The short answer: the percentage in a numbing agent's name almost never equals the lidocaine content. Most often it is the sum of all the active ingredients, and in TKTX and similar brands the big number is just a series label. Below we explain how to read the real composition, and give a table of the compositions of popular products.

In short: "40%" on a TKTX tube is not 40% lidocaine, it is the name of the series. "12,5%" on a cream is usually the sum of two or three ingredients together. The real strength is shown not by the number in the name, but by the breakdown of the composition: which ingredients and how much of each.

What the percentage on the tube really means

The number in the name can mean three different things. The confusion is exactly here, so let us lay it out clearly:

  • The sum of the active ingredients. The most common case. "12,5%" is, for example, 6,5% lidocaine + 5% prilocaine + another 1% of another anesthetic. The lidocaine itself is about half of the stated number.
  • The brand's series label. In TKTX, "40", "75", "99,9" are the name of the line, a strength tag, not the lidocaine percentage. The real composition is far more modest than the number.
  • The real lidocaine percentage. This happens rarely, mostly in mono products with lidocaine alone. Then the number really is about the content, but such formulas are chosen deliberately.

Where "40%", "75%", "99,9%" come from

This is line marketing, not chemistry. The manufacturer names a series with a big number because it sells well, but the real concentration of active ingredients is several times lower. Relying on that number alone means overpaying for a figure.

Example: TKTX Gel "40%" actually contains 6% lidocaine + 3% tetracaine + 0,2% epinephrine, that is about 9% active ingredients together, not 40% lidocaine.
Infographic: the number 40 in the TKTX name is a series label, not the lidocaine content; real composition is ≈9% active ingredients (6% lidocaine + 3% tetracaine + epinephrine)
The "40" in the name is a series tag, the real active ingredients add up to about 9%.

Table: the real compositions of popular products

Here is how the number in the name relates to the real composition according to manufacturers' documents and distributors' data. You can see that percentages that look identical mean completely different formulas:

Product "%" in the name What is really in the composition Type
PM Cream 12% 6,5% lidocaine + 5,5% prilocaine primary
Amor Fati White 12,5% 6,5% lidocaine + 5% prilocaine + 1% other primary
A-CAINE 10,95% 5,95% lidocaine + 5% prilocaine primary
F&E Tattooist 10% 6% lidocaine + 4% prilocaine primary
Amor Fati Pink 7,5% 4% lidocaine + 2,5% prilocaine + 1% other primary
J-CAINE 10,95% mono-lidocaine, about 10,5% primary
TKTX Gel 40% 6% lidocaine + 3% tetracaine + 0,2% epinephrine (≈9%) universal
TKTX Cream 40 / 75 series label, the manufacturer does not disclose the exact % primary
Goosica 99,9% combined formula, "99,9" is a marketing tag primary
Sustaine Blue no number 4% lidocaine + 2% tetracaine + epinephrine secondary
Frost Line no number Anestomine complex, no lidocaine primary
Amor Fati Lila no number 6% trioderm + epinephrine, no lidocaine secondary
As you can see: "40%" in TKTX and "12%" in PM Cream are not comparable values. There is one reference point: the breakdown of the composition, not the number in the name.

Lidocaine, prilocaine, tetracaine, epinephrine: who does what

Ingredient Role in the formula
Lidocaine the main anesthetic, quickly reduces sensitivity
Prilocaine works in synergy with lidocaine, deepens and prolongs the effect
Tetracaine a powerful anesthetic, often in secondary gels for broken skin
Benzocaine a surface anesthetic, gives a gentle quick start
Epinephrine (adrenaline) constricts the vessels: less swelling and bleeding, the effect lasts longer
Close-up of a numbing cream label showing the composition and percentage of active ingredients

That is why two creams with the same total number act differently: what matters is not the overall percentage, but which exact ingredients, in what proportion, and whether there is epinephrine.

How to read the composition before buying

  • Look for a breakdown by ingredients with percentages, not just the number in the name.
  • A big number with no breakdown of the composition is almost always marketing.
  • Check the type of product: primary (a cream under film before the procedure) or secondary (a gel on broken skin).
  • Prefer a supplier who shows documents and laboratory reports.

How to match a product to your specific procedure and skin type is described in detail in our complete guide to choosing a numbing agent.

Look at the composition, not the number in the name

In the It's Beauty catalog, many items list an honest breakdown of the active ingredients and come with documents. Over 40 products in stock: primary, secondary, lidocaine-free.

Go to the numbing agents catalog

Frequently asked questions

How much lidocaine is in TKTX "40%"?
About 6%. The "40" is a series label, not the lidocaine content. In the TKTX Gel "40%" the real composition is 6% lidocaine + 3% tetracaine + 0,2% epinephrine, about 9% active ingredients together.
What does 12,5% mean in a numbing agent?
Usually it is the sum of the active ingredients, not the lidocaine content. For example, 6,5% lidocaine + 5% prilocaine + another 1% of another anesthetic. The lidocaine itself is about half of the number.
Can you tell the strength of a numbing agent from the percentage?
No. The number in the name is the sum of the ingredients or a series tag. The strength is determined by the combination of ingredients, the presence of epinephrine or tetracaine, the type of product, and correct application under film.
Why do two creams with the same "%" act differently?
Because the same number stands for different ingredients and proportions. Lidocaine with prilocaine and epinephrine works differently from the same percentage of pure lidocaine. What matters is the composition, not the total sum.
What lidocaine percentage is considered strong?
The question is not about the percentage, but about the formula and the way it is applied. A combined primary cream under an occlusive film acts more noticeably than a higher number without correct application.
Where can you see a product's real composition?
The product page should have a breakdown by ingredients. In the It's Beauty catalog, many items list an honest breakdown of the active ingredients and come with the manufacturer's documents.
  • Compositions are given according to manufacturers' documents and data from official distributors (laboratory test reports, INCI). Where the manufacturer does not disclose the exact percentage, this is noted separately.
  • The material is informational in nature and does not replace a consultation with a specialist. All products are for professional external use.