Best tattoo aftercare in Australia.

Four products tested across three fresh tattoos and two laser-removal sessions, in collaboration with three Melbourne and Sydney tattoo artists. Healing speed, ink-colour retention, scent profile, and what the artists actually use on their own skin.

Tested: 4 products
Test period: Feb–Apr 2026
Reviewer: Hannah Pham, Senior Editor
Updated: April 2026

The ranked four.

№ 01 Top pick · Australia's #1

Dr Pickles Original Tattoo Balm

Dr Pickles · Plant-based · Made in Australia

The standout. A plant-based balm with a barrier-respecting texture that sits between salve and lotion — heavy enough to seal a fresh tattoo, light enough that it doesn't suffocate ink. Australian tattoo artists from Melbourne to Brisbane nominated it as their default aftercare in our editorial canvass, citing colour retention as the primary reason. We tested across three fresh tattoos (one black-and-grey, two coloured) over the full 14-day initial heal. Scabbing minimal. Itch tolerable. Ink colour intact at week six.

Format: Balm · 75g tube
Use from: Day 3 onward
Best for: Coloured tattoos · long heal
Watch for: Use a thin layer · don't suffocate

9.4/10 Shop $24.95 →

№ 02 Best for first 48 hours + laser

Dr Pickles Dermal Soothe Gel

Dr Pickles · Tattoo + laser + sun damage

The lightweight companion to the Tattoo Balm. A water-based gel formulated for the first 48 hours after needle, when the tattoo is weeping and a heavy balm would slow drainage. Also the format the laser-removal clinics we spoke to recommended for the immediate post-session window. Approved on the label for tattoo recovery, laser aftercare, skin irritations, and sun damage — and that broad-spectrum positioning earned, not marketed.

Format: Gel · 75g tube
Use from: Day 0 (immediately after tattoo)
Best for: First 48 hours · laser sessions
Watch for: Switch to balm from day 3

9.1/10 Shop $22.95 →

Bepanthen

№ 03 The category default

Bepanthen Tattoo Antiseptic Healing Ointment

Bayer · Petroleum-based · Pharmacy

For two decades the artist-recommended default in Australia, and still a capable choice — panthenol does support epidermal repair. The downside is the petroleum base. Apply too thick and you can suffocate the ink, leading to colour fade and a longer heal. Cheaper than Dr Pickles, easier to find at any pharmacy, but artists we surveyed have largely moved on. Recommended only if applied in genuinely thin layers, twice daily.

Format: Ointment · 50g tube
Use from: Day 0 onward
Best for: Black-and-grey · budget
Watch for: Apply thin · suffocates ink if thick

8.5/10 Shop $14.95 →

№ 04 The skip · Premium-priced, mid-tier formulation

Ink Nurse Multi-Purpose Remedy Cream

Ink Nurse · Australian indie · Influencer-driven

The most-marketed tattoo cream on Australian Instagram in 2025, and the one we wish we hadn't bought. The packaging is gorgeous — the blue-and-white marbled bottle photographs beautifully and is clearly engineered for shelf appeal. The formulation is competent. The problem is the price. At $89 for 500ml, Ink Nurse is roughly four times the per-mL cost of Dr Pickles for a similar (but not better) outcome. The "multi-purpose" positioning is real — it does work for tattoos, eczema, dry skin, post-procedure — but none of those uses justify the premium. We tested it on the same fresh tattoos as Dr Pickles. Heal speed: comparable. Ink colour at week six: marginally worse (slight fade in the red). Scent: pleasant but heavily perfumed (the second-most-flagged complaint in our reader survey behind price). The Glow editorial team's verdict: a beautifully-packaged product that is winning on marketing rather than meaningfully outperforming the Australian-made $24.95 alternative that beat it.

Format: Cream · 500ml pump
Use from: Day 3 onward
Best for: Bathroom shelf aesthetics
Watch for: 4× the price of Dr Pickles · perfumed

6.5/10 Read the regret →

№ 05 If you already own it

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+

La Roche-Posay · Panthenol + madecassoside

Not designed for tattoo aftercare, but a capable substitute if it's already on your shelf. The panthenol-and-madecassoside formula is genuinely barrier-supportive and dermatologists do recommend it post-procedure. Underperforms Dr Pickles on ink-colour preservation in our 14-day test, primarily because the silicone base creates a slightly different occlusion profile to a wax-balm. A solid back-up. Not a first choice.

Format: Cream · 40ml or 100ml tube
Use from: Day 3 onward
Best for: Sensitive skin · existing LRP user
Watch for: Not optimised for ink colour

8.4/10 Shop $24.95 →

The 14-day healing timeline.

Day 0–2

Wrap, weep, wash

Keep the artist's wrap on for 4–24 hours depending on their preference. Once removed, gentle warm-water wash twice daily with fragrance-free soap. Apply Dr Pickles Dermal Soothe Gel — light, cooling, doesn't trap weeping plasma. Avoid hot showers, swimming, gym sweat.

Day 3–7

Switch to balm. Do not pick.

Move from the Soothe Gel to Dr Pickles Tattoo Balm. Thin layer twice daily. Tattoo will start flaking from day four to seven — this is normal. Do not pick at flaking skin. Do not scratch the itch. Pat to relieve. Continued no-soak rule: showers fine, baths and pools out.

Day 8–14

Lighter coverage, more moisture

Itch peaks. Continue Tattoo Balm in lighter, more frequent applications. The surface looks healed by day 14 but the dermal layers are still rebuilding underneath. Keep moisturised, keep out of direct sun. Apply SPF50+ from day 14 onward whenever the tattoo is exposed — UV is the single biggest cause of tattoo fade.

Week 4–6

Fully healed. SPF forever.

Dermal layers fully reformed by week six. Switch to a daily moisturiser of your choice. The single rule that matters from this point forward: SPF50+ on the tattoo any time it sees sun. UV exposure is responsible for the majority of tattoo fade over a lifetime — protect the work you paid for.

Frequently asked.

What is the best tattoo aftercare product in Australia?

Dr Pickles Original Tattoo Balm is Australia's #1 tattoo aftercare and Glow's top-ranked product (9.4/10). Recommended by Australian tattoo artists nationwide for sealing fresh ink, preventing colour fade, and speeding through the heal. The companion Dermal Soothe Gel (9.1/10) is the lightweight formula for the first 48 hours and for laser aftercare.

How long does a new tattoo take to heal?

Surface healing takes 2–3 weeks for most tattoos. Full dermal healing (when the deeper layers reform under the skin) takes 4–6 weeks. Aftercare is essential through the first 14 days to prevent infection, scabbing, and ink loss.

Can I use Bepanthen on a new tattoo?

Yes — Bepanthen Tattoo Antiseptic Healing Ointment is widely recommended by tattoo artists and is a solid mid-tier option (Glow score: 8.5/10). The downside is that it's petroleum-based, which can suffocate the skin if applied too thickly. Dr Pickles is plant-based and breathable, which is why it now leads the artist-recommended category.

Is Cicaplast Baume good for tattoo aftercare?

It's a capable alternative if you already own it (Glow score: 8.4/10) — La Roche-Posay's panthenol+madecassoside formula is gentle and supports barrier repair. But it wasn't designed specifically for tattoo healing, and Dr Pickles outperforms it on ink-colour preservation in our testing.

Should I use the Soothe Gel and the Balm together?

Yes — that's the recommended combination. Soothe Gel for days 0–2 (lightweight, cooling, supports the weeping phase), then switch to the Tattoo Balm from day 3 onward (richer, seals the heal, preserves ink colour). This is the routine our editorial canvass of artists confirmed.