Ephemeral Tattoos

What Ephemeral Tattoos does

Ephemeral Tattoos is a New York-based private company that has developed and commercialized a proprietary made-to-fade tattoo ink built on medical-grade bioabsorbable polymers — the same class of materials used in dissolvable sutures. The ink, now in its Gen 3 formulation, is applied with a conventional tattoo machine by approved artist partners but is designed to degrade naturally in the body so that 90% of tattoos fade within two years and 98% within three years. The formulation is 100% vegan, free of heavy metals, and positioned as FDA-cosmetic compliant. Beyond the core consumer tattoo use case, the company has developed a specialized radiotherapy tattoo solution for cancer treatment positioning and has extended its bioabsorbable technology into medical applications via a partnership with Plus Therapeutics.

The company's business model combines direct e-commerce sale of single-use 0.5mL ink packs to professional tattoo artists and consumers ($29 per pack with 5% and 10% bulk discounts), a partner-driven B2B2C distribution model through approved artist studios, and company-affiliated studio services. Marketing is anchored in TikTok virality, earned media coverage (Paper Mag, Esquire, Allure, Insider), and content marketing via a 20,000+ tattoo lookbook. Customer segmentation is led by first-time tattoo wearers (reportedly 70% of customers) and includes design/placement testers and a niche medical segment of radiotherapy patients.

Since 2016, Ephemeral has raised approximately $27 million across seed and Series A rounds, with a $20M Series A in July 2021 led by Anthos Capital LP alongside prior backers Canaan Partners, Foundation Capital, Slow Ventures, Primary Venture Partners, 1517 Fund, Kima Ventures, Village Global, Firebrand Ventures, Right Side Capital Management, and Techstars. The company operates with a small team of 1-10 employees, ships ink only within the United States, and is increasingly diversifying into medical and oncology-adjacent applications of its underlying polymer technology.

Name

Ephemeral Tattoos

Legal name

Ephemeral Tattoo

Website

https://ephemeral.tattoo

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ephemeral Tattoos is a New York-based company that develops and sells proprietary made-to-fade tattoo ink based on medical-grade bioabsorbable polymers, distributed via direct e-commerce, approved artist partners, and radiotherapy applications. The product primarily serves first-time tattoo wearers and licensed tattoo artists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Made-to-fade tattoo ink

NAICS

Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)

akta.pro primary industry

Permanent Makeup Removal & Correction Services (Saline/Laser/Color Correction) (HSALAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Permanent Makeup Consultation, Design & Patch Testing Services (HSALAKAL), Body Makeup (Body Coverage/Shimmer/Tattoo Cover) (HSALAHAM)

Keywords

• Made-to-fade tattoo ink
• Bioabsorbable tattoo technology
• Semi-permanent tattoo service
• Tattoo artist supplies
• Radiotherapy tattoo markers

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Ink Sales: Sale of proprietary made-to-fade tattoo ink in packs (0.5 ML per pack) directly to professional tattoo artists and consumers. Bulk pricing available with 5% discount for 5-pack and 10% discount for 10-pack.
2. Studio Services: Tattoo application services through company-owned or partnered studios where customers can get Ephemeral tattoos from approved artist partners.
3. Artist Partnership Program: Professional tattoo artists become approved partners to offer Ephemeral tattoos to their clients, creating a B2B2C distribution model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ephemeral Tattoos develops and sells a proprietary made-to-fade tattoo ink formulated from medical-grade bioabsorbable polymers, applied with a standard tattoo machine and designed to naturally fade from the skin within approximately two to three years. The company distributes this ink directly to consumers and to a network of approved professional tattoo artist partners who apply Ephemeral tattoos at their own studios, and also offers a specialized temporary tattoo solution for radiotherapy treatment marking.

