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.
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.
