Zero Waste Tattoos: Which Eco Tattoo Balm is the Best?
Something I have never seen in the eco-space, let’s review some eco-friendly tattoo balm and other zero-waste tattoo aftercare!
First, you don’t need anything fancy. Most artists will recommend any unscented lotion. But, I do like to support eco-friendly brands when possible and also look for extra nourishing and hydrating ingredients as we will see later on. Each of these has pros and cons so let’s break them down.
Green Goo First Aid Salve
This was my first try at a zero-waste tattoo balm and it was kind of an accident. I bought this formula cause it’s also anti-itch and used on cuts. I used it as an everyday salve. I had gotten a tattoo and realized I didn’t have any lotion on hand and thought if this can heal cuts, why not a tattoo which is essentially a big cut? And it worked great! It does have a slight smell to it due to the herbs, but not artificial scents added, and the smell it rather pleasant. Just know that it is not entirely odorless.
Pros:
Accessible at most grocery stores
All-purpose, we love a multi-use item in this house
Easily reusable or recyclable tin
It lasts forever
Cons:
On the oily side! Be careful around clothes
Price:
$18 (for the size I got, there are more sizes)
Weight: 1.82oz
Price per oz: $9.89 per oz
Wow, this one is on the pricey side! As I said, though, it lasts FOREVER. I STILL have some and I bought this in 2020 or 2021. Let’s see how the others compare, though
Rating:
Healing the tattoo: 10/10
Oiliness: 2/10
Latherability: 10/10
Breathability of tattoo: 7/10
Scent: 8/10
Price: 3/10
Total: 40/60
Bepanthen
This one I hadn’t heard of until Dan went to Romania. He got a half-sleeve there done by a world-renowned artist and this was his #1 recommendation. I tried it out and thought it was okay. My tattoos healed beautifully but it was hard to apply. But, it’s not nearly as oily as Green Goo, which is a plus. I love that it lathers well, dries quickly, and leaves my skin feeling hydrated plus it comes in a metal tube! I did post about it on IG/TT and a lot of people said this particular tattoo treatment is not usually recommended anymore, like Vaseline. If applied too thickly, it can make your skin unable to breathe and the tattoo won’t heal well. So, if you use this, apply it nice and thin. Note that this one is unscented.
Pros:
Accessible on Amazon or most drug stores
Aluminum tube easy to recycle
There is a LOT in here, it lasts forever
Cons:
Kind of sticky, makes it painful to apply to new tattoos
Can cause issues if not applied thinly enough
Price:
$14.90
Weight: 100g
Price per oz: $4.05 per oz
Rating
Healing the tattoo: 10/10
Oiliness: 10/10
Latherability: 5/10
Breathability of tattoo: 4/10
Scent: 10/10
Price: 8/10
Total: 47/60
Novia Scotia Fishermen
This was the first TRUE tattoo balm I tried for this post. And, I was not really a fan. First, the smell. While unscented with artificial fragrances, there is an odor from the herbs used…and it’s weird. It smells kind of like lemongrass but also kind of like weed? Yeah, it’s odd. I didn’t mind it as a migraine-sensitive person so keep that in mind. It was also not very pleasant to apply. It’s quite gritty and rough meaning you really have to work it into the skin. This is very unpleasant on new tattoos that are still painful. The last thing I want to do to a fresh wound it rub it very hard. But, on the good side, it DID heal my tattoo beautifully and comes in the cutest tin.
Pros:
Reusable or recyclable tin
Heals the tattoo well
Cons:
Hard to apply, painful on new tattoos
A bit on the oily side
A weird smell, not bad, but weird
Price:
$15.95
Weight: 1 oz
Price per oz: $15.95
Rating
Healing the tattoo: 10/10
Oiliness: 4/10
Latherability: 2/10
Breathability of tattoo: 6/10
Scent: 4/10
Price: 3/10
Total: 29/60
Ohana Organics
Another one that was a little difficult to apply. It’s mostly coconut oil (I think) so in the winter especially, you really have to work it into the tattoo which can be painful when the tattoo is fresh. Again, the last thing I want to do it rub a fresh wound very hard. The good side to this one, though, is it is truly unscented (or you can get the lavender one). But, again, this one IS on the oily side too so be cautious around clothing. This one left my skin feeling very hydrated though and I felt like the tattoo could still breathe.
