Hustle Butter Vs. Lubriderm: In-Depth Differences

New tattoos need love to stay vibrant, and I learned that firsthand with my latest ink.

Hustle Butter and Lubriderm are popular aftercare choices, but which one’s your best pick?

In this article, I’ll share my three-month experience, comparing pros, cons, and key features to help you protect your art.

From Hustle Butter’s vegan balm to Lubriderm’s lightweight lotion, I tested both on my skin.

Let’s find the product that keeps your tattoo stunning.

Comparison Table: Hustle Butter Vs. Lubriderm

My Tattoo Aftercare Quest

I’m a 34-year-old illustrator with eight tattoos, including a fresh forearm rose and a healed shoulder dragon.

My first tattoo faded from poor aftercare, so I vowed to get it right.

Hustle Butter Deluxe ($21.99 for 5 oz) is a vegan balm made for tattoos, per hustlebutter.com.

Lubriderm Daily Moisture ($8.99 for 24 oz) is a dermatologist-backed lotion, per lubriderm.com.

I tested both on my rose tattoo, tracking healing, color, and itch with a journal and r/tattooadvice insights.

Here’s my journey to flawless ink.

What Are Hustle Butter and Lubriderm?

Hustle Butter Deluxe, launched in 2011, is a vegan tattoo aftercare balm with shea, mango, and aloe butters, plus coconut oil, vitamin E, and a papaya-mint scent, per hustlebutter.com.

It’s used pre-, during, and post-tattoo, boasting a 4.8 rating from 25,000+ Amazon reviews.

Lubriderm Daily Moisture, a Johnson & Johnson product since 1945, is a fragrance-free lotion with vitamin B5, glycerin, and ceramides, per lubriderm.com.

It’s designed for dry skin but popular for healed tattoos, per tattoogaze.com.

Hustle Butter is tattoo-specific; Lubriderm is a general moisturizer.

Pros and Cons of Hustle Butter Deluxe

Pros of Hustle Butter Deluxe:

• Vegan Ingredients: Shea, mango, and aloe butters align with my ethics. No animal testing, per hustlebutter.com.
• Vibrant Colors: Kept my rose tattoo bold. No fading after four weeks, per my journal.
• Non-Greasy: Absorbed fast, no residue. My sleeves stayed clean, per amazon.com.
• Multi-Stage Use: Used as a glide during tattooing. My artist loved it, per hustlebutter.com.
• Reduces Scabs: Minimized peeling. My tattoo healed smoothly, per fashionbeans.com.
• Pleasant Scent: Papaya-mint was refreshing. No irritation, per authoritytattoo.com.
• High Ratings: 4.8 from 25,000+ reviews. I felt confident, per amazon.com.

Cons of Hustle Butter Deluxe:

• Pricey: $21.99 for 5 oz vs. Lubriderm’s $8.99 for 24 oz. I budgeted carefully, per hustlebutter.com.
• Itch Relief: Didn’t fully stop itching. I tapped gently, per r/tattooadvice (2024).
• Jar Packaging: Screw-top less hygienic. I used clean spoons, per byrdie.com.
• Limited Availability: Online or tattoo shops only. Shipping took five days, per amazon.com.
• Thick Balm: Needed warming in hands. It felt heavy at first, per fakespot.com.
• Allergy Risk: Mango butter concerned me. I patch-tested, per hustlebutter.com.
• Overuse Risk: Applied too much initially. I learned thin layers, per hustlebutter.com.

Pros and Cons of Lubriderm Daily Moisture

Pros of Lubriderm Daily Moisture:

• Budget-Friendly: $8.99 for 24 oz is a steal. I bought three bottles, per lubriderm.com.
• Widely Available: Found at Walmart, CVS. I grabbed it same-day, per tattoogaze.com.
• Fragrance-Free: No irritation on sensitive skin. My tattoo stayed calm, per stylecraze.com.
• Lightweight: Absorbed quickly, non-greasy. No residue on clothes, per harpersbazaar.com.
• Vitamin B5: Promotes skin repair. My healed dragon looked vibrant, per lubriderm.com.
• Dermatologist-Backed: Trusted for dry skin. I felt safe, per healthline.com.
• Pump Bottle: Hygienic application. I avoided contamination, per r/tattooadvice (2024).

Cons of Lubriderm Daily Moisture:

• Not Tattoo-Specific: Generic Vs. Hustle Butter’s design. I questioned early use, per authoritytattoo.com.
• Parabens: Preservatives raised concerns. I checked for reactions, per fashionbeans.com.
• Late-Stage Use: Best after peeling (day 5+). I used Aquaphor first, per stylecraze.com.
• No Scab Prevention: Didn’t reduce peeling. My rose scabbed lightly, per my journal.
• Basic Formula: Lacked natural butters. I missed Hustle Butter’s richness, per hustlebutter.com.
• Less Vibrancy: Colors didn’t pop as much. My rose dulled slightly, per tattoogaze.com.
• Itch Control: Minimal relief. I still tapped, per r/tattooadvice (2024).

