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During pregnancy, these red, purple, pink, or brown marks, known as the infamous stretch marks, can appear on your skin as they quickly stretch to accommodate your growing baby.
This abrupt change combined with hormonal fluctuation and genetics causes the collagen and elastin, which support our skin, to rupture and as skin heals stretch marks can emerge.
Besides the aesthetic point of view, stretch marks can be uncomfortable, leaving your skin feeling extremely itchy.
Since stretch marks are considered scars, they tend to fade but can be permanent. So, the best course of action is to try to prevent them. But how can you do this? Moisturizing and nourishing your skin daily, especially the areas that are more prone to stretch marks (stomach, chest, and thighs).
We have selected the 15 best stretch mark creams for pregnancy to help your skin look and feel its best during this important stage of your life.
What are the best stretch mark cream for pregnancy?
1. Isdin Woman Anti-stretch Marks Cream
Isdin Woman Anti-stretch Marks Cream, made with 89% natural origin ingredients, helps prevent stretch marks and visibly reduces the appearance of existing ones.
This formula combines centella asiatica triterpenes, rosehip oil, shorea butter, and vitamin E which are powerful active ingredients when it comes to preventing stretch marks, improving firmness, nourishing, and soothing the skin.
Rich and fragrant cream that is quickly absorbed, this Isdin product is one of the best maternity stretch mark creams because it leaves the skin feeling intensely hydrated, smooth, and comfortable without a greasy feeling.
2. Barral MotherProtect Cream With Almond Oil
Are you looking for a good stretch mark cream for pregnancy with sweet almond oil? Then, you need to know this Barral solution.
With sweet almond oil and white beeswax, Barral MotherProtect Cream deeply hydrates and improves skin elasticity to prevent stretch marks during and after pregnancy.
It strengthens natural collagen and elastin fibers in the deeper skin layers, leaving the skin smoother, firmer, and more flexible while protecting from daily external aggressors.
This is one of the best stretch mark creams for those who prefer a rich cream with a thicker consistency.
3. Bio-Oil 100% Natural Oil
Bio-Oil 100% Natural Oil is one of the most effective and one of the best anti-stretch marks oils for pregnancy.
Ideal to be used during pregnancy, Bio-Oil 100% Natural Oil moisturizes, heals, smooths, and soothes the skin which helps prevent stretch marks and improve the appearance of existing ones.
Once massaged on the skin, it is quickly absorbed and provides immediate and long-lasting comfort to the skin, relieving the common itchiness associated with stretch marks.
This Bio-Oil product is made with 14 natural oils rich in essential fatty acids (soybean, sunflower, cardamom, pomegranate, inca inchi, chia, rosehip, jojoba, lavender, wheat, chamomile, patchouli, rosemary, and calendula).
This vegan formula works by restoring the skin’s natural barrier, nourishing the skin, improving skin elasticity, and increasing collagen production.
Bio-Oil 100% Natural Oil is non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores) and free from perfume, parabens, preservatives, and dyes, making it ideal for all skin types, even the most sensitive skin.
4. D’Aveia Anti-Stretch Marks Cream
D’Aveia Anti-Stretch Marks Cream intensely moisturizes, smooths, and promotes skin elasticity to prevent the formation of stretch marks and reduce the appearance of existing ones.
This D’Aveia product is a good maternity stretch mark cream formulated to be used during and after pregnancy.
It contains colloidal oatmeal, corn starch, wholegrain rice flour, hydrolyzed lupin protein, ginkgo biloba, borage oil, GLA phospholipid, ceramides, and betaine. The combination of these active ingredients helps restore skin integrity, prevent dehydration, and protect the skin against daily aggressions (pollution, tobacco, stress) which are responsible for worsening stretch marks.
Once massaged on the skin, this rich cream is easily absorbed and leaves a delicate oatmeal scent on the skin.
5. Mustela Maternity Stretch Marks Serum
If you are pregnant or just had a baby and stretch marks are starting to appear, the Mustela Maternity Stretch Marks Serum is the one for you.
This anti-stretch mark serum is formulated with passion fruit oil which has hydrating properties. It’s made with 96% of natural origin ingredients.
Its formula contains avocado oil, hyaluronic acid, and natural glycerin which hydrate, protect, and restore the skin’s hydrolipidic film, leaving the skin feeling comfortable, soft, and smooth.
This fragrance-free serum helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks by improving skin elasticity.
