Almost every Australian tattoo artist will recommend either Dr Pickles or Bepanthen for the first two weeks of healing. They're both excellent choices — but they're not the same product, and they don't do the same job equally well.
The TL;DR - **Bepanthen** — cheaper, pharmacy-grade nappy rash cream, dominant active is panthenol. Best for the first 3 days only. Greasy. - **Dr Pickles** — premium tattoo-specific balm with pawpaw + D-Panthenol + Safflower Seed Oil. Better for the full 30-day heal. Vegan formula.
If you only have $15 and 3 days, get Bepanthen. If you want one product for the entire heal, get Dr Pickles.
Side by side
| | Dr Pickles 50g | Bepanthen 100g | |---|---|---| | Price | $24.95 | $14.99 | | Active ingredient | D-Panthenol + Pawpaw | Dexpanthenol (Vitamin B5) | | Formula type | Tattoo-specific balm | Nappy rash / wound care cream | | Vegan | Yes | No (lanolin) | | Texture | Smooth, non-greasy | Thicker, greasier | | Best healing window | Day 1–30 | Day 1–3 | | Where to buy | Woolworths, Coles, pharmacies | Woolworths, Coles, pharmacies |
What Bepanthen does well Bepanthen is unmatched on price-per-gram. It's a clinical wound-care cream with a strong reputation and decades of use. For the first 3 days when you're wiping plasma and want a solid moisture barrier, it's genuinely effective. Most artists in Australia have used it on themselves at some point.
Where Bepanthen falls short Bepanthen is greasy. From day 4 onwards, when the tattoo enters the peeling stage, the heaviness can trap moisture and actually slow healing. It's also not vegan (it contains lanolin from sheep's wool) and it has a faint medicinal smell. Most experienced clients switch to a lighter moisturiser from day 4.
What Dr Pickles does well It's designed specifically for tattoos. The combination of D-Panthenol (the active ingredient that makes Bepanthen work) plus pawpaw (a natural antiseptic) and Safflower Seed Oil (a barrier ingredient) means a single product can carry you across all 30 days of healing. It's vegan, lighter, and absorbs faster.
Where Dr Pickles falls short Roughly 60% more expensive per gram than Bepanthen. If you have a fingernail-sized tattoo and only need 3 days of cream, you're overpaying.
Our recommendation - **First tattoo, small piece, on a budget?** Bepanthen for 3 days, then a fragrance-free moisturiser. Total cost ~$20. - **First tattoo, medium piece, want one product?** Dr Pickles 50g. ~$25 covers the whole heal. - **Sleeve, big piece, multiple tattoos this year?** Dr Pickles 75g from Woolworths. ~$33. - **Sensitive skin, vegan, fragrance allergies?** Dr Pickles every time.
For the deeper Dr Pickles review, see our [in-depth review](/articles/dr-pickles-tattoo-balm-review). For everything else, see the [2026 aftercare buyer guide](/best-tattoo-aftercare-australia).