Tattoo Balm - feedback and/or sharing

[dmcgee5034]

I’ve been testing and adjusting a recipe to make a tattoo balm I’m happy with for friends and family. I have zero tattoos but DH has 2 so he’s my tester. I been reading several ingredient lists for tattoo balms and have made this version a few times. It feels really nice and makes tattoos look better than without it - move vibrant, I’d say. I’m open to suggestions to help improve it, or to sharing, if anyone is interested. This recipe feels like a modified and enhanced lotion bar: 33% waxes, 33% butters, 32% oil, 1% tocopherols T-50, and 1% fragrance.

31% Beeswax
2% Caranuba wax
11% Shea Butter
22% Cocoa Butter
32% Calendula infused Sunflower oil (I did 1/2 cup by volume calendula petals in 5.25oz sunflower oil, infusing for 3 weeks)
1% T-50
1% FO

Heat first 5 ingredients over a double boiler (bane-marie) stirring frequently until all ingredients are fully melted, which will be around 187f since the Caranuba wax has such a high melting point, but not over 200f. Remove from heat, add last 2 ingredients as long as temp is below the flashpoint of your FO. Slowly stir well and pour into twist up containers or tins. Let sit undisturbed until completely cool.

A few notes:
I think I could add the T-50 with the first 5 ingredients, but I don’t think it’s hurting anything that I’m adding it off the heat with the FO.
I let these “cure” for about a week before I label them and hand them out.
I might test out swapping the percents of Shea and Cocoa Butters, since Cocoa Butter is so darn pricey now. I’m lucky to still be nursing a 10 pound box I got last year, so I’ve been immune to the cost, but my box will run out at some point.

Photos: a popular tattoo balm ingredient list that has given me some tips, and a photo of the balms I made today scented with WSP Eros dup.

 

[lou]

I use lavender & Tea Tree essential oils in tatoo/piercing balm. Both are antibacterials.

 

[Nona'sFarm]

Looks like a lovely balm. Let us know how DH likes it. I would probably use calendula infused SAO instead of sunflower, because SAO is considered so gentle for skin. But to be honest, I haven't spent any time researching sunflower oil's benefits to the skin.

 

[Firefly24]

I’ve been testing and adjusting a recipe to make a tattoo balm I’m happy with for friends and family. I have zero tattoos but DH has 2 so he’s my tester. I been reading several ingredient lists for tattoo balms and have made this version a few times. It feels really nice and makes tattoos look better than without it - move vibrant, I’d say. I’m open to suggestions to help improve it, or to sharing, if anyone is interested. This recipe feels like a modified and enhanced lotion bar: 33% waxes, 33% butters, 32% oil, 1% tocopherols T-50, and 1% fragrance.

31% Beeswax
2% Caranuba wax
11% Shea Butter
22% Cocoa Butter
32% Calendula infused Sunflower oil (I did 1/2 cup by volume calendula petals in 5.25oz sunflower oil, infusing for 3 weeks)
1% T-50
1% FO

Heat first 5 ingredients over a double boiler (bane-marie) stirring frequently until all ingredients are fully melted, which will be around 187f since the Caranuba wax has such a high melting point, but not over 200f. Remove from heat, add last 2 ingredients as long as temp is below the flashpoint of your FO. Slowly stir well and pour into twist up containers or tins. Let sit undisturbed until completely cool.

A few notes:
I think I could add the T-50 with the first 5 ingredients, but I don’t think it’s hurting anything that I’m adding it off the heat with the FO.
I let these “cure” for about a week before I label them and hand them out.
I might test out swapping the percents of Shea and Cocoa Butters, since Cocoa Butter is so darn pricey now. I’m lucky to still be nursing a 10 pound box I got last year, so I’ve been immune to the cost, but my box will run out at some point.

Photos: a popular tattoo balm ingredient list that has given me some tips, and a photo of the balms I made today scented with WSP Eros dup.
View attachment 78887

This sounds like a great product.

 

[AliOop]

I'd be concerned about adding any FO or EO to broken skin, which would include newly-tattooed skin. I don't believe most of them are safe for that. Some infused ingredients are not either; arnica comes to mind, for instance. It's great on bruises, but can cause an excruciating burning sensation if applied to broken skin.

 

[Firefly24]

I'd be concerned about adding any FO or EO to broken skin, which would include newly-tattooed skin. I don't believe most of them are safe for that. Some infused ingredients are not either; arnica comes to mind, for instance. It's great on bruises, but can cause an excruciating burning sensation if applied to broken skin.

True, I don't have any tattoos but friends & family do. I now think that FO or EO would burn. The formula still seems good. Has anyone here made & sold a tattoo balm??

 

[dmcgee5034]

Good point on the fresh tattoos and FO! I will add a disclaimer that this is not for new tattoos - this is an existing tattoo product to moisturize and make them look more vibrant. Thanks for the comments and advice - I would not have thought of that warning!

 

[BritS]

My husband owns a tattoo shop. We don’t use any products for healing that contain fragrance oil. If it’s post healing, then that’s fine.

 

[JillGat]

Good point on the fresh tattoos and FO! I will add a disclaimer that this is not for new tattoos - this is an existing tattoo product to moisturize and make them look more vibrant. Thanks for the comments and advice - I would not have thought of that warning!

Lavender oil, especially at the low percentage used in a lotion bar, is not harmful on broken skin. In fact there was a study showing that lavender EO mixed with a carrier oil can speed healing of wounds.