10 Best Tattoo Numbing Creams Reviews in 2021

Let’s state the fact. Tattoos are admirable. It adds another layer of beauty and attractiveness to your body. But, “pain” is the secret behind it you’ve to pay the price. The sharp tattooing needles hurt when getting into your skin. So, you need exceptional endurance to sail through a tattooing session. Fortunately, there is a way to deal with this pain. Yes. by getting the best tattoo numbing creams.

Tattoo numbing creams have anesthetic elements that act as pain relievers during and after the session.  However, not every product labeled as numbing cream is suitable for tattoos application. Some can even hurt or erase your tattoo ink and collapse your beauty dream.

But, how do I know which are the best numbing creams for tattooing? Certainly, this might be the question revolving in your mind at the moment. We understand your worries. As experts in the tattooing field, we don’t want you to make regrettable mistakes.

For this reason, we checked and analyzed the popular numbing creams in the market. We then prepared detailed reviews of 10 best numbing cream for tattooing. Also, we went another step to provide a buying guide and FAQs answer to ease your buying process.

Is It Necessary to Numb Before Tattooing?

The answer to this question is yes. The numbing creams are pain relievers and prevent inflammation in tattooing areas.

When you apply numbing cream before the session, it creates a numbing effect. This effect reduces pain and itches allowing you to get tattoos without yelling. There are several topical anesthetic numbing creams sold over-the-counter you can use for this purpose.

However, you need to consult your tattooing artist and doctor for directions. Improper application of numb creams before the process poses adverse health risks to the user.

Comparison Chart of 10 Best Numbing Creams for Tattoos

10 Best Tattoo Numbing Creams Reviews

1. Uber Numb for Tattoos

Swelling and pain are common fears for many tattoo lovers.  Maybe you’re in this category. If this is true, Uber Numb is a perfect idea.

This numbing cream is a popular FDA-approved non-prescription anesthetic meaning you can buy it over-the-counter. It has 5% lidocaine making it a powerful pain reliever and absorbs faster on your skin.

Also, it is a topical numbing cream allowing you to apply it before the tattooing session. The cream has a superb numbing effect of 20-25 minutes and lasts for up to 1 hour. As such, you can expect to undergo the inking process without experiencing any pain.

Apart from this, Uber Numb has Vitamin E as one of its components. As you know, Vitamin E is anti-inflammatory enabling you to avoid painful swelling. The vitamin also keeps your skin moisturized eliminating the flake itchy and enhance the recovery process.

Besides, it has a non-oily formula meaning it will not stick on your smart clothes or beddings. The manufacturers ensure that this water-based anesthetic has zero oily residues. Hence, you won’t have greasy feels when you apply it on your skin.

Essentially, being a USA-made product is an assurance of its performance and numbness effects. You can have confidence you won’t experience deadly side effects. Otherwise, you can request a refund if the product fails to offer the best results.

2. Ebanel Numb 520 Tattoo

Ebanel Numb 520 is another best skin numbing cream for tattoos. Like its Uber Numb, it has 5% lidocaine and FDA-approved. So, you can be sure of painless and itchy-free ink sessions. It has exceptional painkilling and tattooing healing results putting it in many tattoo artist hearts.

Likewise, Numb 520 has fast-acting and long-lasting effects. When you apply it on your skin, the numb effects start with 2-3 minutes. The effect reaches its peak in 25 minutes and can last up to 1 hour. Also, it contains other crucial elements such as Aloe Vera, Lecithin, Vitamin E, and others. These essential nutrients nourish, smoothen, and prevent any irritation on your skin. 

In addition, it is a water-based cream which makes it easy to apply. The aspect also eliminates greasy and sticky issues.  So, you can wear your best white dress or sleep on that yellow beddings without worrying about messy stains.

Is it safe your consideration when choosing a numbing cream? Well, if this is the case, Numb 520 is an excellent idea. The product has no-additives or harsh chemicals, making it safe for your skin. The child-resistant cap ensures it does not pose risks to your kids. Also, it is free from cruelty and paraben, ensuring you do not face any health risks.

