Tattoos and Lush: From Healing to Maintenance and Everything in Between

Hi!
Welcome back to my blog!
Today, I'm going to be touching on Lush products that are good for tattoos. From healing to maintenance I'm going to make this a comprehensive guide to which products Lush offers are best for what time in a tattoos life.


Disclaimer: So, a big question a lot of my friends ask me is... can I use Lush products to heal my fresh tattoos. As a general rule, you need to treat a tattoo like an open wound. It needs to be clean, dry, and moisturized with something that isn't going to inflame it. In general, I don't recommend most Lush products for the first 1-2 weeks of healing. Even their "unscented products" do have some kind of light scent and essential oils in them (e.g Dream Cream). Please note that in this post when I say healing I am talking about the 3rd week through about the second month and not the first two weeks. Always follow the aftercare instructions of your tattoo artist. Now, onto the products!


1. Dream Cream



This is probably the lightest body lotion that Lush makes and is formulate for use with sensitive skin. This product includes cocoa butter, oat milk, and olive oil for a calming and soothing experience. Now, I know that many people online suggest using this as a lotion for healing during the first two weeks of a tattoo. However, I do not recommend this. Dream Cream, although made for sensitive skin and to soothe it is NOT unscented. Dream Cream includes essential oils including chamomile and lavender which should not be used on a new tattoo. However, past the two week mark I have used this on my own tattoos. At the two week mark to about the second month I never like to use anything too heavy and Dream Cream is the perfect in-between!








2. Sleepy Body Lotion

This is a great cult classic product that is scented like the Twilight bath bomb and shower gel. Full of almond oil and jojoba oil this is not only moisturizing but also is the trick for those who can't fall asleep. It's a sweet lavender scent that includes Ylang Ylang oil and Tonka along with the lavender to help compliment sweet dreams. While this shouldn't be put ON your tattoo, I recommend this for those who are having trouble sleeping. With my first tattoo, I was in pain and it was very hard to get comfortable. When I got my thigh done, i couldn't sleep under the blanket and I was uncomfortable for the first whole week. This lotion did the trick to calm me down and help me fall asleep despite the pain and discomfort of that first week with a new tattoo.


3. Elbow Grease

A new product to North American stores, Lush has released their elbow grease moistruizing oil fianlly in black pot form! This was a balm they specifially relaesed in the UK for keeping tattos bright and was only pakcaged in a cling film esque material. However, now that it's in a black pot those of us in NA can get our hands on it withough it melting. Elbow Grease is a scented cream that is packed with super moisturizing ingrediants including Coconut Oil, Soya Oil, and Capuacu Oil. It is also a sweet citrust scent that is obtianed through an infusion of neroli oil and orange flower. It is complimented by sandalwood and ylang ylang oils. This is a balm that is meant to be hydratign to the skin and alos brightening for tattoos. Use this on healed tattoos to keep the colors from fading away and make your black anf grey pieces pop. The smell is gorgeous and it can also be used on any part of the body that is extremely dry due to the beneficial oils and butters.




4. Vegelene

This is an all-purpose balm that is exclusive to Lush Oxford Street. However, like SuperTramp, you can order this product online under "All Exclusives" on the Lush Kitchen website. This is a small, travel friendly tin of balm that is made of only three ingredients: jojoba oil, canililla wax, and rose oil. This balm is great for chapped lips and dry elbows, but also tattoos in winter. My ankle pieces dries out a lot during the cold months and Vegelene is a life saver. I find that balms like this stick to tattoos more effectively than lotion and act as a protective barrier while it moisturizes. Also with only 3 ingredients, this has to be one of the most natural products that Lush makes. Looking for one that's not an exclusive? Ultrabalm is available in all stores and is an all purpose balm, just with more ingredients (but still natural) and comes in a palm sized tin.



5. Butterball

Again, this is a product for after your tattoo has healed and you can submerge yourself in the water. Butterball is an affordable little bath bomb full of moisture. This is a lightly scented balm with musk and Ylang Ylang oil and provides a slightly cream color to the bath. While this may not give you luscious bath art, its moisturizing properties are incredible. Full of chunked cocoa butter, they dissolve into the bath to make it feel like you're bathing in body lotion. This is great for those with tattoos that need heavy moisture because they have chronic dry skin. The piece on my own ankle tends to dry out and look crusty by the time February rolls around, and this balm smooths and softens my skin and makes that piece in particular look so much better.








For those with tattoos looking for a new winter regimen or a newbie who wants to know how to keep tattoos fresh and vibrant, these 5 Lush products will do the trick. Remember, never use a scented lotion or balm to heal your tattoos and avoid bathing, pools, and oceans until the tattoo has healed. For more questions regarding tattoo healing always talk to your artist. To learn more about the product listed here visit: lush.com

Happy Reading!
-Kendra :)

*Picture belong to me or taken directly off of the Lush US website*