbeautypmu Top Tips from Danielle Hicks. 🤩✨ Hustle Butter Deluxe products help glide the pigment into the skin and are the perfect before, during and after ointment. 😍❤️ And the smell is AMAZING!! #killerbeauty #permanentmakeup #pmuartist #pmubrows #socialmedia #pmutraining #pmulips #lipblushtattoo #pmulips💋 #pmusupplies #aftercareisimportant #aftercare #hustlebutterdeluxe
Top 11 Best Tattoo Numbing Creams 2026
1. Best Overall Pick: Viking Revolution Tattoo Care Balm
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Balm
- Weight: 2 oz
Ingredients
As a premium beard grooming brand, Viking Revolution knows a thing or two about choosing top-quality ingredients that are kind to both your body and the environment. It’s a principle they’ve carried through to their tattoo care balm.
You’d expect to compromise on ingredient quality when choosing a product costing well under $10 per ounce, but thankfully, this isn’t the case.
The Viking balm contains only natural, gentle ingredients with no harmful chemicals. Some of the most active ingredients are:
- Shea butter
- Grapeseed oil
- Coconut oil
- Beeswax
- Vitamin E
However, note that Viking Revolution also advertises the cream as being vegan friendly, but this claim seems redundant since beeswax is an ingredient.
Another ingredient to be aware of is Vitamin E, which can cause adverse reactions in some people. Read more about it here.
How to Use It
The Viking Revolution balm stands out for its versatility — you can use it before, after, or during a tattoo. Make sure you clean the surface of your skin beforehand, then apply a thin layer.
It normally takes a few hours for the skin to absorb the cream fully, and for the best results, reapply it multiple times throughout the day.
If you’ve had a tattoo for a while that has dulled over time, the balm also helps with brightening up the design and bringing out its colors. It really is a cure-all!
However, the primary purpose of this balm is to care for your skin rather than to block all pain, so don’t expect it to numb you completely.
Scent
The balm has a light but fresh smell thanks to its natural ingredients. Chamomile extract, lavender oil, peppermint oil, and more form a winning combination that isn’t too overpowering.
Hydration
This cream is an effective moisturizer and will protect your skin from dryness and irritation. Like any option with natural ingredients, it won’t damage your skin with nasty chemicals.
In fact, it helps your skin to heal naturally — working with the body rather than against it and guaranteeing a speedy recovery.
Pain Relief
As mentioned already, this balm is most useful for soothing and moisturizing the skin rather than numbing it. If you apply this before having a tattoo, don’t expect a miraculously pain-free procedure.
However, it’s still great for some mild relief and a good tool to use with a nerve blocker nerve deadener, or vasoconstrictor
Longevity
The Viking Revolution balm scores reasonably well on the longevity front. The effects will last for a few hours as the skin gradually absorbs the goodness, but it won’t last all day.
Pros
- Use it before, during, and after your tattoo
- Natural ingredients
- Nongreasy
- Affordable price
Cons
- Less effective for pain relief
- Not fully vegan friendly as it contains beeswax
2. Best Budget Pick: Aspercreme Maximum Strength Pain Relief Cream
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Cream
- Weight: 2.7 oz
Ingredients
This cream contains 4% lidocaine, one of the most popular nerve deadeners for reducing the pain from tattoos.
Note that, although Aspercreme products normally contain aspirin, this one doesn’t.
Since it’s a chemical-based item, it’s possible that some ingredients might cause an allergic reaction. If this is a significant worry for you, consider a solution with natural ingredients instead.
The ingredients include Acrylates, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Aminomethyl Propanol, and Cetearyl Alcohol.
How to Use It
Aspercreme is best for numbing your skin during a tattoo. Two hours before the procedure, apply a thick layer of cream on the area. This gives enough time for the skin to become fully numb.
You can also apply a thinner layer after your tattoo if you’re experiencing extreme pain, but an aftercare cream might be preferable.
Scent
Aspercreme is odor-free. That might be a letdown if you enjoy creams that smell of oranges or roses, but it’s preferable to an artificial odor that makes you gag!
Hydration
Since the cream targets pain and fails to provide aftercare, it doesn’t score well on the moisturizing front. However, it contains a few ingredients that treat your skin well, and it’s also non-greasy.
If that’s important to you, we recommend buying a separate cream built for hydration, as listed in the aftercare section.
Pain Relief
This is a maximum-strength product; over-the-counter products legally can’t contain over 4% lidocaine. Although different peoples’ nerves respond to products slightly differently, this should be a strong enough solution for most people.
However, it’s not as strong as items available by prescription, which can contain 5% lidocaine, or combine stronger ingredients like vasocaine.