Mustela Maternity Serum includes a pipette for more precise and easier application since it should be applied directly on the stretch marks (avoid the cesarian scar if you have one). Its fluid texture helps it melt almost immediately into the skin.
6. Rilastil Smagliature Stretch Marks Ampoules
Rilastil Smagliature Stretch Marks Ampoules are an intensive and one of the greatest stretch mark treatments.
It’s safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, its formula contains essential amino acids, vitamin complex, and hyaluronic acid for an emollient, restructuring, and smoothing action.
The ampoules are easy to apply and rapidly absorbed, they leave the skin more elastic and softer.
In the beginning, apply an ampoule every day for at least 10 days. Continue for 20 more days, with an ampoule every other day, always combined with Rilastil Smagliature Anti-Stretch Mark Cream. After this period, apply 1-2 ampoules every week.
Formulated to minimize the risk of allergies (hypoallergenic), Rilastil Smagliature Ampoules are alcohol-free, wheat-free, and non-comedogenic.
7. Mustela Stretch Marks Oil
Mustela Stretch Marks Oil is made with 100% ingredients of natural origin: passion fruit, avocado oil, sunflower, and vitamin E.
The anti-stretch marks oil from Mustela intensely moisturizes and improves skin elasticity while it soothes, and prevents the appearance of stretch marks.
Thanks to its formula rich in essential fatty acids and nourishing ingredients, the skin’s hydrolipidic film and natural barrier are repaired, restored, and protected.
This fragrance-free oil is quickly absorbed, relieving almost immediately any discomfort or itchiness. The skin is left smoother, firmer, more flexible, and even.
Mustela Stretch Marks Oil is safe for the mom and baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, it should not be applied on the chest area when breastfeeding or to cesarean scars.
8. Klorane Mommy Stretch Mark Oil
This is a great mommy anti-stretch mark oil because of its formula, ingredients, and effective results.
Its formula contains powerful and pregnancy-safe active ingredients (camelina oil, safflower, and evening primrose) that nourish, and repair the skin during and after pregnancy. This helps prevent new stretch marks and correct pre-existing ones.
Thanks to its rich texture, the oil soothes the skin by relieving any itchiness or pulling sensation. However, it doesn’t leave any sticky or oily residue.
Klorane Mommy Stretch Mark Oil is very easy to apply because it comes in a spray bottle. Another bonus point is that the oil leaves a light floral perfume on the skin.
9. Sesderma Estryses Anti-Stretch Mark Lotion
A top maternity stretch mark cream from Sesderma that is suitable for all skin types.
This Estryses Anti-Stretch Mark Lotion is a lotion formulated to reduce the depth, width, and roughness of stretch marks and prevent new ones from forming.
Estryses Lotion formula makes this stretch mark lotion safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
It contains active ingredients such as glycolic acid, vitamin C, rosehip, and centella asiatica that have exfoliating, repairing, and regenerating properties, and stimulate the synthesis of collagen and elastin. They also deeply moisturize and improve tissue oxygenation, making the skin more stretching-resistant.
Once massaged on the skin, it is very quickly absorbed and doesn’t leave any residue.
10. Lierac Phytolastil Gel
Lierac Phytolastil Gel is a stretch mark prevention gel for all skin types with fresh, quick-absorbing, and non-greasy formula.
Safe to use during pregnancy and after delivery, this gel helps prevent the appearance of stretch marks and can also correct them since it improves skin elasticity.
Made with 97% ingredients of natural origin, Lierac Phytolastil has a botanical restructuring complex (made with horsetail extract, ivy, and alchemilla) that leaves the skin feeling moisturized, soft, and firm.
According to Lierac, its gel makes stretch marks up to 2 times less visible for a more even skin.
11. Halibut Derma Anti-Stretch Marks Cream
This is one of the best maternity stretch mark cream due several reasons, let’s know them.
First, Halibut Derma Anti-Stretch Marks Cream intensely moisturizes the skin and prevents stretch marks. Second, it’s suitable for during and after pregnancy. Third, it’s suitable for all skin types.
This anti-stretch marks cream for pregnant has a powerful formula enriched with emollient agents, collagen, and elastin. Due to its formula, it hydrates, nourishes, smooths, and improves skin elasticity, and firmness.
It’s a good anti-stretch mark cream for pregnancy for those who are looking for a rich formula with a fluid texture and lightly scented.
