Beauty Products That Are Bad for Your Tattoos
By Ink’d Outlaws Tattoo Studio – Kingsport, TN
You spent good money on your tattoo.
You sat through the session.
You followed aftercare.
And then… your everyday beauty routine slowly starts fading it.
A lot of people don’t realize that certain skincare and beauty products can absolutely wreck your tattoo over time, especially during the healing phase. If you want your ink to stay crisp, bold, and vibrant, here’s what to watch out for.
1. Chemical Sunscreens (Without Proper Coverage)
Let’s start with the big one.
Sun exposure is the #1 reason tattoos fade. But even some sunscreens can be irritating if your tattoo is still healing.
Avoid:
Sprays with high alcohol content
Chemical sunscreens on fresh tattoos
Skipping sunscreen altogether once healed
Why it matters:
UV rays break down tattoo pigment over time. If you live here in Kingsport, TN, you know summer sun can be intense. Once your tattoo is fully healed, use a quality broad-spectrum sunscreen daily on exposed ink.
2. Fragranced Lotions & Body Butters
We get it. You want to smell good.
But heavy fragrances and perfumed lotions can:
Irritate healing skin
Causes redness or itching
Interfere with proper healing
During healing, stick to fragrance-free, gentle moisturizers. Once healed, you can go back to your normal products, but remember that overly harsh formulas can still dry out your skin and dull your tattoo.
3. Harsh Exfoliants & Body Scrubs
Sugar scrubs. Salt scrubs. Chemical exfoliants.
All of them can gradually fade tattoos.
Avoid using on:
Fresh tattoos (absolutely not)
Recently healed tattoos (first 4–6 weeks)
Over-exfoliating strips the top layer of skin, and that’s where your tattoo pigment lives. Occasional gentle exfoliation on healed tattoos is fine, but aggressive scrubbing will shorten your tattoo’s lifespan.
4. Self-Tanners & Spray Tans
Self-tanners aren’t “bad,” but they can make your tattoo look muddy or uneven.
On fresh tattoos? Hard no.
On healed tattoos? Use with caution.
Spray tans can:
Dry out your skin
Settle unevenly into detailed line work
Temporarily dull fine line tattoos
If you love tanning products, moisturize well and test lightly around your tattoo first.
5. Retinol & Strong Active Skincare (Especially Near Tattoos)
If you use:
Retinol
Tretinoin
Glycolic acid
Salicylic acid
These products speed up skin cell turnover. That’s great for acne, not great for tattoo longevity if used directly over tattooed areas long term.
Over time, aggressive skincare can cause:
Faster fading
Blurred fine lines
Loss of crisp detail
Be mindful of where you apply strong actives, especially if you have delicate script or fine line work.
6. Makeup on Fresh Tattoos
Yes, people try this.
Do not put foundation, body makeup, or concealer over a healing tattoo. It traps bacteria and can cause irritation or infection.
Wait until your tattoo is fully healed before applying any cosmetic products to that area.
7. Petroleum-Based Products (Overuse)
A thin layer of ointment during early healing? Fine.
But overdoing petroleum products can:
Suffocate the skin
Slow healing
Pull excess ink
Less is more during aftercare. Follow your artist’s instructions, not TikTok trends.
The Bigger Picture: Healthy Skin = Better Tattoos
Your tattoo lives in your skin.
If your skin is dry, irritated, or over-processed, your tattoo won’t look its best.
To keep your tattoo looking fresh:
Stay hydrated
Use gentle, fragrance-free skincare
Avoid harsh exfoliation
Wear sunscreen daily
Moisturize consistently
Especially here in the Tri-Cities area, where we see strong sun in summer and dry skin in winter, consistent skincare matters.
Final Thoughts
Most tattoos don’t fade because of “bad ink.”
They fade because of daily habits.
Your beauty routine shouldn’t sabotage your artwork. A little awareness goes a long way toward keeping your tattoo bold for years.
If you’re ever unsure about a product, bring it up at your next appointment or stop by Ink’d Outlaws in Kingsport, TN. We’d rather answer questions than fix preventable problems later.