"If you let your tattoos get in the sun, they will fade, and they won't look as good," Dr. Anderson warned. Since you cannot apply sunscreen to a tattoo until it's fully healed, using a soap like the Bethesda Sun and Shield Soap ($8), which is designed for skin-cancer patients, will fortify and defend your skin against the harsh rays of the sun. Traditional bar soap is not normally ideal for tattoo aftercare, but this one is a highly recommended exception, especially as it is vitamin-enriched and contains no artificial fragrances, dyes, fillers, or binders.