Product overview

Ephemeral Tattoos offers the world's only commercially available made-to-fade tattoo ink and associated tattoo application service. The core product portfolio consists of the Ephemeral Tattoo Service (delivered through a network of approved artist partners who apply the proprietary ink), the Ephemeral Ink Gen 3 formulation (sold directly to professional tattoo artists and consumers in single-use 0.5mL packs), and a specialized Radiotherapy Tattoo Solution for cancer patients requiring temporary radiotherapy positioning marks. All products use the same bioabsorbable polymer-based ink technology that naturally degrades in the body over up to three years, providing a semi-permanent alternative to traditional permanent tattoos. The company also offers recommended aftercare products to ensure optimal healing and fade outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ephemeral Tattoo Service Made-to-fade tattoo application service where approved tattoo artist partners apply Ephemeral's proprietary semi-permanent ink with a standard tattoo machine; tattoos naturally fade from the skin over up to three years. Available to consumers via the website's artist finder directory.
• Ephemeral Ink (Gen 3) The company's proprietary made-to-fade tattoo ink (Gen 3 formulation), sold in 0.5 mL single-use sterilized packs. Made from medical-grade bioabsorbable polymers and food/cosmetic color additives; vegan, plant-based where possible, and heavy-metal-free. Used with a standard tattoo machine by approved artists and advanced consumers.
• Radiotherapy Tattoo Solution Specialized application of Ephemeral's bioabsorbable ink technology designed for cancer radiotherapy patients who require temporary tattoo markings for radiation treatment positioning, eliminating the need for permanent radiotherapy alignment tattoos.
• Aftercare Products Recommended aftercare materials—including hydrocolloid patches, fragrance-free moisturizers, and soaps—intended to support optimal healing and fade outcomes of made-to-fade tattoos applied with Ephemeral ink.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of tattoos fade within 2 years with Gen 3 formulation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Plus TherapeuticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlus Therapeutics partnered with Ephemeral Technologies to develop an AI-enabled CNS oncology platform. The platform aims to integrate and analyze complex biomedical data to enhance research and clinical outcomes in CNS cancers, leveraging Ephemeral's temporary tattoo technology for medical applications.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Inkbox: Makes semi-permanent 'made-to-fade' tattoos using a topical (non-needle) technology that lasts 1-2 weeks. The most direct competitor to Ephemeral in the temporary/semi-permanent tattoo category, though Inkbox uses different application technology.
• Tattly: Sells designer temporary tattoos (paper-based, applied with water) targeting the same self-expression and event use cases. Different technology (surface-applied vs injected) but directly competes for the 'no-commitment body art' customer.
• Mad Rabbit Tattoo: Tattoo aftercare and skincare brand sold through tattoo studios and direct-to-consumer. Operates in the same tattoo-adjacent consumer category, leveraging similar artist network distribution channels.
• Hustle Butter Deluxe: Premium tattoo aftercare products sold through professional tattoo artists. Shares Ephemeral's artist partnership B2B2C distribution model and serves the same tattoo customer base.
• Bishop Rotary: Manufactures and sells high-end tattoo equipment and supplies directly to professional tattoo artists. Comparable B2B distribution model targeting the same approved artist network that Ephemeral leverages.
• Critical Tattoo Supply: Tattoo equipment and supply manufacturer selling grips, tubes, and machines to professional artists. Comparable B2B ink/supply category and artist customer base, though different product focus.
• TattooGoo: Tattoo aftercare brand sold through tattoo studios and retailers. Competes in the tattoo-adjacent consumer products space and shares similar artist-driven distribution dynamics.
• Electric Ink Tattoo: Tattoo equipment and supply retailer serving professional tattoo artists. Comparable B2B supply channel targeting the same approved artist network that distributes Ephemeral's ink.

Broad incumbents

• Sailor Jerry (Diageo): Lifestyle brand from Diageo leveraging tattoo culture and aesthetics for rum marketing. Larger incumbent operating broadly in tattoo lifestyle branding, with overlapping audience but no direct product competition.

Emerging players

• Crazy Aaron's: Novelty consumer products brand (thinking putty) sold through specialty retail with viral product appeal. Adjacent in novelty/novel consumer products category but different category altogether.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/ephemeraltattoo
• TikToktiktok.com/@ephemeraltattoo?lang=en
• Xx.com/ephemeraltattoo
• Facebookfacebook.com/ephemeraltattoos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ephemeral

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors11 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ephemeral Tattoos