Final Up to date on November 11, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Is cocoa butter lotion good for tattoos is one thing everybody asks as a result of Palmer’s cocoa butter is sitting in each drugstore and it’s low-cost and everybody’s mother used it for the whole lot. You wish to hold your new ink trying excellent and also you’re attempting to determine if this thick, moisturizing cream is gonna be your tattoo’s finest good friend or if it’s gonna screw issues up. Right here’s what we’re masking – why cocoa butter is a well-liked selection and when you must use it. The brief model? Cocoa butter’s too heavy for brand spanking new tattoos however it’s nice as soon as the whole lot’s healed. However there’s extra to it than that, so let’s get into it.
Preliminary Tattoo Aftercare Routine
Very first thing: your new tattoo is an open wound. I do know that sounds dramatic however it’s true. Somebody simply stabbed your pores and skin a thousand occasions with needles and shoved ink underneath there. It’s beautiful however it’s additionally trauma. These first few days are the whole lot. Your tattoo artist wrapped you in plastic wrap, most likely mentioned some stuff about conserving it clear, and also you nodded alongside whereas your mind was nonetheless like “holy shit I simply did that.” Right here’s what truly issues: hold it clear with heat water, don’t scrub it like a maniac, pat it dry. Put a skinny layer of no matter they advised you to make use of. That’s actually it for the preliminary therapeutic section. Tremendous easy.
What Is Cocoa Butter?
Cocoa butter comes from cocoa beans (yep, the identical beans that make chocolate). They ferment the beans, dry them, roast them at excessive temps, then press them to squeeze out the fats. What you get is that this pale yellow stable that’s edible – it’s actually what makes chocolate easy and creamy. The yellowish fats has obtained fatty acids in it – oleic, stearic, palmitic. That’s what makes it tremendous moisturizing in your pores and skin. Plus, it has antioxidants and flavonoids that assist with irritation too.
Advantages Of Cocoa Butter For Tattoos
Yeah cocoa butter works however you gotta know what you’re doing. Not all cocoa butter is similar. You bought pure cocoa butter which is simply the fats from cocoa beans – nothing else. Then you definitely obtained industrial lotions like Palmer’s which have cocoa butter blended with fragrances, preservatives, mineral oil, every kind of additional stuff. Pure or fragrance-free is what you need for tattoos. The industrial stuff with perfume can irritate therapeutic pores and skin. Right here’s why cocoa butter works for tattoos (and pores and skin usually):
- Calms down irritation: Cocoa has anti-inflammatory results – the bioactive compounds downregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines. Your contemporary tattoo is infected – purple, swollen, pissed off. The anti-inflammatory stuff in cocoa butter calms that down.
- Helps pores and skin rebuild: A research confirmed cocoa polyphenols have a optimistic impact on pores and skin restructuring parameters, and that cocoa butter enhances the activity of cocoa polyphenols. Not just moisturizing, it’s actually helping your skin rebuild itself.
- Keeps it moist: The fatty acids lock moisture in. Dry skin cracks, scabs crack, your ink gets fucked up. Cocoa butter keeps everything moist so it heals smooth. Pure cocoa butter enhanced the rate of epidermal migration compared to air-exposed wounds – your pores and skin cells transfer quicker to shut up the wound.
- Fights free radicals: The antioxidants in cocoa – primarily polyphenols and flavonoids – fight free radicals and protect against cell death. Free radicals mess with therapeutic and age your pores and skin. Solar creates tons of them which is why direct daylight kills tattoos.
- Helps with scabbing: No person likes scabs however they’re taking place. Cocoa butter retains them tender as an alternative of onerous and cracked. Much less probability they pull off early and take ink with them.
- Retains previous tattoos trying good: For older tattoos it retains colours vivid and contours sharp. Moisturized pores and skin reveals off your ink higher than dry flaky pores and skin. The protecting barrier shields your tattoo from environmental crap that fades it over time.
Does Cocoa Butter Clog Pores?