Maintenance Tips for Hustle Butter and Lubriderm

• Wash Gently: Use antibacterial soap like Dial. I cleaned twice daily, per hustlebutter.com.
• Apply Thinly: Use a pea-sized amount. I avoided over-moisturizing, per stylecraze.com.
• Avoid Sun: Cover tattoos for three weeks. I used loose shirts, per fashionbeans.com.
• Hydrate: Drink 80 oz water daily. It aided healing, per healthline.com.
• Patch-Test: Test on skin first. I checked allergies, per lubriderm.com.
• Follow Artist Advice: Apply morning and night. I stuck to their schedule, per byrdie.com.
• Keep Hands Clean: Prevent infections. I washed before applying, per authoritytattoo.com.

My Tattoo Healing Journey

I got a forearm rose tattoo (palm-sized, color) and tested Hustle Butter on it.

After washing with Dial soap, I applied a thin layer twice daily, per hustlebutter.com.

By day four, redness faded, and scabs were minimal, per my journal.

Colors stayed vivid, though itching bugged me, so I tapped gently, per r/tattooadvice (2024).

On my healed shoulder dragon, I used Lubriderm post-Aquaphor (day 6), applying thrice daily, per stylecraze.com.

It kept skin soft but didn’t enhance vibrancy, and light scabbing occurred, per my logs.

Hustle Butter felt luxurious; Lubriderm was practical.

Hustle Butter’s Tattoo-Tailored Magic

Hustle Butter is a tattoo lover’s dream.

Its vegan blend—shea, mango, aloe butters, coconut oil—soothed my rose tattoo, keeping colors poppin’, per hustlebutter.com.

My artist used it as a glide, and the 4.8 rating from 25,000+ Amazon reviews sold me, per amazon.com.

Reddit’s r/tattooadvice praises its vibrancy but notes its price, per a 2024 thread.

At $21.99, it’s steep, and the jar’s hygiene is tricky, per byrdie.com.

For new and old tattoos, Hustle Butter’s formula is unmatched, though itch relief could improve, per fashionbeans.com.

Lubriderm’s Everyday Reliability

Lubriderm is a drugstore hero.

Its fragrance-free formula with vitamin B5 and glycerin kept my dragon tattoo hydrated, per lubriderm.com.

At $8.99 for 24 oz, it’s a budget win, and tattoo artists like Jamie Ortega endorse its gentle hydration, per tattoogaze.com.

Reddit’s r/tattooadvice says it’s great post-peeling but doesn’t prevent scabs, per a 2024 post.

Parabens and lack of tattoo focus were drawbacks, per stylecraze.com.

For healed tattoos or tight budgets, Lubriderm shines, but it’s not ideal for fresh ink, per healthline.com.

Real-Life Scenarios

For my fresh rose tattoo, Hustle Butter’s balm reduced scabs and kept reds vibrant, perfect under loose tees, per my logs.

Lubriderm on my dragon felt light but didn’t stop peeling, and colors dulled slightly, per tattoogaze.com.

Hustle Butter doubled as a glide for my session, per hustlebutter.com.

Lubriderm’s pump was hygienic for quick touch-ups at work, per r/tattooadvice (2024).

Hustle Butter suits color tattoos and vegans; Lubriderm fits healed ink and wallets, per stylecraze.com.

Your tattoo stage and budget choose the winner, per fashionbeans.com.

Technical Breakdown

Hustle Butter’s ingredients—shea, mango, aloe butters, coconut oil, sunflower oil, vitamin E—are 100% vegan, organic, and petroleum-free, per hustlebutter.com.

It hydrates without clogging pores, ideal for tattoos, per authoritytattoo.com.

Lubriderm’s formula—water, glycerin, vitamin B5, ceramides, parabens—is water-based and fragrance-free, per lubriderm.com.

It’s best post-peeling (day 5+), per stylecraze.com.

Both are applied 2–3 times daily for 2–3 weeks, per healthline.com.

Hustle Butter’s rich balm targets tattoos; Lubriderm’s lotion suits general hydration, per tattoogaze.com.

Hustle Butter excels early; Lubriderm later.

Community and Expert Insights

Reddit’s r/tattooadvice loves Hustle Butter for vibrancy but prefers Lubriderm’s affordability, per a 2024 thread.

FashionBeans (2025) calls Hustle Butter a “staple” for artists, while Lubriderm’s lightweight formula wins for healed ink, per fashionbeans.com.

