After watching a dear friend of mine go through the trials of skin cancer, I realized how important skincare is and began learning about botanical and natural skincare formulations. Now, I make my own lotions and balms to heal my own collection of tattoos and have done so for several years. Since it works so well for me, I want to offer that same perfect aftercare system to my clients. Using my own formulas means I know exactly what's going on the tattoos I send out the door, and knowing how each ingredient works means that I can stand behind my products with conviction.
The name "Snake Oil Tattoo Balm" is a working title to label my products for the time being (I never got around to naming it and this is all I got right now, hahaha) and a fun reference to the theme of my professional name "Medusa Slays." But worry not, despite the meaning of the idiom Snake Oil, these products do wonders for the skin and your healing tattoo. Don't believe me? Well, you don't have to. You're perfectly able to google the ingredients yourself and make your own opinions. In fact, I've done the research for you.
All products are for topical use and are available for purchase in person only, I do not currently ship or sell products online.
Keep in mind, not every product uses every ingredient. See the labels for their respective ingredient lists.
Water: I should not have to explain why water is good for you, and I won't.
Mango seed butter: Mango (Mangifera indica) seed butter contains mangiferin, a plant compound with antioxidant benefits that has been found to inactivate collagenase and elastase.
Collagenase breaks down naturally occurring collagen and elastase degrades elastin, a protein that’s responsible for the elasticity of skin.
Shea butter: Shea butter is derived from the shea (Butryospermum parkii) plant, and is known for its many highly praised benefits and uses. It works as an emollient that provides moisture, and also has several anti-inflammatory properties. It’s been known to soothe sunburns, redness, irritation, and swelling. Some studies have shown that shea also aids in preventing keloids from forming and lessens the appearance of scars. As a well known agent for soothing scrapes and burns, she is crucial for tattoo aftercare. Not to mention it also is heavy with antioxidants and vitamins A, E, and D.
Cupuaçu Butter: Cupuaçu butter is derived from the cupuaçu fruit, which is native to the Amazon rainforest. It is known for its exceptional moisturizing properties, helping to soften and hydrate the skin. Cupuaçu butter is rich in fatty acids, which can promote skin elasticity and provide a smooth and supple feel.
Calendula infused sunflower oil:
Sunflower oil is a highly absorbent, non-comedogenic carrier oil with a variety of benefits. The large amounts of vitamin E found naturally in the sunflower (Helianthus annuus) provide a natural antioxidant that helps protect the skin from free radicals and the adverse effects from harmful UV rays. The sunflower oil in my products is infused with organic Calendula (Calendula officianalis), which has been a prominent medicinal plant around the world for centuries. The calendula flower has a plethora of medicinal properties, and has been chosen for its anti-inflammatory properties in wound care. Applied to the skin, the plant can reduce pain and swelling and promote new tissue growth.
Jojoba oil:
There are a plethora of studies showing that jojoba oil, derived from the nut of the jojoba plant (Simmondsia chinensis), has a remarkable effect when used in skin care. It’s a natural humectant, meaning it attracts moisture to the top layer of the skin and keeps the area hydrated. It helps promote collagen synthesis, a natural protein in all mammals that provides an integral role in cellular processes such as tissue repair; something we desperately need more of when recovering from the trauma of a tattoo procedure.
Isopropyl Myristate: Isopropyl Myristate helps other active ingredients to penetrate the skin more easily and deeply, which can enhance their efficacy. This speeds up the absorption rate and reduces the greasy-feel left on the skin with products that are heavily on the oil and butter side. And, as an emollient, isopropyl myristate helps to soften and moisturize the skin, which can be particularly helpful for anyone with dry skin. Bonus: It also helps provide a smooth, silky-like texture!
Aloe Vera Oil: Aloe oil is derived from the aloe vera plant and is known for its soothing and hydrating properties. It can help soothe inflammation, moisturize the skin, and promote skin healing.
Emulsifying Wax NF: Made from Cetearyl Alcohol and Polysorbate 60, Emulsifying Wax NF (let's call it E-wax) helps to emulsify water and oil so that they bond. Basically, in layman's terms, Oil and Water don’t like each other and wont hold hands. The molecules in E-Wax, however, get along with both Oil and Water, so they reach both hands out and Oil holds one and Water holds the other and then everyone gets long. Did I explain that well? It makes sense in my head, haha. Furthermore, E-wax is a great humectant helping hold on moisture in the skin as well as bringing a thicker and more solid consistency to the otherwise rather ‘oily’ formula.
Stearic Acid: Stearic Acid serves multiple roles in skincare products and is one of the primary ingredients for maintaining a safe, stable product. It serves as an additional emulsifier along with the E-wax, and acts as a stabilizer in formulations, helping to prevent the separation of ingredients and extend the shelf life of products with its preservative properties, and has moisturizing properties that help to improve skin hydration and softness.
Vegetable Glycerine: Vegetable glycerin, also known as glycerol, is a clear, odorless liquid derived from plant oils. It’s a natural humectant, meaning it attracts moisture from the environment and helps retain it in the skin and supports the skin's natural barrier function by strengthening the protective outer layer, known as the stratum corneum. It forms a protective barrier on the skin's surface, preventing moisture loss and keeping the skin hydrated. It also has soothing properties that can help calm irritated or inflamed skin. It can alleviate itching, redness, and dryness, making it suitable for sensitive or reactive skin types. Not to mention it’s a great ingredient for thickening and smoothing texture, as well as assisting in absorption.
Xanthum Gum: Man, this stuff is in everything. It's a thickening agent and also helps stabilize and preserve the formula as well as retain hydration in the skin's outer layers.
Leucidal Liquid SF: Leucidal Liquid SF acts as a natural preservative and has antimicrobial properties that help to inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms, thereby preventing spoilage. It can also enhance the efficacy of other preservatives by synergistically working with them to reduce the overall concentration required and enhancing the overall preservation capabilities. AND! It’s eco-friendly as fuck, baby. It’s derived from natural sources, specifically the fermentation of Lactobacillus, making it a more sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic preservatives and is biodegradable reducing its environmental impact.
Arrowroot powder or Cornstarch: I’m grouping these together because they share the same purpose in my formulas which is to basically cut the grease-like feel (Since the bulk of the ingredients are butters and oils, that’s bound to happen) with their lightweight starchy properties. Both arrowroot and cornstarch can make an oily, heavy product feel lighter and less greasy on the skin.
Essential oils: The essential oils chosen for my products were chosen for their assumed beneficial properties, but the added natural scents are a pleasant bonus.
Now that you have a permanent piece of art displayed on your body, its time to take care of it so it heals just as beautifully as it was meant to be. Get the best results and avoid infection and scarring by following these steps.
TRANSPARENT ADHESIVE BANDAGES*
Otherwise known as Saniderm, Tegaderm, Second Skin, View Guard, etc.
*Some people experience an adverse reaction to the adhesives on these bandages. If you experience any excessive itchiness, a ‘rashy’ appearance, or a burning sensation, feel free to remove the bandage and heal your tattoo like you would if you used a traditional bandage.
TRADITIONAL BANDAGE
REMEMBER!!
Happy healing!
Medusa Slays
Copyright © 2023 Medusa Slays - All Rights Reserved.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.