Longevity
Depending on how thick the layer you apply is, Aspercreme could last between one and five hours. However, for most people, it will remain effective for around two hours.
Pros
- Powerful pain relief
- Odor free
- Non-greasy
- Affordable
Cons
- Not effective for aftercare
- Contains chemicals that could cause allergic reactions
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Butter
- Weight: 5 oz (1 oz also available)
Ingredients
Hustle Butter prides itself on using only the finest, natural ingredients,
including:
- Shea
- Aloe butter
- Coconut
- Rice bran oils
- Vitamin E complex
- Essentials oils
It was originally developed as a petroleum alternative and also contains no parabens, phthalates, or other dangerous chemicals. However, it’s important to note once again that Vitamin E can cause issues for some people.
Unlike the Viking Revolution tattoo balm, Hustle Butter’s product is genuinely vegan-friendly — it also contains no beeswax or petroleum jelly, every ingredient is cruelty-free. That’s what you’re paying for!
How to Use It
The butter aids all stages of the tattoo process, including preparing your skin for a tattoo and aftercare.
When you apply the cream before having a tattoo, it will soften the skin, make application easier, and reduce swelling. It also won’t remove stencils during the process.
Finally, it helps the skin heal during aftercare.
Scent
Wild mint, papaya, and coconut extract give the cream a powerful but natural odor.
Hydration
One of Hustle Butter’s key strengths is its moisturizing properties. The shea and aloe butter help with cracked skin, relief from itchiness, and making tattoos shine.
Pain Relief
The Hustle Butter is less strong on the pain relief front, but by relieving inflammation, it will also relieve your pain.
Longevity
For the best effect, you must reapply the lotion each time your tattoo dries. You should do this at least three times daily.
Pros
- Suitable for before, after, and during the tattoo process
- Vegan friendly
- Natural, premium ingredients
- Won't remove stencils
Cons
- Only provides weak pain relief
- Expensive
4. Best for Pain Relief: Icy Hot Max Strength Pain Relief Cream
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Cream
- Weight: 2.7 oz
Ingredients
Just like our top pick, Aspercreme, Icy Hot contains 4% lidocaine (4%), a nerve deadener. It also has 1% menthol (1%), another powerful ingredient for tackling pain.
However, there’s a wide range of other inactive ingredients acting as fillers, some of which could cause adverse effects. If you’re taking medication or have sensitive skin, be careful to study the full list, which you can find on the Amazon product page.
How to Use It
Because lidocaine is a numbing agent, you can use the Icy Hot cream before having a tattoo to reduce pain — or even get rid of it completely.
One of its best features is how quickly it numbs your skin — expect to feel the effects within just a few minutes.
You can also use the cream for aftercare if you’re suffering from significant stinging or soreness. Apply it to the tattooed area every 6-8 hours, up to three times in a 24-hour window.
Scent
Icy Hot isn’t scent-free, but its odor is very mild and shouldn’t bother most people.
Hydration
As it’s a numbing agent, Icy Hot falls short on its moisturizing properties. You must buy a second product if that’s important to you.
Pain Relief
Because of the lidocaine and menthol, Icy Hot is one of the most effective pain relievers on this list. Naturally, it’s not perfect — we can’t guarantee it will make all tattoos pain-free for 100% of people.
Longevity
The combination of ingredients makes this cream a long-lasting solution. The effects should remain for a few hours, although this depends on the intensity of the pain. Some people may find they feel pain again after an hour or two.
Pros
- Nongreasy
- Acts fast
Cons
- Not specifically designed for tattoos
- Doesn't hydrate the skin
5. Best Natural Ingredients: Platinum Rose Tattoo Butter
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Butter
- Weight: 2 oz (also available in sizes 0.25 oz, 0.5 oz, 4 oz, 8 oz)
Ingredients
The Platinum Rose butter uses only natural, organic ingredients. It’s free of petroleum, parabens, synthetic chemicals, and preservatives.
The primary ingredients include:
- Shea Butter
- Avocado Oil
- Cocoa Butter
- Aloe Butter
- Vitamin E
How to use it
Like the Hustle Butter and Viking Revolution products, the Platinum Rose balm is suitable for before, after, and during a tattoo.
Apply it to the skin and rub in a thin layer. If you want to use it during your tattoo procedure, you won’t need to worry about petroleum buildup (the cream is petroleum-free), clogged tubes, or stencil removal.
It’s also suitable for treating abrasion, cuts, burns, and rashes.
Scent
Since rose essential oil is one of the main ingredients, this gives the cream its scent. The smell is fresh, but not too overpowering because of the natural ingredients.