12. Rilastil Smagliature Anti-Stretch Mark Cream
Rilastil Smagliature Anti-Stretch Mark Cream helps prevent and correct white/red/purple stretch marks. This rich cream can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
This cream is formulated with essential amino acids, vitamin complex, and rice bran oil. These are key ingredients to moisturize, nourish, and promote firmness and elasticity. With continuous use, the skin will be more flexible and smoother.
Hypoallergenic, formulated to minimize the risk of allergies, Rilastil Smagliature is a good anti-stretch mark cream for pregnancy suitable for all skin types since it is alcohol-free, wheat-free, and non-comedogenic.
13. A-Derma Epitheliale A.H Massage Gel-Oil
A-Derma Epitheliale A.H Massage Gel-Oil helps prevent and mitigate scars and stretch marks, including those that appear during pregnancy.
Due to the presence of hyaluronic acid in the formula, this product can maintain the skin’s moisture levels to help repair the skin and reduce the appearance of scars.
Epitheliale A.H Massage Gel-Oil also contains Rhealba® oat extract which repairs, regenerates, and soothes fragile skin.
Once rubbed on the skin, the gel turns into an oil, making it the perfect consistency for a massage which is fundamental to stimulating microcirculation, promoting hydration, and reducing itchiness.
After the application, the skin is left with a hydrating and protective film that gives it comfort without being greasy or sticky.
This anti-stretch mark massage-gel oil is a well-tolerated formula for the whole family since it is made with only 9 ingredients (98% of natural origin) and is free from perfume, silicone, and essential oils. Also, it doesn’t contain any ingredients of animal origin.
14. Barral MotherProtect Lotion
Barral MotherProtect Lotion intensely hydrates and improves skin elasticity to prevent and reduce stretch marks during pregnancy and postpartum.
This anti-strectch mark lotion is perfect for pregnancy because it hydrates, soothes, repairs, and restores the skin’s natural barrier. To provide this complete action, it has an enriched formula with active ingredients:
- sweet almond oil
- pantrofine OLV (olive-derived ingredient)
- vitamin E
- vitamin F
Thanks to its thinner texture, Barral MotherProtect Lotion is quickly absorbed and doesn’t leave a greasy feeling on the skin.
15. Weleda Stretch Mark Massage Oil
If regularly massaged on the skin, Weleda Stretch Mark Massage Oil helps prevent stretch marks and diminish the appearance of existing ones during and after pregnancy.
It’s a great maternity stretch mark cream due to its formula enriched with key ingredients such as sweet almond oil, wheat germ oil (high in vitamin E), and arnica.
This 100% plant oil moisturizes, soothes, and increases skin elasticity and smoothness.
Weleda Oil also leaves a gorgeous scent on the skin thanks to the oils of rose, neroli, myrrh, and frankincense present in the formula.
FAQs
Yes, there are specific stretch mark creams formulated to be used during pregnancy.
How to choose a good anti-stretch mark cream for pregnancy
First and foremost, when choosing a stretch mark cream to use during pregnancy, you need to make sure that it is pregnancy-safe meaning that it doesn’t have any ingredients that can potentially be harmful to the baby.
After this, one of the most important aspects to keep in mind is your skin type. If you have sensitive skin, it is better to pick a cleaner and simpler formula, for example, without fragrances. Oils and thicker creams generally work better for drier skin types, while gels and lotions are good for normal to oily skin.
Picking the right texture for you is also crucial. It mainly comes down to preference, whether you like thicker moisturizers, oils, or gels. Why is this important? Applying the product every day (ideally twice a day) in this case is essential to prevent stretch marks. If you don’t feel comfortable after using it, there is a higher chance of skipping the application.
A good tip is to use a lighter product like a gel or lotion in the morning because these tend to dry faster, and you can put your clothes on straight away. At night, when you normally have more time to spare, apply a thicker cream or oil since these are more moisturizing and give more comfort to your skin.
Keep in mind that if you are struggling with smells during your pregnancy, steer clear of scented products.
Conclusion
Our curated selection of the top stretch mark products for pregnancy combines effective ingredients, pregnancy-safe formulas, and different textures to suit your personal preference.
Using your chosen cream/oil consistently, 1 to 2 times a day, is crucial to see results, or better, to not see stretch marks!
Remember that it is also important to continue using this type of product after giving birth since stretch marks can also appear due to the skin shrinking too quickly.
If you are breastfeeding, thoroughly clean the area before every feed and ensure that the product you are using is breastfeeding-safe.
We hope we have helped you choose the best stretch mark cream for pregnancy because you deserve to feel your best – confident and comfortable – especially during this journey.