Best Sunblock & Sunscreen For Old & New Tattoos

You must take sun safety seriously. Exposure to the sun can create serious damage to your skin including premature aging and of course, cancer.

If you have a tattoo, wearing a sunblock for tattoos is even more important.

The UV rays can easily cause your tattoo to fade over time at a much quicker rate than those not spending time outdoors.

If your tattoos are light in color, it will fade quicker than those of darker colors, but all colors can and will eventually fade with time.

If you have a new tattoo, it’s generally recommended that you keep it completely covered when in the sun for the first three months.

If you like to enjoy the summer outdoors, consider getting your tattoo done during the cooler months.

After that, you can leave it exposed with a quality sunscreen to protect it.

If you want to enjoy a robust tan without the fear of cancer or tattoo fading, you may want to consider a different route of bronzing the skin other than laying in the sun.

You could always choose to do a sunless tan or spray tan instead.

Provided you use a safe sunscreen, this is a really important part of preserving your ink and keeping it looking good.

Go for a sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or above and apply liberally and often. Even if your tattoo is covered by clothes, it’s safest to get some sunscreen on it anyway.

UV rays have sneaky ways of burning us when we think we’re safe, and tattooed skin is especially vulnerable!

Staying out of the direct sun is recommended for the first two weeks of having a tattoo, so start using sunscreen after this period if you’re going to be spending lots of time outdoors.

It can be tempting to sit out in the sun or go for a swim, especially if you get your tattoo while travelling, but don’t!

Stay strong – it’s much better long-term to give yourself two weeks of no sun exposure, so cut down on the risk by taking a break in the shade.

Remember that you chose to get a tattoo for the rest of your life – two weeks of no sunbathing isn’t really that much to sacrifice for your new, lifelong ink.

As with tattoo lotions, avoid anything with alcohol or petroleum in it, as these ingredients will cause ink to bleed!

In the long-run, sunscreen is recommended to preserve the quality of your tattoo, so keep using it even once your ink is fully-healed.

Remember that you’re making a lifelong commitment by getting a tattoo, so honor that and keep it safe!

Basically – listen to what your tattoo artist says as they’ll know your tattoo best, stay safe in the sun (tattoo or no tattoo!) and remember how important your ink is to you.

Keep it clean, be sensible and enjoy taking lots of photos of it…

When you’re ready to hit the sun and sand, you’ll want the maximum performance sunscreen available so you can readily protect that color on your skin.

Protect your investment and take a look at this great list of sunblock for tattoos.

When it comes to the color guard fade protection stick, it doesn’t get much easier to use.

Simply rub gently over the tattoo, being careful not to go too far over the outline, and you’ll keep the tattoo bright and vibrant for a long time to come.

The tube lasts on average for about 24 months.

Remember, when using this, simply rub gently over the tattoo, being careful not to go too far over the outline, or you’ll end up with a white halo around the tattoo.

The tube lasts on average for about 24 months.

You’re only going to need it on the tattoo itself, be sure you use regular sun protection on the rest of your body.

Many people find this stick has lasted them for years, so don’t let the size fool you.

It also contains a light and pleasant smell, not a typical sunscreen odor.

This tub is 1oz and will last for a long time while providing maximum tattoo protection.

Coppertone offers a photostable, broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection in this stick and it's also hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested.

You’ll want to reapply the sunscreen after 80 minutes in water or prolonged time in the sun to avoid the fading or blurring of your tattoos.

If you’re planning to protect your tattoos from the sun, there are some things you will want to consider before making that purchase.

Use this quick guide to help you navigate my top choices listed above.

Your outermost layer of skin is referred to as the epidermis. UVB rays can damage this layer causing it to either tan or burn.

Below that is the dermis. While the dermis isn’t affected by the UVB rays the UVA rays will penetrate down to this layer and can be associated with premature aging.

To battle the damage of both of these rays, you’ll want complete protection.

Many people don’t want to expose themselves to what they deem to be harmful chemicals.

While most of the options on the market aren't made of entirely natural ingredients, there are some better options available if this is important to you.

Before purchasing, consider what ingredients you’re willing to use and read all labels carefully to ensure that your desires are being fulfilled. If you want a product that's cruelty-free, that's also something you should be able to find on the label.

Do you work in the sun or will you only need protection during vacation?

If you need a daily formula, be sure you pay special attention to moisturizers provided in the formula.

A gentle moisturizer will keep your skin hydrated and allow your tattoo color to remain vibrant and fresh.

A soothing and gentle moisturizer shouldn’t irritate your skin, even during daily use.

A quality moisturizer will keep the colors vibrant and bright for many years in the future.

You may want to consider using after sun moisturizing when returning indoors for maximum effects.

When deciding on the best sunscreen for tattoos, you can now see that there are many aspects to consider.

While the market has a nice selection of products available, there may only be a few that are desirable to you.

Keep in mind that you made a hefty investment by getting a tattoo and it’s worth spending your time and money to protect against future fading.

A little work now will go a long way to providing the optimal color and style down the road.

If you want to hear from an expert about protecting your tattoos from the sun, be sure to check out this YouTube video.