Hydration
Although the main purpose of the butter is to aid healing, you can also use it as a moisturizer — it hydrates, lubricates, and nourishes the skin. Once your tattoo has healed, you can continue to use it for this purpose.
The balm helps to regenerate your natural skin tissue along the way whilst solving problems like itching, scabbing, and inflammation.
You can even use it to moisturize other parts of your body, like your lips or sunburns — although, there admittedly are cheaper options out there for these minor issues!
However, it’s also very oily, which isn’t to everyone’s tastes.
Pain relief
As well as giving off a sweet scent, the rose essential oil calms the nervous system. This reduces the pain you’ll feel during a tattoo. It also maintains histamine levels and reduces swelling, inflammation, and plasma discharge.
Of course, it’s less effective than stronger ingredients like lidocaine, for obvious reasons.
Longevity
As you might expect for a product with a softer approach to relieving pain, the Platinum Rose cream won’t keep you out of agony for long periods of time.
However, a small amount goes a long way, and you only need to apply some lotion for it to improve your skin.
Pros
- Organic, natural ingredients
- Suitable for before, after, and during tattoos
- Great moisturizer
- Doesn't remove stencils or cause clogged tubes
Cons
- Very oily
- Not effective for pain
6. Best Natural Herbs: Tattoo Goo Original After Care Salve
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Balm
- Weight: 0.75 oz
Ingredients
Tattoo Goo is another brand that uses only natural ingredients, giving their balms an edge for anyone concerned about harmful ingredients.
Primary ingredients include olive oil, beeswax, and cocoa butter, plus a selection of natural herbs, oils, and vitamins.
It’s free of the most harmful ingredients, like petroleum, lanolin, and mineral oils.
However, it contains wheat germ oil and Vitamin E, both of which can be allergens.
How to use it
Apply the balm after you’ve had your tattoo to soothe the skin and reduce pain. You should use it the day after your tattoo, or within 24 hours, to numb the pain most effectively.
If your tattoo artist doesn’t have an alternative ointment, they can also use it to apply to the skin before bandaging up the area.
To clean the area before application, consider using Tattoo Goo’s cleansing soap, as found in the aftercare kit. It contains similar ingredients, so if this balm works for you, it’s likely the soap will, too.
Scent
Because of the natural ingredients and the abundance of herbs, the Tattoo Goo balm has a pleasant scent. It’s mild and natural.
Moisturizing
The balm soothes and moisturizes the skin to help it recover from the tattoo. It’s so effective at its job that it can even bring out the color of old tattoos.
Pain relief
The primary purpose of the balm is to help the skin recover; it’s less effective at pain relief.
There’s no active numbing agent, but some natural ingredients will relax your body’s nerves and reduce inflammation.
Longevity
A thin layer will typically last for a few hours. It’s best to apply the balm a few times each day.
Pros
- Free of petroleum, lanolin, and mineral oils
- Infused with herbs
- Can use with corresponding cleansing soap
Cons
- Only helps with aftercare
- No active numbing agent
7. Best Eco-Friendly: Ora's Amazing Herbal Tattoo Salve
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Balm
- Weight: 4 oz (1 oz is also available)
Ingredients
A primary advantage of Ora’s products is the natural ingredients. This salve contains organic herbs — and love, allegedly — whilst being free of nasty items like parabens, synthetic fragrances, and even dyes.
Ingredients include:
- Grapeseed
- Calentula
- Plantain
- Coconut oil
- Beeswax
- Essential oils
How to use it
After making sure your hands and the skin are both clean, you can apply the balm. Load some onto your finger and apply a thin layer on to your tattoo.
The solution also helps with keeping the tattoo and the surrounding skin in good condition, including tackling bruises and bumps.
Since the balm is for aftercare only, it’s not suitable for numbing the skin completely before applying a tattoo.
Scent
Ora’s balm has a lovely scent thanks to its natural herbs and ingredients, including base oils infused for six weeks. There are also no synthetic fragrances added.
Moisturizing
The balm is extremely moisturizing and does an amazing job of soothing the skin. It even helps to bring out the color of tattoos.
Pain relief
Since the balm is designed primarily for aftercare, it doesn’t have the strongest pain relief. It’s better suited to anyone who wants to soothe their skin and relieve minor irritation.
Longevity
Like most aftercare lotions, it’s best to apply a layer of the balm a few times a day at regular intervals.
Pros
- Paraben free
- Base oils infused for six weeks
- Good moisturizer
Cons
- Less effective for pain relief
- Only for aftercare
8. Best for Aftercare: Blue Emu Original Analgesic Cream