Apart from this, the cream is odorless. You won’t endure the irritating smell – like is the case with some numbing creams. Its manufacturer – Ebanel Laboratories – have been on this field for 12 years. So, they understand the qualities of the best, safe, and long-lasting numbing cream.

3. Hush Anesthetic Tattoo numbing Gel 

Do you suffer from drying and cracking tattoo? Certainly, this would be a hurtful moment after enduring the pain on your tattoo sessions. Fortunately, Hush numbing gel is here to sort such problems. This anesthetic gel has a unique botanical blend for skin soothing and moisturized. It is one of the few tattoo numbing gel for application before and after the inking session.

This numbing gel has 4% lidocaine and ingredients such as glycerin and propylene glycol for enhanced skin penetration. Plus, it has Aloe Vera which prevents inflammation and redness while fastening the healing process. Also, the manufacturer claims that it is a safe numbing cream for application private parts. So, it is suitable for sensitive areas. However, never dare to apply it on blisters

Besides, it is non-stick and non-oily, so you won’t suffer from stain problems. The aspect makes this numbing gel easy to apply. It has a child-resistant cap so you kids can play with it without any worries. Again, being an FDA-compliant gel guarantees you that you won’t encounter harsh side effects.

Hush tattoo numbing cream has a numbing effects lasts for up to 2 hours. It does not affect your blood circulation or ink. However, the manufacture recommends applying a thick layer and covering with a plastic wrap for the best results.

4. Dr. Numb Tattoo Numbing Cream

Dr. Numb is another effective numbing cream with fast-absorption and pain relief abilities. The cream has a multipurpose formulation that enhances its performance. Unlike many tattoo numbing creams in this review, it has the desensitizing aspect. This way, it ensures you undergo pain-free tattooing sessions.

It is an FDA-approved cream that has 5% lidocaine making it a good option for pre-numbing purposes. The numbing starts within 15 minutes and can last up to 4 hours. Also, Dr. Numb has Vitamin E which is a remedy for inflammation. So, your pierced skin will experience zero swelling and fast healing.

Besides, it contains botanic ingredients such as Carbopol, Propylene, and Lechithin. With these ingredients, this tattooing cream stands out as hypo-allergic. So, you can be sure of a minimized reaction on your skins.

Do you want to have a tattoo in your armpits and other sensitive areas? Certainly, you need a numbing cream that will reduce skin sensitivity in such areas. Dr. Numb is one of the best tattoo numbing cream boots for sensitive skins. The cream dulls the sensitivity aspect and enhances numbing which makes it easy to ink these areas.

For oily and greasy elimination, this product has a 100% cream formulation. It is a water-based cream, so it will not mess up with your clothes or beddings. Overall, it is Canada made products with FDA certification which is a guarantee of its safety. Therefore, you can use it without worries about the possible health dangers.

5. Numb Master 5% Lidocaine

Numb Master is the perfect tattoo numbing cream for sensitive areas. It works efficiently in numbing the dermis of your skin which houses the tattoos. This way, you enjoy a pain-free inking session.

Like many other numbing creams in this list, it has 5% lidocaine making it a superb pain reliever. With this maximum lidocaine concentration, the cream acts as a good option treatment and procedure application.

It has a fast numbing effect which lasts for up to 2 hours. Good to note is that you need to apply it 20 minutes before your tattooing session. What sets apart this product is liposomal technology. This aspect ensures that the numb cream goes directly to the intended skin cells. As a result, it has fast absorption and acting rate.

In addition, Numb Master is a water-based anesthetic cream. Due to this aspect, it is non-oily and non-greasy guaranteeing easy application. Being a non-prescription cream saves you doctor consultation time. All you need is to buy it and apply it to your tattooing area.

Apart from this, the product is FDA-compliant and free from paraben as well as other chemicals and cruelties. Plus, it has a child-resistant packaging. All these aspects are an assurance of its safety for use at home without health risk worries. Overall, the cream has a shelf life of 2 years which gives you value for your money.