Cocoa butter scores a 4 on the comedogenic scale. That’s the size that measures if one thing clogs pores. Goes from 0 to five, 5 being worst. Cocoa butter is rated 4 which suggests it’s excessive on the pore clogging scale. Received oily pores and skin or acne-prone pores and skin? Cocoa butter in your face may break you out. In your tattoo although? Relies upon the place the tattoo is. Face tattoo and oily pores and skin – perhaps skip cocoa butter. Arm tattoo and dry pores and skin – you’re most likely fantastic. Delicate pores and skin folks gotta watch out too. Even pure cocoa butter won’t be just right for you. Do a patch check first.
Associated: Which Skincare Ingredients Are Comedogenic?
When To Use Cocoa Butter on Your Tattoo
Some tattoo artists say wait until your tattoo stops scabbing earlier than you utilize cocoa butter. Best to wait until your tattoo has finished scabbing over and started to peel. First few days use no matter your artist gave you. Often Aquaphor or some tattoo balm. Don’t use cocoa butter on a weeping tattoo. As soon as the scabbing section is finished and it begins peeling, that’s when cocoa butter can are available in.
We’re speaking like per week to 10 days in earlier than you turn to cocoa butter. Possibly longer relying on how your tattoo’s therapeutic. Your artist will let you know primarily based in your particular ink. Maintain your tattoo out of direct daylight whereas it heals. After it’s healed cocoa butter offers some safety however you continue to want precise sunscreen.
How To Use Cocoa Butter on Your Tattoo
- If you’re prepared to make use of it, apply skinny layers. Don’t cake it on. Little goes a great distance with these items.
- Apply it 2-3 occasions a day. Morning, noon, night time works. Or simply at any time when your pores and skin feels dry.
- Wash your arms first. Don’t put soiled arms in your therapeutic tattoo. Scoop out a small quantity – like pea-sized for a medium tattoo. Heat it up between your arms so it melts a bit. Then gently rub it into your tattooed space.
- Don’t scrub or rub onerous. Simply easy it on until it’s absorbed. Your pores and skin shouldn’t look shiny or greasy after. If it does, you used an excessive amount of.
- For older healed tattoos you need to use it at any time when. A part of your common skincare routine. Retains your ink trying contemporary and your pores and skin tender.
Greatest Substances For Tattoo Care
How does cocoa butter fare in comparison with different man-made and pure elements for correct aftercare?
- Petroleum jelly: Most artists suggest this primary. It’s pure, doesn’t have components, creates a protecting layer. Not comedogenic though it’s occlusive. Works nice for preliminary therapeutic.
- Shea butter: Much less more likely to clog pores than cocoa butter. Shea butter has a comedogenic ranking of 0 in comparison with cocoa butter’s 4. Good different in the event you’re apprehensive about breakouts.
- Coconut oil: Additionally scores 4 on comedogenic scale. Similar pore-clogging threat as cocoa butter. Some folks like it, some folks get away.
- Aloe vera: Anti-inflammatory, soothing, good for therapeutic. Not as moisturizing as cocoa butter however gentler.
- Tattoo balms: Often a mixture of elements designed particularly for tattoos. Typically have cocoa butter, shea butter, oils, nutritional vitamins. Good possibility as a result of they’re formulated for this precise objective.
Cocoa Butter For Older Tattoos
As soon as your tattoo’s totally healed – we’re speaking a month or extra – cocoa butter is nice for upkeep. Retains your pores and skin tender, colours vibrant, strains sharp. Use it usually as a part of your skincare. Doesn’t need to be day by day however common use helps. Moisturized pores and skin = higher trying tattoos long run. Solar safety remains to be the largest factor although. Cocoa butter helps a bit however get precise sunscreen on there in the event you’re gonna be in direct daylight.
The Backside Line
Is cocoa butter good for tattoos? Yeah. However use the correct on the proper time. Contemporary tattoo – wait until scabbing’s executed, use pure or fragrance-free cocoa butter, skinny layers. Healed tattoo – no matter cocoa butter lotion works in your pores and skin. Oily or acne-prone pores and skin – perhaps skip it or simply apply it to tattoos not in your face. Hearken to your tattoo artist first. They know your state of affairs higher than anybody.
