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MediCaine compound numbing cream brand markMEDICAINE
BROWS · LIP BLUSH · EYELINER

NUMBING CREAM FOR MICROBLADING & PERMANENT MAKEUP

Compound BLT for microblading, powder brows, lip blush, and eyeliner. Reliable surface numbing on delicate facial skin, with a benzocaine-free option for sensitive clients. Approximately 15-minute onset, 2 to 4 hours of working time. For licensed PMU artists and providers.

WHY BLT FOR PMU

MATCH THE FORMULA TO THE AREA

Microblading and permanent makeup are fine-detail work in the most sensitive facial zones. Pick the tier that matches your client and technique.

BROWS · EYELINER

STANDARD PMU

Microblading, nano brows, powder brows, and eyeliner. Triple-agent BLT gives reliable, even surface numbing for detailed strokes and shading. MediCaine Pro applied per your protocol is the everyday standard for brow and eyeliner artists.

Recommended: Pro
SENSITIVE · ALLERGY

BENZOCAINE-FREE

For clients with benzocaine sensitivity, MediCaine Elite (Lidocaine 30% + Tetracaine 7%) delivers high-concentration numbing without benzocaine. A 24-hour patch test is recommended before any facial cosmetic tattoo work.

Recommended: Elite
LIP BLUSH

LIPS & LONG SESSIONS

Lip blush is vascular and one of the more sensitive PMU areas. Pro is the standard; for extended lip and multi-area sessions, the longer duration of MediCaine Ultra can help. Apply strictly per protocol on intact skin — never into the eye.

Recommended: Pro / Ultra
PROTOCOL

PMU APPLICATION

  1. 1

    PATCH TEST FIRST

    A 24-hour patch test is recommended to rule out sensitivity, especially for lip and eyeliner clients. Follow your own provider protocol for consent and documentation.

  2. 2

    CLEANSE AND DRY

    Cleanse the brow, lip, or eyeliner area. Skin must be intact — never apply over broken skin, active breakouts, or into the eye.

  3. 3

    APPLY A THIN LAYER

    Apply a thin, even layer to the treatment area per your protocol, keeping product well away from the eyes. Use the smallest effective amount and stay within labeled dose limits.

  4. 4

    WAIT ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES

    Onset is approximately 15 minutes, with peak effect at 20 to 30 minutes and 2 to 4 hours of working time depending on tier.

  5. 5

    REMOVE, THEN BEGIN

    Wipe the primary numbing cream off completely and cleanse the skin before the blade or machine touches the client. Any secondary numbing during the procedure follows your protocol and dose limits.

WHY MEDICAINE

COMPOUNDED FOR PROVIDERS

503A

Compounded fresh per order in a 503A pharmacy in the USA — not a mass-produced OTC product.

USP-795

Prepared to USP-795 non-sterile compounding standards for consistent, documented quality.

NPI

Dispensed to licensed providers only, after NPI verification. A provider-use Rx compound — not resold to patients.

CREAM, GEL OR OINTMENT

WHAT THE FORMAT ACTUALLY CHANGES

PMU artists ask for "numbing gel" as often as "numbing cream". The words describe the base, not the strength — and the base changes how the product behaves on a brow.

CREAM

A transdermal base that absorbs and spreads evenly. It rubs in, which suits the small, precise area of a brow map. This is the standard MediCaine base for PMU work.

OINTMENT

Mineral oil and polyethylene. It sits on the surface and releases gradually, which favours longer contact time on extended lip or multi-area sessions.

"GEL"

In PMU the word usually means a secondary product used once the skin is open, not a pre-procedure topical. MediCaine is a primary numbing compound for intact skin — see primary vs secondary numbing.

BROWS ARE THEIR OWN PROBLEM

WHY BROW WORK IS DIFFERENT

MAP FIRST, THEN NUMB

Measure, draw and get the client's approval on shape before anything goes on the skin. Removing the cream lifts pencil and marker, so numbing first means mapping twice.

