Dr Pickles: the honest verdict.
The Australian tattoo aftercare brand that became the artist-recommended standard. Tested across Tattoo Balm, Soothe Gel, and the Aftercare Wash.
- Position
- Premium · Tattoo aftercare
- Founded
- Australia · 2013
- Available at
- drpickles.com.au + tattoo studios + selected pharmacies
The Glow read.
Dr Pickles is the tattoo aftercare brand Australian tattoo artists actually recommend — not because of a sponsorship deal, but because the formulations work. The Tattoo Balm uses a beeswax + jojoba + vitamin E base that supports healing without occlusive heaviness. The Soothe Gel is a cooling aloe + niacinamide formula for the first 48 hours of redness and inflammation.
The brand's formulation discipline is rare in the tattoo aftercare category, which is dominated by either repurposed nappy creams (Bepanthen) or aggressive marketing brands (Ink Nurse). Dr Pickles sits in the middle: legitimate clinical formulation with the credibility of artist recommendation.
Buy Dr Pickles for any tattoo healing process longer than a single session. The Tattoo Balm + Soothe Gel pairing is the editorial gold standard.
What works
- Tattoo Balm — beeswax + jojoba + vitamin E base supports healing without occlusion
- Soothe Gel — cooling aloe + niacinamide for first 48-hour redness
- Artist-recommended at the working tattoo studio level — not a sponsorship-driven endorsement
- Australian-owned, founder-led, transparent about formulation
- Pricing is fair for the category ($25-35 per product)
What doesn't
- Distribution outside tattoo studios and direct is limited
- Brand recognition outside the tattoo community is low
- Beeswax base unsuitable for vegan buyers (no plant-based alternative in the range)
The buy.
Tattoo Balm
Beeswax + jojoba + vitamin E healing balm. The artist-recommended standard for fresh tattoo aftercare. Apply 3-4× daily for the first 14 days.
Soothe Gel
Cooling aloe + niacinamide gel for the first 48 hours of redness and inflammation. The companion product to Tattoo Balm.
Affiliate disclosure: Glow earns commission from qualifying purchases. Read more.
What's actually in it.
- Actives
- Tattoo Balm: beeswax + jojoba oil + vitamin E + lavender + tea tree (light antimicrobial). Soothe Gel: aloe vera + niacinamide + glycerin.
- Preservation
- Tattoo Balm is anhydrous (no water = no preservative needed). Soothe Gel uses phenoxyethanol within EU/TGA limits.
- Allergens
- Light essential oil load (lavender, tea tree). Reactive skin should patch test outside the tattoo area first.
- Editorial concerns
- None at use concentration. Editorial-preferred for tattoo aftercare.
Index grade is editorial, not paid. The grade reflects what's in the product against Glow's v1.0 watch list — it sits beside the Glow score, not instead of it. Dr Pickles earns a Grade A — the cleanest formulation in the tattoo aftercare category on the Australian shelf, and the brand artists actually recommend. Pair the Tattoo Balm with the Soothe Gel for the first 14 days of healing.