6. Organic Shingles Treatment and Relief Cream

Burns and eczemas can be hurtful impacts of the piercing. Instead of the tattoos enhancing your beauty, it might become a painful experience. Fortunately, applying the right numbing cream can eliminate such problems. Here is where Organic Shingles Cream becomes crucial.

This numbing cream has a unique formulation designed for skin healing and pain-relieving. It eliminates all shingles, burn, or bug bites that can hijack your tattooing process.  Also, it is side effect free as it does not have any chemicals. To be specific, this cream does not contain any paraben, sulfate, fragrance, or gluten. As such, you’ll likely face zero side effects when you use it.

For enhanced nourishment and benefits on your skin, organic and natural products are the main ingredients of this cream. Some of these products are Manuka honey and Aloe Vera which as great inflammatory remedies.

Other ingredients include Coconut Oil, Cehami, and Cocoa & Shea Butter which have additional benefits on your skin. Hence, the cream is not only a pain reliever but also helps your skin get essential nutrients.

Besides, it has a well-balanced pH eliminating any irritations and enhancing absorption. Plus, this element helps in skin maintenance and restoration of its natural protective layer. Overall, this organic cream offers more than numbing effects but also benefits your skin.

7. Super Trio Numbing Cream

This numbing cream from Face and Body is another powerful anesthetic for pre-procedure applications. Withbenzocaine, lidocaine, and tetracaine as its active ingredients, it is suitable for sensitive areas.

Also, the cream is a powerful pain killer which help managing itches during the tattooing process. It has a sort numbing duration of between 15-20 minutes and its effects can last up to 1hour. Plus, it has 4% lidocaine which is within the FDA limits for topical anesthetic creams

Besides, Super Trio cream has a multipurpose formulation. It is one of the few numbing creams useful for other purposes than tattooing. For instance, you can use it for permanent makeups. As such, you need to buy one type of numbing cream for all your beautiful art needs. This way, you save money.

In addition, it has a thick texture meaning you do not need to apply several layers on your skin. The manufacturers are professionals who understand the content of anesthetic cream. Hence, you can be certain that the product is reliable and safe.

Overall, Super Trio numbing cream is a US-made product and designed for the same market. So, it is safe, and you can trust that the manufacturers deliver their promise.

8. UltraNumb Anesthetic Skin Numbing Cream

UltraNumb is another reliable anesthetic numbing cream available in the market. It comes with a small jar of 10g. Nonetheless, its size is incomparable to its strength. This numbing cream delivers maximum pain relief during your skin-piercing session. 

Furthermore, it is a multipurpose cream for pain management. UltraNumb cream is a useful option for different makeup pains such as laser hair treatment, piercing, and laser treatment. Hence, it an all-in-one pain management cream which saves your cash.

Like other creams in this review, it is non-oily. It won’t stick on your skin or mess up with your smart outfits and beddings. What sets out this tattoo numbing cream is that it comes with detailed instructions. You’ll find a guide on how to apply it on your tattooing surface. So, you won’t make any overdose mistakes that can have regrettable side effects.

Are you tired of that old tattoo? If this is the case, you need a numbing cream that can help you remove it. Other than numbing your tattooing area, UltraNumb is one other best numbing cream for tattoo removal. Thus, you won’t need other creams as this product will serve both purposes.

Overall, this product ranks among the best tattoo numbing creams with maximum pain relieving. It not only deals with cosmetic and skin piercing pains but also, enhances healing of your tattoos.

9. TOPICAINE 5 Anorectal Numbing Gel

Topicaine 5 is another gel in this best tattoo numbing creams review list. It has 5% lidocaine which is the maximum amount set for non-prescription creams. So, you do not need physician approval to use it. The lidocaine enhances its pain-relieving abilities. As well, this cream has a numbing effect duration of 30 minutes and lasts for up to 2 hours.

In addition to lidocaine, Topicaine 5 has other active ingredients that are beneficial to your skin. The first product is shea butter that nourishes your skin. Also, it has Alpha bisabolol which enhances the tattoo healing. Hence, it helps you get your desired tattoo while adding essential nutrients to your skin.

