The Best Numbing Cream For Tattoo – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

“I can’t promise it won’t hurt…” -- that was the answer of my first tattoo artist, and I remember thinking to myself: “Oh, come on! We’re in the 21st century, so there must be a way!”

​Don’t get me wrong-- I respect the process of cleaning the soul through the experience. But Oh, that feeling of the little needle penetrating the skin!

I want to confess I have become such a tattoo-lover-freak, that nothing can scare me away from getting inked!

But anyway, it’s not the best sensation in the world. If I can make it possible just to sit back and relax during the process, why not?

​I was so thrilled when our team was assigned to create a compilation of the top five best numbing creams for tattoos.

How did I feel about that? My best advice? There’s no need to hesitate, because all you can lose from trying any of these, is some degree of pain.

A Quick Overview: Our Top Picks of the Best Numbing Creams for Tattoo

The UberNumb 5% Lidocaine Topical Anesthetic Cream is our favorite pick for this selection. We like it for the quick absorption, durable pain-resistance, and simplicity of the active ingredients. The added Triethanolamine helps for the better mixing up of the compounds.

What follows next on our list is the Aspercreme Pain Relieving Creme With Lidocaine. After using this one, we like how it aids to leave the skin soft and away from inflammation with the assistance of Dimethicone and Aloe Vera.

Our third best choice is the Vasocaine Numbing Spray Painless Anesthetic Numb. We find this one to be a superb companion to have around during the ink sessions. It helps to numb the pain after the skin has already been open.

The Doctor Recommended Fast Penetration Pain Relief Cream conquers our fourth position. We love that it makes use of a carefully selected blend of ingredients. All of these show a very low toxicological rating, which we find a huge benefit.

And lastly, we decided to include the Lanacane Cream, Pain & Intense Itch, Maximum Strength. We didn’t get the ultimate numbing experience with that one, but we find it very helpful for covering small, delicate tattoo areas. It’s also unique due to the absence of Lidocaine and the presence of 20% Benzocaine.

5 Proven Tips on How to Prepare for a Tattoo to Avoid Pain

1. Stay Away From Caffeine at Least 2 Days Prior

Caffeine in all its forms triggers the nervous system by making it highly susceptible to outer stimuli.

The more days you can restrict from caffeine before getting inked, the better. Thus, the nerves will be much calmer and act like cool dudes, instead of annoying cry-babies.

2. Eat a Good Low-carb Meal

Foods high in fast carbohydrates, such as chips, bread, sweets, and fizzy drinks also make the nervous system more prone to over-reacting.

The same rule as with caffeine applies to our eating habits. So the more we can avoid deeply fried, and junk food, the more relaxed is our mind going to be.

The straight-before-tattoo meal is also crucially significant, as it helps to immediately lower anxiety. So don’t head to the studio with an empty stomach!

3. Drink Plenty of Water

Water helps to transport nutrients and keep the blood flow speedy and easy. The more hydrated is our organism, the better the chances we are less prone to the pain.

Start to increase the water intake at least a week prior your session and get a minimum of eight glasses per day.

4. Practice Deep Breathing

That’s such a handy method, that I am wondering why so many people seem to underestimate it. Taking deep, controlled breath makes the oxygen flow to the brain effortless.

So to say, it all starts with the head.

5. Control Your Mind and Emotional State

Emotions can increase or decrease the level of perception by more than 50%!

Picture something beautiful, focus on that tattoo you have always wanted, picture yourself walking around and smiling.

It’s so funny how the dreadful moments just pass away, that we can even end up missing that adrenaline.

All You Need to Know About the Precautions on Using Numbing Creams

Back in 2007, the FDA published a health advisory on the topical use of anesthetics. The primary concern regards the significance of avoiding some severe after-reactions.

We must have a clear understanding of the application of numbing creams because the anti-pain agents can pass into the bloodstream. That can be life-threatening.

We don’t want to sound like old professors, but we believe that everything regarding our health requires an ultimate apprehension.

Below are our best tips on how to avoid the side effects of numbing tattoo creams.

1. Read the Instruction List Carefully and Follow it Straight

As each product is different, and so are we, don’t rely solely on your friends’ experience.

Moreover, always check the content of the cream you choose and keep the instructions list handy.

Consult your physician to make sure any of the compounds won’t interact with your current health state.

Explain to your doctor about any other supplements you are using or have been using back to a month’s period.

2. NEVER Apply a Numbing Cream on Irritated Skin

That also means NOT using the same cream for trying to relieve the pain after the ink session. Irritated skin makes it so easy for the ingredients to seep deeply through the surface and fall into touch with blood.

3. Do Not Leave the Anesthetic on for an Extended Period

That might sound like a reasonable idea, and though it is admirably cute, it is also dangerously naive.

As mentioned above, the instructions of a certain product are clear enough on the time we should leave the treatment on.

Experimenting with that part can put our well-being under threat.

