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My Honest Experience Testing 3 Tattoo Numbing Creams (2025 Update)

Oct 9, 2025

When I booked my 6-hour forearm tattoo session, I was honestly nervous about the pain.
A few friends told me to try numbing cream — some swore by it, others said it doesn’t work at all.
So, I decided to test a few myself before the big day.

Over two weeks, I tried three different tattoo numbing creams on small areas.

This post isn’t sponsored — just my honest experience and notes from someone who really wanted to survive a long session without crying.

1️⃣ How I Tested Them

I tested each cream on different parts of my body (inner arm, leg, wrist) to see how my skin reacted.
Here’s the routine I followed every single time:

Clean and dry the area first.
Apply a thick layer — about 2 to 3mm.
Cover it with plastic wrap (cling film).
Wait for around 60–90 minutes before wiping it off.

Then I checked how long the numbing lasted and whether it caused any irritation.

2️⃣ The Results

Cream	Numbing Duration	Skin Reaction	Notes
Local brand	~45 minutes	Slight itching	Faded too fast for long tattoos
Amazon brand	~1.5 hours	No irritation	Worked okay but didn’t last the full session
Artist-recommended cream	3+ hours	No reaction	The only one that really held up

The biggest surprise was how much the wrapping time mattered.
If I left it on for at least an hour, the numbing effect lasted way longer.

3️⃣ What I Learned (So You Don’t Have to Suffer 😅)

Don’t apply it on broken or freshly shaved skin — it’ll sting.
The thicker the layer, the better the effect.
Always wrap it properly. The plastic film traps heat and helps the cream absorb.
Wait at least 60 minutes; 90 is even better for large tattoos.

4️⃣ The One I Ended Up Sticking With

After trying all three, I kept using the third one — the artist’s recommendation.
It consistently lasted over three hours, didn’t irritate my skin, and made long sessions so much easier.

I’ve used it for both tattoos and small cosmetic treatments (like microblading) and had zero issues.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

Everyone’s skin is different. Always do a small patch test before using any numbing product — especially if you have sensitive skin.
Avoid using numbing creams if you’re pregnant, have respiratory conditions, or any open wounds.
And definitely follow your tattoo artist’s advice first.

Final Thoughts

Getting tattooed will always hurt a little, but if there’s a safe way to take the edge off, why not?
Just make sure you’re using something reliable that doesn’t mess with your skin or the ink.

I’ll keep updating this post if I test new formulas again in the future.
If you’ve tried any other numbing creams that actually worked (or totally failed), I’d love to hear your experience in the comments below.