Furthermore, it has no chemicals or harmful additives meaning no side effects. It is also a non-oily cream making it easy to apply. This aspect assures you that your tattoo will not dry or crack. So, you’ll enjoy your new tattoo as it will come out as you expected.

Unlike other numbing creams, this product is colorless. Its clear color is an assurance that it is pure and no additives that can pose a health risk. For an effective application, the manufacturer provides detailed instructions on how to use this cream. Also, there are instructions on when you need to consult a doctor. As such, you won’t make mistakes that will threaten your health or hurt your skin.

10. H2ocean Nothing Numbing Cream

With an organic formulation, H2ocean Nothing is one of the best numbing creams for tattoos without side effects. The cream contains natural ingredients that enhance skin soothing and healing. First of all, it has 4% lidocaine which is a crucial element for pain management. So, you can be sure of pain-free tattooing sessions.

Secondly, H2ocean has organic elements such as beeswax, sea salt, cotton seeds, and golden jojoba seed oil among others. These organic ingredients are anti-bacterial protectant. So, your tattoo wounds will not get any bacterial infections. Also, they reduce irritation, redness, and swelling of your skin after the tattoo sessions. This way, it soothes your skin and boosts the healing process.

Maybe you suffer from bleeding when undergoing the tattooing process. If this is the case, you need a balm or cream that will help you manage it. H2ocean Nothing stands out from others in this best tattoo numbing creams reviews. The product has red sea salt and volcanic clay which prevent bleeding while fastening healing.

As well, it has no petroleum meaning it won’t clog the tattooing machine. It also does not interfere with the texture of your skin. The product is free from fragrance and alcohol which are agents for dryness. So, you can be confident that you won’t have drying or tattoo cracking issues.

Overall, H2ocean Nothing is organic meaning it does not have chemicals and additives. As such, you can be confident that it won’t react with your skin.

What to Look Before Purchasing The Best Tattoo Numbing

Now, you have an idea of what numbing creams are and their importance. You decided to try it on your next tattooing session. When you check across the market, there are hundreds if not thousands of tattoo numbing creams. So, you’re wondering how to distinguish between the poor and quality creams.

Well, we got you. Before purchasing the best tattooing numbing creams, here are several aspects to consider:

Lidocaine Content

Lidocaine is an essential component in the numbing creams. This ingredient is responsible for pain management. Also, it works well with tattoo inks and does not affect the natural acidity of your skin. Most numbing creams for tattoos has a maximum of 5% lidocaine. This content is the FDA set limit for non-prescription anesthetics. However, the higher the lidocaine content, the better.

The Cream Composition

The next thing to consider in a numbing cream is the cream composition. This aspect ranges from the texture and nature of the cream. Some creams contain Vitamin E and other essential active ingredients such as Manuka honey and Aloe Vera. Others will have Shea butter and coconut oils.

While all these are important, always consider non-oily and non-greasy creams. In other words, a cream with a water-based formulation is the best choice. Such creams do not clog the piercing or tattooing machine. Also, it does not stick to your skin, and it is easy to apply. Plus, it prevents dryness, and thus your tattoos do not crack.

Numbing Duration

The overall importance of these creams is the numbing effect. Your cream of choice should offer maximum numbing duration enough for your tattooing session. Most creams in the market have a numbing duration of between 1 hour and 4 hours.

Regardless of the size of your tattoo, a cream with a longer numbing effect would be a good idea. Sucha cream will guarantee pain-free tattooing sessions.

Other Customers’ Sentiments

Unless you’re the first person to test the product, there are other customers who’ve used it before. So, their sentiments, compliments, and complaints can be a good idea when buying a numbing cream.

Before placing your order online or offline, it is vital to take some time on the tattoo numbing cream co reviews. This way, you will have some insights on what to expect when you use a given tattoo numbing cream.

In a word, considering these aspects will help you pick the best numbing cream for tattooing to fit your needs. So, ensure you pay attention to them to earn value for your money.

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How Do Tattoo Numbing Creams Work?