Pros:
Unscented
Reusable or recyclable tin
Hydrating
Tattoo can breathe
Cons:
Painful to apply to fresh tattoos
Oily
Price:
$5.49
Weight: 1/2 oz
Price per oz: $10.98
Rating
Healing the tattoo: 10/10
Oiliness: 6/10
Latherability: 4/10
Breathability of tattoo: 7/10
Scent: 10/10
Price: 4/10
Total: 41/60
Lovett Sundries
I think this one takes the cake for me. My only critique of this “tattoo balm” is that it’s basically a lotion. So, depending on the price, I say just buy a lotion. BUT, check the ingredients first. While this one behaves and applies like a lotion, it’s extremely hydrating. I chose these balms at random when testing them on my tattoos and I’m glad I accidentally chose this one for my big snake tattoo, meaning that this one is exceptionally good for large tattoos. It’s not so bad applying those thicker ones to small tattoos but I would imagine it would be a pain to apply them to larger areas.
This one applies nicely, left my skin smooth and soft, it was unscented, and honestly, I have no negative thoughts about this balm (well, except the lotion thing).
Pros:
Applies so easily
Great for tattoos of all sizes
Comes in a recyclable or reusable tin
Unscented
Cons:
Basically just a lotion
Price:
$11
Weight: 1.41 oz
Price per oz: $7.8
Rating
Healing the tattoo: 10/10
Oiliness: 10/10
Latherability: 10/10
Breathability of tattoo: 10/10
Scent: 10/10
Price: 7/10
Total: 57/60
Plaine Products Lotion
If you’re looking for just a lotion that you can use on other parts of your body too, I cannot recommend Plaine Products enough! They do more than just lotion, but for this post, that’s what we’re focusing on. In scented and unscented versions, their lotion is very hydrating including aloe vera as a main ingredient. This is very important for tattoo aftercare. What makes Plaine amazing sustainability-wise is they refill their bottles. That’s right, empty your bottle, wash it out, and send it back with the pre-paid label. They’re a practicing circular economy which is just the coolest.
Since lotion is all most artists recommend, no need to splurge for a fancy balm if you don’t want to when this does the job. Not only does it help in the initial healing of the tattoo, but also for long-term aftercare. I use these DAILY on my tattoos to keep them healthy long-term.
Pros:
Applies easily
Not oily at all
Breathable for the tattoo
A multi-use item and helpful in long-term tattoo care
You can send bottles back to refill
Scented or unscented
Cons:
Can only order via mail
Price:
$30
Weight: 16 oz
Price per oz: $1.86
Rating
Healing the tattoo: 10/10
Oiliness: 10/10
Latherability: 10/10
Breathability of tattoo: 10/10
Scent: 10/10
Price: 10/10
Total: 60/60
Okay, here they are ranked from best to least according to my totally arbitrary rating system (yes, these are just opinions, but I am an experienced tattoo-getter):
Plaine Products: 60/60
Lovett Sundries: 57/60 (but, this one is my favorite actual BALM)
Bepanthen: 47/60
Ohana Organics: 41/60
Green Goo: 40/60
Nova Scotia Fishermen: 27/60
My main critiques are oiliness and difficulty in applying. Keep in mind, I don’t HATE any of these options and as for healing, the most important part, they all healed my tattoos wonderfully. But, those who came out on top were ultimately easy to apply, unscented, and not oily.
Sun Screen
We can’t talk about tattoo aftercare, though, without talking about sunscreen. This is to help the longevity of your tattoo quality. Too much sun exposure can lead to fading and distorting of the lines, so keep them protected all year long with long sleeves and/or a good sunscreen.
You can check out my full sunscreen review in this video, but I do plan on making another part of this sunscreen series this summer as I have tested many brands since then. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly sunscreen, opt for one in recyclable or reusable packaging, reef safe, and of course, a high SPF to protect you as well.
Let me know if you want my full tattoo care routine from prepping for the tattoo to taking care of it immediately after and even years later. I’ve gotten over 25 tattoos over the course of 6 years so I think I know a thing or two ;)
Thanks so much for reading along, I hope you enjoyed this and found it helpful! As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)
Emma
