Just Got a New Tattoo? Dermatologists Say the Soap You Use Makes a Big Difference

Cerave Hydrating Body Wash ($11) contains three different ceramides that protect and restore the skin barrier to keep your skin supple and soothe irritation. "Think of the uppermost barrier of your skin as a brick wall, with each skin cell being one brick," Dr. Libby explained. "The mortar holding the bricks together are the moisturizing factors and lipids, i.e. your ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol." When those ceramides are disrupted in any way, like what happens when you get a tattoo, using a soap that adds more ceramides will boost healing.