As a first time user, you be wondering does a tattoo numbing creams work. Certainly, it does work. The utmost importance of the numbing creams is the numbing effect. This effect is the assurance of a painless tattooing session. To cause the numbing effect, the creams work in two ways:

First, some creams will reduce pain and others will eliminate it. Some creams trick your brain so that it does not think about the pain. Another type will ensure receptors in the brain do not receive the pain signals. However, all these depend on the agents in your cream.

Some creams have an active agent that will kill your nerves temporarily. This effect leads to a loss of sensation on the skin area you are numbing. Since the nerves are the signal transmitters, your brain will not receive any pain signals. Hence, you won’t experience any pain while on the tattoo needles.

Secondly, numbing creams effect will cause a blood flow restriction. This aspect suspends blood flow on the tattooing area. So, you won’t feel pain for some time. Also, these creams are essential as they prevent bleeding.

This way, the creams lead to a numbing effect that helps in eliminating or reducing pain.

Does Numbing Cream Work to Everyone?

Well, not everyone can use the numbing cream. Some people have allergic problems to the active numbing cream agents. As you know, lidocaine and benzocaine form the foundation of the tattoo numbing spray, cream, or gels.  Hence, if your body is allergic to the two components, then the numbing creams are a terrible idea.

Allergic to Skin Numbing Creams! Is it safe to use?

No, if you’re allergic to numbing creams, then, it is not safe to use them. Such an action can lead to regrettable health issues. So, please keep safe by avoiding them altogether. Instead, you should consider other means of pain management. For instance, opting for oral pain killers would be a good idea.

How to Use & Apply Tattoo Numbing Cream?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In this section, we try to answer some of the frequently asked questions regarding the numbing creams. Probably, you might be having same or similar queries if you’re getting your first tattoo. We did extensive research and consulted tattoo experts to provide you with satisfactory answers. Let’s get down to it.

1. What is the strongest tattoo numbing cream?

Generally, there is no universal tattoo numbing strong cream. The strength of creams varies from person to person. Since the skin sensation differs, one cream might be strong for you while it won’t be the same for another person.

2. Is it bad to put numbing cream on before a tattoo?

No. putting a numbing cream is before a tattoo is a good idea. The essence of these creams is to pain-relieving during the tattooing process. Unless you want to endure the pain and account it as a worth experience doing this is not a bad idea.

3. What is the best skin numbing cream?

Your skin is different from that of another person. For this reason, your best skin numbing cream might not be their choice. As such, the best pick for you depends on your skin. However, it should have the right active numbing ingredients such as lidocaine.

4. Why don’t they numb you before a tattoo?

Well, many tattoo artists and particularly traditional ones view pain as part of the experience. They believe that tattoos are a show of pain endurance and strength. Due to this belief, they won’t numb you before a tattoo to ensure you pay the price.                                                 

5. Can you take painkillers before a tattoo?

Yes and No. you can take painkillers before a tattoo if you’re allergic to numbing creams. The pain killers will help you manage the pain that comes along with the tattoo process. However, if you’ve zero allergies to these products, you should not consider pain killers. The creams are enough to manage or even eliminate any potential pain in the process.

6. What is the best over the counter numbing cream?

Well, with a large number of over-the-counter numbing creams, it can be a challenge for you to pick the best. Nonetheless, considering the content of the cream is the only way to determine if it is fit for you.

As per the FDA requirements, topical anesthetic cream should have not more than 5% lidocaine concentration. Anything beyond this limit requires authorization from a licensed practitioner. So, the best over-the-counter numbing cream is one that is FDA-compliant and certified for non-prescription uses. All the creams in this review meet this requirement. Hence, they fit in the over the counter category.

The Bottom Line

In a word, having a tattoo creates an excellent feeling. It enhances your personality and beauty. But, pain is a central part of the process. For this reason, we presented a detailed review of the best tattoo numbing creams. We aimed at helping you make the right decision and pick a cream that will work for you.

In addition, we have a guide on the numbing creams application as well as the FAQs. The ultimate goal of this guide is to ensure you get all the benefits of the creams. If you went through the article, you know have every information you require.

Now, it is your time to order your preferred cream from the list. Apply it and head on to the tattoo parlor.

Enjoy your numbing moment!