Idea and team
SKIN STORIES is Beiersdorf's first dedicated tattoo anti-aging skincare range. The company has assembled a team of leading skin experts, cosmetic scientists and voices from the tattoo industry to identify the needs of tattooed skin. 2.5 years of research have shed light on what happens to the skin during tattooing and, most importantly, what are the specifics of tattooed skin. How colour pigments in the skin can be preserved in the long term and how the contours of a tattoo remain sharp. The result is the unique InkGuard-Technology®.
Just look at the faces:
Inkguard-Technology®
InkGuard-Technology® is an active ingredient complex specially developed for tattooed skin to prevent tattoo aging and thus colour fading and loss of contour.
The ingredients:
BerryFlux Vita is derived from the stem cells of the raspberry and strengthens the skin via a wide variety of active mechanisms. It promotes the formation of hyaluronic acid, epidermal lipids, collagen and elastin. It thus contributes to more skin firmness and elasticity, ensures an intact skin barrier and a smooth skin texture and protects against moisture loss. Tattoos look their best on beautiful, well-groomed skin.
Panthenol, also called dexpanthenol or provitamin B5, is a derivative of vitamin B5. In the body, panthenol is converted into so-called pantothenic acid, where it plays an essential role in the cell metabolism of the skin. It promotes skin regeneration and is very good for soothing reddened skin, as the active ingredient rebuilds the natural skin barrier.
The fat-soluble vitamin E is an important antioxidant. It protects skin lipids, cell membranes and proteins from attack by free oxygen radicals. These are formed mainly by UV rays, but also by stress and heavy environmental pollution.
Also visualised here for you:
Needs of tattooed skin
Tattoo motifs usually have a deep meaning for each of us. That is the very reason why it is important to protect these works of art. And this goes far beyond the healing process of the skin directly after the stitching, because tattooed skin behaves differently from normal skin. To ensure that the colours and contours of tattoos remain intact for as long as possible, Beiersdorf recommends daily care with its SKIN STORIES range. Normal body lotion helps any skin to retain moisture and smoothes it. However, only InkGuard Technology® is able to provide the special needs of tattooed skin, i.e. to maintain brilliance and protect contours from fading. By the way: Hands and feet are much more stressed by frequent washing and joints by much friction. Tattoos on these areas may be creamed several times a day to prevent them from fading. The skin needs care in every season: protection from UV rays in summer and from cold and heating air in winter. The SKIN STORIES system care is suitable for all skin types and its skin compatibility is dermatologically confirmed. The products are not oily, are quickly absorbed and do not contain microplastics, mineral oils or parabens.
Here are the right care instructions for tattoos from the beginning.
- Immediately after stitching: apply a breathable plaster. Wash hands beforehand, of course, wash tattoo with mild soap, dab carefully and apply plaster.
- 6-8 hours after stinging: leave breathable plaster on the wound. Only change the plaster if necessary (only if a lot of wound fluid has collected underneath - otherwise leave it on for up to four days). Wash your hands first, rinse the tattoo with mild soap, dab carefully with a lint-free cloth and let the injured area of skin breathe.
- Until the 4th day: Clean the tattoo carefully.
Keep the plaster on - only change it if too much wound fluid has accumulated. Wash tattoo with warm water and pH-neutral soap. Carefully pat dry with a clean towel made of soft, lint-free material and do not rub. - From the 4th day: Help the skin to regenerate.
Plaster can come off. Avoid sports and swimming. Wear loose clothing over the tattoo. Keep the tattoo clean. Apply a thin layer of SKIN STORIES Rapid Repair Balm in the morning and evening (depending on skin type, up to six times a day) to help the skin regenerate. Wash hands before applying the cream to avoid contamination and infection. - From the 3rd week: Start daily tattoo care to protect the tattoo from fading and smudging in the long term. SKIN STORIES Daily Lotion with SPF 6 moisturises, smoothes the skin and increases colour intensity. For particularly dry or rough skin, SKIN STORIES Defining Serum is also recommended.
