Tattoo numbing cream is applied prior to getting your tattoo and the good stuff can last for a handful of hours making the tattooing process a lot less distressing. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of the top creams for your next session.

Best Tattoo Numbing Creams Reviewed

1. Painless Tattoo Co. Numbing Cream

The first thing that leaps out is the ease of use. Apply it to your skin, wait for a short while, and voilà—you’re all set for a pain-free inking experience! The brilliant thing about Painless Tattoo Numbing Cream is its ability to bring down the barriers between you and that dream tattoo you’ve been pining for.

From my personal experience, what stands out most is the undeniable sense of relief it provides. Picture this: enjoying the sensation of the artist at work, fully immersed in the moment, without the persistent, distracting discomfort that may have marred previous tattoo experiences. This product truly redefines the process, allowing you to focus on the joy of self-expression instead of the fear of pain.

Pros

Longest-lasting effect (up to 4 hours)
Highest percentage of non-prescription active ingredients
Multiple uses – laser hair removal, tattoo removal, cosmetic tattooing, piercings, etc.

Cons

On the pricier side but absolutely worth it!

2. Tattoo Numbing Cream 5% Lidocaine Topical Anesthetic

NumbSkin topped the charts as our very favorite tattoo numbing cream for a few reasons. Firstly, it contains the maximum allowable non-prescription amount of lidocaine (5 percent) which means you are working with a powerful cream. In addition, the effects of the cream seem to last longest with this product than with other comparable products. The effects last four hours while, on average, numbing cream efficiency sits at around the two hour mark.

Ingredients: Lidocaine 4%, benzethonium Chloride 0. 25%, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Glycerin , Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Menthoxypropanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Water.

Pros:

Cruelty-free
Longest-lasting effect (up to 4 hours)
Highest percentage of non-prescription active ingredients
Formulated with aloe which has anti-inflammatory properties

Cons:

Quite expensive

3. Inked Inspired – Premium Tattoo Numbing Cream

Ink Inspired was a numbing cream designed specifically with tattoos in mind. Not only does it have the highest non-prescription percentage of lidocaine, but it also includes Arnica and Emu Oil, which are two ingredients that are known to accelerate tattoo healing times. This means that while the numbing cream is applied prior to getting the tattoo, the healing benefits will continue once it’s complete.

Reviewers seem to sing the praises of Ink Inspired as well, saying: “Used this before a 4 hour session and it lasted most of the session. I exfoliated the area to be tattooed and took a long, hot shower to open up and clear the pores as much as possible. Then I slathered on a bunch of the cream. It’s very silky, I like the texture. Then wrap it up in plastic. I applied about 15 before leaving for the shop, so probably an hour before ink. I have already purchased more for another 5 hour session and I would definitely recommend this cream over other products I’ve tried. ”

Ingredients: Lidocaine HCL 5%, Aqua (Deionized Water), Arnica Montana Flower Extract, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Chondroitin Sulfate, Dimethyl Sulfone (MSM), Emu Oil, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucosamine Sulfate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Laureth-7, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Propylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Tea Tree Oil, Triethanolamine.

Pros:

Specifically designed with tattoos in mind
Contains additional ingredients to increase healing time of tattoos
Reasonably priced
Satisfaction guaranteed promise by the company

Cons:

Only lasts two hours

4. Ebanel Lipsomal Numb520 (Maximum Strength)

Ebanel Lipsomal Numb520 Numbing Cream is an especially impressive candidate in the numbing cream ranks because it is infused with aloe vera, vitamin E, and other moisturizing and healing ingredients.

Ingredients: Lidocaine 5%, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Vera), Benzyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Cholesterol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Lecithin, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Propylene Glycol, Purified Water, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Trideceth-6, Triethanolamine

Pros:

Exceptionally strong during its peak time
Aloe vera and vitamin E infused
Cruelty-free
cGMP Certified
Inexpensive

Cons:

Very small container
Peak effects only last an hour

5. Zensa Topical Anaesthetic

Zensa markets itself as being the “most natural numbing cream on the market”, being exceptionally cautious about the ingredients that go into its formula. It also contains vitamin E which is known to have anti-inflammatory properties which is essential to the healing process of a tattoo. In addition, it has one of the longest shelf lives of all the numbing creams on our list, boasting that it will continue to work for up to three years of usage.

Reviewers love this product, saying, “This worked SO WELL I couldn’t even feel the needle, only the vibration of the machine. I could definitely feel the tiny spots where I hadn’t put the cream and thought I wouldn’t be able to handle it, but then back to the numb areas. Truly amazing! I have already recommended this to people, and have told people I could get my whole body covered in tattoos as long as I have this cream. Also, my arm was still numb 5 hours after applying it. ”

Ingredients:Lidocaine 5% w/w, Benzyl Alcohol, Carbopol, Lecithin, Propylene Glycol, Vitamin E Acetate, Purified Water.

Pros: