Best Tattoo Numbing Cream: Expert’s Top Picks

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Don’t miss out on decorating your body with ink because you’re afraid of pain. Tattoo-numbing cream can be a lifesaver. In fact, even expert tattoo collectors can’t deny that using the best tattoo numbing cream you can find minimizes the pain significantly and makes especially long sessions more bearable. 

Before we look at our tattoo expert’s top five picks, let’s find out more about topical anesthetics. 

What Are Tattoo Numbing Creams?

Numbing creams for tattoos are designed to numb the nerve endings and stop them from sending pain signals to the brain. How exactly these creams work depends on the ingredients used in them. You get three types of numbing creams:

  1. Nerve deadeners. This is the most common type of skin numbing cream for tattoos. It contains lidocaine which is a local anaesthetic that stops the nerves from recognizing pain. That being said, it does not penetrate the skin, which means you may still feel the sensation of the needle entering the skin when you get your tattoo—albeit at a significantly reduced pain level. 
  1. Nerve blockers, Tetracaine and benzocaine are the ingredients that stop your nerves from feeling some of the pain. On its own, this type of tattoo numbing cream doesn’t do much. You will have to add lidocaine to the mix to really beat the pain. 
  1. Vasoconstrictors. Epinephrine is even more potent than lidocaine. It works by constricting the blood vessels where it is applied. Not only does this numb your pain longer than any other type of topical numbing cream for tattoos, but it also reduces bleeding and swelling. 

Before you decide to use a numbing cream for tattoos, there are some things you should consider:

  • It may not work on you. 
  • You may experience more intense pain once the numbing wears off. 
  • You may have an allergic reaction. 
  • The numbing cream can impact the final look of your tattoo. 

Now that we covered that, let’s answer the most important question: What is the best tattoo numbing cream?

5 Best Tattoo Numbing Creams Overview

We asked a tattoo expert to list what they consider the best topical numbing creams to be, so that you can buy only the best before your next ink session. 

Table could not be displayed.

1. Ebanel Liposomal Numb520: Overall Top Pick

Ebanel best Tattoo Numbing Cream

Apart from its 5% lidocaine content, it is enhanced with Liposomal Technology. This is a fancy way of saying the cream will start working in five minutes, peak at 20-25 minutes, and last for one hour after its peak. 

It’s also infused with Vitamin E and Aloe Vera to soothe and protect during the tattoo and promote healing afterward. 

With an oil-free and non-greasy formula, you can expect smooth application and easy removal. It’s also completely odor free. 

Best news yet: This tattoo numbing cream is super affordable. 

PROS

  • Fast acting (5 minutes)
  • Contains Liposomal Technology
  • Infused with vitamin E, Aloe Vera, Lecithin, and Allantoin
  • Does not contain parabens or oil
  • Cruelty free

CONS

  • Thin consistency
  • It doesn’t last as long as some of the other tattoo numbing creams on this list

2. Uber Numb: Best Budget Option 

umber numb numbing cream

If you want something that works fast, then this topical numbing cream is for you. It gets absorbed into the skin as soon as it is applied and reaches its full effect in 25 minutes. After hitting its peak, it will continue to block pain for an hour.

Enriched with powerful anti-inflammatory vitamin E, this tattoo numbing cream won’t only take off the edge, but it will also help relieve swelling and prevent itchy flaking. 

With a water-based formula, you don’t have to worry about an oily residue staining your clothes. 

You also won’t break the bank if you buy this numbing cream—it is reasonably priced

PROS

  • Rapid absorption
  • Fasting acting (25 minutes)
  • Long lasting (1 hour)
  • Contains vitamin E
  • Non-greasy formula

CONS

  • You have to apply it 40 minutes before your tattoo session
  • Have to apply twice for best results

3. Zensa Numbing Cream: Best for Sensitive Areas

Zensa numbing cream tattoo

Described as “the most natural numbing cream on the market,” what sets this tattoo numbing cream apart is that it was made with tattoos in mind. It contains vitamin E, and this is great news since it is a powerful antioxidant that will help your tattoo heal.

This topical tattoo numbing cream is a little on the pricey side, which may not be good for your wallet if you plan on getting a large tattoo. Of course, numbing creams for tattoos may not be where you want to tighten your budget. This product contains high-quality ingredients, which will give you high-quality results. 

PROS

  • Fast acting (30-35 minutes)
  • Super-long numbing action (3 hours)
  • Contains vitamin E
  • Made specifically with tattoos, tattoo removal, and piercing in mind. 
  • Safe to use around sensitive areas

CONS

  • Thin consistency which means you may have to apply two or more layers 
  • It is expensive 

4. Dr Numb: Endorsed by Professionals 

Dr Numb numbing cream for tattoos

This topical numbing cream is 100% hypoallergenic. It contains the maximum amount of lidocaine (5%) and is infused with vitamin E to help the skin heal. 

Where the other tattoo numbing creams listed so far are water-based, Dr Numb is cream-based. That doesn’t mean it is going to leave your skin feeling oily. Its fast-absorbing formula will suck into your skin and get working in 15 minutes. Its numbing effects will continue between two and four hours. 

Dr Numb is recommended by not only tattoo artists but healthcare professionals and aestheticians across the U.S. 

This tattoo numbing cream is on the expensive side but considering that it is one of the longer-lasting creams on the market, as well as the fact that it has the stamp of approval of professionals, make it worth the splurge. 

PROS

  • Fast acting (15 minutes)
  • Long lasting (2-4 hours)
  • Contains vitamin E
  • Endorsed by healthcare professionals
  • Cream-based which means the product will last longer

CONS

  • It is very expensive

5. Base Numb: Best Ingredients

best numbing cream for tattoo base numb

This topical tattoo numbing cream contains some ingredients we haven’t seen in the other products that are listed: Menthol and chamomile. These agents will boost lidocaine’s numbing ability and take away even more pain. It will also help your skin heal after the tattoo. 

When it comes to its efficiency, Base Numb takes between 15 and 30 minutes to start working and lasts for up to four hours! It has a cooling gel consistency, which will leave your skin feeling supple and smooth. 

You’ll be happy to learn that it is affordable, meaning you can lather bigger sections of skin without making your wallet hurt.

PROS

  • Fast acting (15-30 minutes)
  • Long lasting (4 hours)
  • Contains calming ingredients menthol and chamomile
  • It’s affordable
  • Get your money back if it doesn’t work as advertised

CONS

  • The thin consistency may require you to apply more than one layer

Final Thoughts 

Getting a tattoo is truly one of the coolest experiences; missing out on it because you’re afraid of the pain would be such a waste. Now that you know what the best tattoo numbing creams are, you’re ready to get the tattoo of your dreams.

So, grab the product you think will work best with your skin and let your tattoo artist know you’re ready to decorate your skin. The experience will be much more enjoyable with the help of a topical numbing cream. 

Happy inking! 

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