4. Put on Just the Appropriate Amount

Applying too much, or using the cream on a larger area than the one we want to insensate will only create a total mess.

Just remember there is no place for playing around with these products. We only want to use these exactly where we want to achieve the effect.

We appreciate your time, so we don’t want to lose any more precious minutes on sweet-talking.

Let’s head out to the leading characters of our story-- the top five of the best numbing creams for tattoos.

Product Reviews: Our Top Five Choices of the Best Numbing Cream for Tattoo

#1 - UberNumb 5% Lidocaine Topical Anesthetic Cream

Our top choice of the best numbing creams for tattoos is the UberNumb 5% Lidocaine Topical Anesthetic Cream.

At first, we noticed that the consistency differs much from the typical creams. It is somewhat thin and doesn’t resemble much a lotion.

That means you may need to apply a few layers, instead of a single one.

But with the maximum allowed content of Lidocaine without a prescription, we have to admit the numbing effect is considerable.

Another significant trait that catches our attention is the presence of Deionized Water. Deionized Water is free of toxins, microbes, and impurities.

It also makes a better transporter for the rest of the ingredients and ensures a deeper penetration of the active compounds.

Such a small but crucial detail to make a numbing cream work better!

While testing the cream, we also notice that the more rubbing aids much for the proper absorption and reveals the full benefits.

The second best choice for this category is the Aspercreme Pain Relieving Creme With Lidocaine.

For this one, our team has some mixed feelings because it did help to relieve the sensation of pain, yet it did not seem to have a very distinguishing numbing effect.

However, we believe the significant part is that it does a decent job to calm down the feeling of the little needle penetrating.

For best results, don’t forget to use a plastic wrap on the area you are treating. That will help the cream seep deeply without interacting with the surrounding environment.

Also, make sure to have a strict appointment with your tattoo artist. If he/she gets late, or wastes time to assemble the equipment, that will reduce the efficacy of the cream.

Apart from the 4% Lidocaine, we also like the presence of Aloe Vera. It can work well in synergy with the rest of the ingredients to help soothe the skin and diminish irritation.

Our third top pick for this roundup is the Vasocaine Numbing Spray Painless Anesthetic Numb.

We couldn’t help it but include this one as part of our selection, even though it doesn’t come in the form of cream.

Also, this one highly differs from all the rest on our list, because you can use it during the tattoo session.

That means the skin must be broken first, so it can help to decrease unpleasant sensations.

We noticed this is not the type of product to keep acting for hours ahead.

However, we tested it in combination with a good numbing cream before. We conclude that it is very comfortable, relaxing, and handy to have it around while getting inked.

Thus, any time we start to feel intolerable pain, we can just spray it over, and the process can get much more enjoyable.

The fourth product that comes along for our selection of the best numbing creams for tattoos is the Doctor Recommended Fast Penetration Pain Relief Cream.

We were very delighted to come across another robust numbing treatment with 5% Lidocaine to its formulation.

Our impression with this one is that after applying an even, thick layer and covering it up with saran wrap, it can help to diminish pain for up to three hours.

Of course, we are all different, and experiences always vary. We think that somehow it works better for covering bigger areas.

Another beneficial conclusion we made after testing it out is that its action really depends on the quantity of hair on the body.

That’s probably logical to assume since it can penetrate more effortlessly if the zone is clean and smooth from anything excessive getting in the way of the cream.

We like the inclusion of Allantoin as it is an essential element to speed up recovery and diminish possible irritation.

And our last discovery for this category is the Lanacane Cream, Pain & Intense Itch, Maximum Strength.

We decided to include this product because of all the people who might want to have an alternative to Lidocaine.

This cream contains 20% Benzocaine as an active ingredient.

The National Library of Medicine regards this compound for its efficacy in relieving itching, pain, and numbing skin before medical procedures.

When testing it out, we just came to remember what the old-school cosmetics is all about.

Even though we didn’t feel a very distinct numbing, we have to admit it did help to relieve the intensity of the sensations.

However, it is best to keep in mind that its primary purpose is to calm itchiness and not stiff the skin. But the intriguing part is that sometimes it’s not just all about the numbness.

If you intend to get only a small tattoo, Benzocaine can help for its ability to treat minor cuts, discomfort, and wounds.

The Bottom Line

Tattoos have both a broad historical and personal value. Every happy tattoo-owner knows that it takes some courage, desire, imagination, and sacred motivation that lead to the tattoo saloon.

Being lucky to live in the 21st century, we believe there is nothing wrong to take advantage of the modern ways to make a tattoo session more tolerable and conscious.

After a thorough investigation, we came up with this list of the top five best numbing creams for tattoos, and the UberNumb 5% Lidocaine Topical Anesthetic Cream becomes our favorite choice.

Even though experience with this delicate type of cosmetics widely varies from one individual to another, we find the most painless session to be the one with the help of our winner.

We have chosen all the rest of our best-loved picks accordingly, so there is a little something for everyone who wants to feel calm and enjoy a more tension-less inking.