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What is the best stretch mark cream during pregnancy?

Your tummy, breast, thighs, bottom, back – nowhere is safe from stretch marks. Quick skin growth in pregnancy can cause them to appear suddenly.

Not only are they unsightly but they can become itchy or painful over time. A good stretch mark cream can help you avoid, minimize or improve their appearance.

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Creams, lotions and oils are a great prevention for stretch marks during pregnancy. Stop them from appearing, getting worse or really itchy. Check out our top 9 Best Stretch Mark Cream reviews during Pregnancy. Stork Mama

Stretch mark creams will provide relief and much need moisture to your stretch skin. Choosing the best stretch mark cream can be overwhelming.

With so much to choose from, we’ve done all the research for you. We’ve selected our top 9 favorites based on popularity and performance. Check out which ones we recommend.

9 Best Stretch Mark Cream During Pregnancy

1. Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter

Our Verdict

The Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter is perfect for preventing stretch marks in pregnancy. The cream is a medium consistancy, smooth to apply and absorbs quickly. It’s fragrance-free but has a natural chocolate scent to it.  It contains skin softening Vitamin E, cocoa, shea and jojoba butter. It’s also free from phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, and SLS. Overall a great performing cream at a very affordable price.

2. Body Merry Stretch Marks and Scars Cream

Our Verdict

Body Merry Stretch Mark cream is the most popular option on our list. It’s a very fast acting cream, and you will see slight changes within days. The cream is thick to apply and non-greasy, leaving your skin feeling soft and moisturized. The cocoa butter gives it a mild chocolate smell. There are a lot of high-quality organic ingredients to hydrate and nourish your skin. A high-quality cream made in the USA and comes with a 90-day product guarantee.

3. Bio-Oil

Our Verdict

Bio Oil is a specialized oil designed to tackle stretch marks. So it’s not a cream, but it’s very popular among pregnant women. The oil is very easy to apply and absorbs without leaving a greasy texture. The consistency is very lightweight and won’t mark your clothes. You’ll need to apply it regularly, but a little goes a long way. The light floral scent is nice and not overpowering. This oil is also suitable for use on scars, so perfect for C-section moms.

4. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter

Our Verdict

The Palmers Cocoa butter is a great option if you have a skincare regime. For good results you’ll need to apply this a recommend 3 times a day. The vitamin E, Elastic and Collagen ingredients help your skin to ward off or minimize stretch marks. A lot of moms recommend this to pregnant moms as they have been so pleased with the results. It’s a very thick, moisturizing cream which does leave a sticky finish.

5. Mama Mio The Tummy Rub Butter

Our Verdict

For a luxury pamper cream check out the Mama Mio Tummy Rub Butter. It’s so thick and moisturizing you’ll want to slather all over your body. The citrus scent is fresh, although we think it may be too strong if you’re hypersensitive to smells. We love that it effects are really long lasting, which is great if you’re a bit forgetful about with your skincare routine.

6. Earth Mama Angel Baby Body Butter

Our Verdict

If you want a great performing natural option check out the Earth Mama Body Butter. This cream gives you all the goodies your skin needs with natural, non-toxic ingredients. The cream is free from synthetic fragrance, phthalates, parabens, petroleum products, mineral oil, Vitamin E or dyes. Plus is vegan-friendly and gluten-free.  We particularly love the mild mint scent to the cream. The consistency is like a lotion and absorbs quickly without any residue. If you prefer an oil check out the Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Stretch Oil.

7. Basq Advanced Stretch Mark Butter

Our Verdict

The Basq Advanced Stretch Mark Butter is and top pick by Fit Pregnancy magazine. It’s also a celebrity favorite, used by the likes of Heidi Klum, Angelina Jolie, and Doutzen Kros.  For such a thick cream it has a really lightweight application to the skin. You won’t be left in a sticky, greasy mess. Being free from parabens, phthalates, mineral oil and sodium lauryl sulfate, it’s a great option for very sensitive skin. It leaves a very light, herbal fragrance on the skin.

8. Motherlove Pregnant Belly Salve

Our Verdict

The Motherlove Pregnant Belly Salve is a great organic option. It’s crammed full of natural moisturizing herbs and oils. It has a lovely lavender and chamomile scent which leaves you spa-like feeling. The salve is a soft balm which melts easily into your hand and rubbed onto the affected area. It has a greasy consistency but will completely absorb around 10 minutes after applying. This salve is fantastic for easing any itch cause by stretching skin.

9. Bella B Tummy Honey

Our Verdict

If you’re looking to prevent stretch marks try the Bella B Tummy Honey. The active ingredient St Pauls Wort (Siegesbeckial Orientalis) is clinically proven promote growth to the broken skin layers caused by stretch marks. The sweet honey scent gets a big thumbs up as it doesn’t smell unnatural or overpowering. For fading existing stretch marks check out their fading Tummy Honey.


Buying Guide

Narrow down your choices by listing the following features in order of importance to you. The cream which scores highest in that category is the right one for you.

Ingredients – Anything which goes onto your skin will be absorbed into your system. Non-toxic creams are available for those who are concerns about chemical ingredients.

Performance – A good cream should prevent or minimize your stretch marks. You may also want a cream which provides relief from itching or will fade existing marks. You may also want a long lasting cream which doesn’t require numerous applications.

Application – A cream should apply quickly and smoothly to the skin. Oil-based cream may take longer to absorb but should not leave a greasy or sticky residue.

Scent – Pregnancy can make you more sensitive to smells. A strong or chemical smelling cream will be off-putting no matter how well it performs.

Price – You can find good performing creams for all budgets. You may want to save money or splurge on a luxury product. Expect to pay around $7-$40 for a pregnancy stretch mark cream.

Ingredients to Avoid

We advise you to check the ingredients of the cream before buying. Any cream you apply to your skin will be absorbed into your body. If you want to minimize known cancer-causing chemical opt for cream which is free from synthetic fragrance, phthalates, parabens, and petroleum products

Hyper-allergenic

Skin sensitivity heightens in pregnancy, and you may develop sensitives to some ingredients. We recommend patch testing a new product before using it all over. If you develop irritation or rash, stop using the product immediately.

Retinol

This is an ingredient known to cause birth defects with oral use. Applying retinol on the skin will absorb minimal amounts into your system. However official advice from the FDA is to avoid retinol skin products in pregnancy.


Benefits of Stretch Mark Cream

Avoid expensive treatment

Laser treatment is available for stubborn stretch marks. You can prevent the need for this option by applying a stretch mark cream daily during pregnancy.

Catch them early

Old stretch marks are harder to resolve as your skin elasticity weakens over time.  A cream can make your skin more supple and prevent further break down.

Prevent scarring

The longer stretch marks are left untreated the deeper they layers are torn. This causes a scarred appearance on the skin which appears red and fades to a bluish white. Creams can provide extra nutrients for the skin making them more resistant to further tearing.

Improve skin appearance

If you have existing stretch marks you may be embarrassed to show off areas that are affected. Cream can provide moisture to the skin which gives existing lines a more plumped up appearance. Regular application can help them to fade enough and give you the confidence to put on that bikini you’ve been avoiding.

Prevent dry skin

The lack of moisture in your skin can make stretch marks appear worse. Dry skin can also cause itching which won’t help the sensitive skin layer exposed by stretch marks. Regular moisturizing can reduce dry skin conditions.