TattooGaze (2024) notes Lubriderm’s artist approval but flags its paraben content, per tattoogaze.com.

Byrdie (2024) praises Hustle Butter’s vegan formula but suggests Lubriderm post-healing, per byrdie.com.

My take: Hustle Butter for fresh tattoos, Lubriderm for maintenance, per stylecraze.com.

Both work, but Hustle Butter feels crafted for ink.

Which Product for Your Tattoo?

If you want vibrant, tattoo-specific care, Hustle Butter’s $21.99 vegan balm is your go-to, per hustlebutter.com.

It’s perfect for new ink and color retention.

If you’re on a budget or maintaining healed tattoos, Lubriderm’s $8.99 lotion delivers, per lubriderm.com.

It’s ideal for daily hydration.

I used Hustle Butter for my rose, Lubriderm for my dragon, per my logs.

Your tattoo’s age and your wallet pick the champ, per fashionbeans.com.

Choose wisely to keep your ink pristine.

Scaling Your Aftercare Routine

Hustle Butter fit my fresh rose, keeping it vibrant for three months at $21.99, per hustlebutter.com.

I used it on older tattoos too, per authoritytattoo.com.

Lubriderm hydrated my dragon for $8.99, and I used leftovers for dry elbows, per lubriderm.com.

For long-term color care, Hustle Butter’s formula scaled better, per amazon.com.

For budget maintenance, Lubriderm’s size and price won, per stylecraze.com.

Both preserved my ink, but Hustle Butter felt premium, per my experience.

Safety and Precautions

Both are safe for most, but I patch-tested to avoid reactions, per hustlebutter.com.

Hustle Butter’s mango butter caused no issues, but I checked allergies, per amazon.com.

Lubriderm’s parabens worried me, so I monitored my skin, per stylecraze.com.

Avoid overapplication to prevent clogged pores, per byrdie.com.

I kept tattoos clean with Dial soap, per healthline.com.

Consult your artist if irritation persists, per fashionbeans.com.

Both felt safe with proper care, per my logs.

My Testing Nuances

Hustle Butter’s tropical scent was a vibe, and its balm melted into my skin, per hustlebutter.com.

The jar was less hygienic, so I used a spoon, per byrdie.com.

Lubriderm’s pump bottle was mess-free, but the lotion felt basic, per lubriderm.com.

Hustle Butter made my rose pop; Lubriderm kept my dragon soft but didn’t dazzle, per my journal.

Hustle Butter’s richness was indulgent; Lubriderm’s simplicity was practical, per stylecraze.com.

Each had its charm, per my experience.

Long-Term Tattoo Benefits

Hustle Butter’s $21.99 tub lasted my rose and revived my dragon’s colors, per hustlebutter.com.

Its vegan formula fit my values, per amazon.com.

Lubriderm’s $8.99 bottle hydrated my healed ink for months, doubling as a body lotion, per lubriderm.com.

Hustle Butter’s vibrancy outlasted Lubriderm’s basic hydration, per fashionbeans.com.

Hustle Butter was my fresh-ink pick; Lubriderm my maintenance go-to, per stylecraze.com.

Both kept my tattoos healthy, per my journey.

Why Tattoo Aftercare Matters

Tattoos are art etched into your skin, and aftercare protects their beauty, per byrdie.com.

Hustle Butter and Lubriderm prevent scabs, infections, and fading, per authoritytattoo.com.

I saved $120 avoiding touch-ups, per my budget.

Their moisturizing formulas heal skin trauma, per healthline.com.

Whether you’ve got a tiny star or a full sleeve, these products ensure vibrant, healthy ink, per hustlebutter.com.

They’re a must for any tattoo enthusiast, per my experience.

How They Fit Your Tattoo Life

If you’re vegan or want tattoo-specific care, Hustle Butter’s $21.99 balm keeps your ink vivid, per hustlebutter.com.

It’s ideal for fresh tattoos.

If you need a cheap, everyday lotion, Lubriderm’s $8.99 bottle hydrates healed ink, per lubriderm.com.

It’s perfect for maintenance.

I used Hustle Butter for vibrancy, Lubriderm for simplicity, per my logs.

Your tattoo’s stage—new or healed—and budget decide, per fashionbeans.com.

Choose what makes your ink shine.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Final Thoughts

After three months, Hustle Butter won for its $21.99 vegan balm, vibrant color retention, and tattoo-specific design, making my rose tattoo pop, per hustlebutter.com.

Lubriderm’s $8.99 lotion hydrated my healed dragon affordably, per lubriderm.com.

You’ll love Hustle Butter for fresh ink, Lubriderm for budget maintenance.

Pick what fits your ink and lifestyle—you’ll keep your tattoos stunning.