Before sunbathing: Apply proper cream to a fully healed tattoo!
UV rays are a tattoo's worst enemy, especially red tones fade quickly. Tattoos are made of colour. And colour pigments fade when they are exposed to sunlight. UVA and UVB rays penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin. The problem is that this triggers photochemical processes that break down colour pigments in the skin and cause them to fade. Therefore, no matter where you are outdoors, use tattoo sun cream - preferably generously, to protect the light-sensitive colour pigments of the tattoo from fading. The SKIN STORIES Color Protection Sun Stick with SPF 50+ and the Color Protection Sun Lotion (SPF 30) are suitable for this.
What is not acceptable in tattoo care?
Avoid long showers, baths or stays in the swimming pool or solarium for 6 to 8 weeks after getting a tattoo. Chlorine or salt water are poison for tattoos because they irritate the tattooed skin and take away the colour. Don't touch! Touching increases the risk of infection and scarring.
SKIN STORIES products at a glance
Rapid Repair Balm
In the first few days after a stitch, the skin is in a cleansing phase and tries to expel the "foreign bodies" that have penetrated it, i.e. the colour pigments, from the bottom up. With healthy skin and a normal course of the natural self-healing process, the outermost skin layer, the epidermis, is restored after four days. Now the further regeneration of the skin can start with the Rapid Repair Balm - ideally for ten days. It relieves unpleasant symptoms such as redness and a feeling of tightness and ensures a healthy appearance of the tattoo. The Rapid Repair Balm is fragrance-free and non-greasy, easy to spread and quickly absorbed. This is followed by the Daily Lotion for optimal care.
Rapid Repair Balm - Tattoo Aftercare
Tattoo Hydro Gel (for completely healed tattoos)
The cooling Hydro Gel ensures immediately radiant tattoo colours and provides intensive moisture for 24 hours. It is absorbed immediately and does not leave the skin feeling sticky.
Daily Lotion (for completely healed tattoos)
Even light UV radiation attacks colour pigments. For this reason, the Daily Lotion has a UV filter with SPF 6, which protects the colours from fading and has a skin-soothing effect. It moisturises and increases the colour intensity of the tattoo, improves skin elasticity and smoothes it. Frequent use during the day is recommended.
Sun-Lotion (for fully healed tattoos)
Sun Lotion provides highly effective UVA/UVB protection with SPF 30 and protects tattoo colours from fading in the sun thanks to innovative InkGuard Technology®. Especially practical for large-area motifs. The formula is pleasantly cooling, moisturising and leaves no white residue on the skin. The sunscreen works immediately, it does not need a reaction time. Feel free to apply generously and several times.
Sun Stick (for fully healed tattoos)
The very high UV protection with SPF 50+ is effective immediately after application and protects tattoo colours from fading. Its shape makes it more suitable for small and fine-lined tattoos. It is easy to spread, absorbs quickly and leaves no white residue on the skin. Allow the Sun Stick to absorb completely and avoid direct contact with textiles and hard surfaces to prevent discolouration.
Defining Serum (for fully healed tattoos)
The Defining Serum is the special care for sharp contours. The serum provides tattoos with particularly intensive, moisturising and skin-smoothing care. It comes in a practical dispenser, which means that the tattoo can be cared for very precisely. This is the perfect solution especially for fine-line and filigree tattoos. The serum soothes the skin, is quickly absorbed and is non-greasy - for fresh-looking colours and healthy-looking tattoos. For daily, intensive care or once or twice a week as a supplement to the Daily Lotion. Intensive care is especially useful when the skin is particularly dry and rough or has been stressed after an intense day in the sun, for example.
You decide what is important for you and your tattoos. We can only recommend this SKIN STORIES care series to you. If you spend a little money now to maintain your artwork, you may end up saving yourself a costly touch-up procedure. Have fun caring for your skin!
Click here to go to the hygiene and aftercare category if you want to get an overview of all products on this topic. The finder function in the left section helps you to search for specific products. If you have any questions on this topic, you can also call us or send an email to our support team! We will be happy to help you.