STROKES VS SHADING

Microblading cuts individual hair strokes with a blade; powder and nano brows work with a machine over a wider area. Both are fine-detail work in thin skin close to the eye, and both need the same care with placement.

KEEP IT OFF THE EYE

Apply to the brow area per your protocol and keep product well away from the eye itself. Intact skin only: skip over breakouts, irritation or a previous session that has not fully healed.

REMOVE BEFORE PIGMENT

Wipe the primary cream off completely and cleanse before the blade or machine touches the skin. Residue belongs to neither the numbing step nor the pigment step.

FAQ

MICROBLADING NUMBING QUESTIONS

What is the best numbing cream for microblading and permanent makeup?+
Compound BLT (Benzocaine 20% + Lidocaine 10% + Tetracaine 10%) is the standard pre-procedure topical for microblading, powder brows, lip blush, and eyeliner. Onset is ~15 minutes with 2 to 4 hours of working time. For benzocaine sensitivity, MediCaine Elite is benzocaine-free. All tiers are restricted to licensed providers and dispensed after NPI verification.
How long before a PMU procedure should numbing cream be applied?+
Apply a thin, even layer 15 to 20 minutes before beginning, per your protocol. Onset is around 15 minutes, peak at 20 to 30 minutes. Remove the primary cream completely and cleanse the skin before the blade or machine touches the client. A 24-hour patch test is recommended.
Which tier is best for lip blush and eyeliner?+
Lip blush and eyeliner are among the more sensitive PMU areas. Pro (BLT) is the standard first choice for brows, eyeliner, and lip blush. For known benzocaine sensitivity, choose Elite. Apply strictly per protocol on intact skin and keep product away from the eye.
Is compound BLT safe for facial permanent makeup work?+
Compound BLT is the established pre-procedure topical for facial cosmetic tattooing when used by a licensed provider on intact skin per protocol. Use the smallest effective amount, keep it away from the eyes, remove it fully before implanting pigment, and stay within labeled dose limits. It is a provider-use Rx compound, dispensed only after NPI verification — not an over-the-counter product.
What is the best numbing cream for microblading?+
For licensed artists, the usual answer is a compounded triple-anesthetic BLT — Benzocaine 20%, Lidocaine 10%, Tetracaine 10% — because brows are fine-detail work in thin skin and a single-agent 4–5% lidocaine from a shop shelf is built for surface discomfort. MediCaine Pro is the everyday choice; Elite is the benzocaine-free option. "Best" also depends on your client: screen for past reactions before you pick.
Is there a numbing gel for microblading instead of a cream?+
In PMU, "gel" usually refers to a secondary product used once the skin is open, while the pre-procedure topical is a cream or ointment. MediCaine is compounded as a cream or an ointment and is primary numbing for intact skin only. Secondary numbing during the procedure follows your own protocol and dose limits.
Do I numb before or after mapping the brows?+
Map first. Measure, draw and get the client's approval on shape, then numb. Wiping the cream away lifts pencil and marker, so numbing first generally means drawing the brows twice.
Does it work for powder brows, nano brows and semi-permanent makeup?+
Yes — microblading, powder brows, nano brows and ombré are all cosmetic tattooing, and "semi-permanent makeup" is the same category of work. The blade or machine changes; the skin and the protocol do not. The full PMU menu, including lip blush, eyeliner and scalp micropigmentation, is covered in the permanent makeup numbing guide.
Will numbing cream affect pigment retention?+
Remove the primary cream completely and cleanse the skin before implanting pigment — residue has no place between the blade and the skin. Retention depends on your technique, depth, pigment and the client's aftercare, so judge any change against your own results rather than a claim from a supplier.
Can PMU artists buy it, or does it go through a provider?+
MediCaine is dispensed to licensed providers after NPI verification. PMU studios order through their licensed provider or medical director, and state board rules on topical anesthetic use in cosmetic tattoo settings still apply to you. Call (310) 889-0733 and the team will walk through account setup.

PROFESSIONAL PMU NUMBING

Compounded fresh per order. Single-use packets or pro jars. License verified before your first shipment.

Call to Order · (310) 889-0733