Stretch Mark Creams
Are you bothered by unattractive and persistent stretch marks? Well, you’re not alone. Stretch marks can happen to anyone, no matter how carefully you nurture your skin. Sure, you can cover them up, but wouldn’t it be great if you could wear that bikini or tank top without worrying that your skin doesn’t look perfect? Fortunately, there’s a slew of treatments that can help. The most affordable remedy that you can purchase at any drugstore is a stretch mark removal cream or oil.
5 Top-Selling Products for Preventing and Removing Stretch Marks
Although stretch marks won’t ever completely disappear, some skincare ingredients can visibly improve the way they look. These highly-recommended products can diminish skin discoloration. They also condition the skin to prevent stretch marks from occurring in the first place.
| Product | Fragrance | Ingredients | Sizes | Price | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks | Scented | Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Argan Oil | 6.5 fl oz, 8.5 fl oz | $5.19 for 8.5 fl oz | Buy On Amazon | |
 |
Mederma Quick Dry Oil | Fragrance-free | Cepalin, Sunflower Oil, Sweet Almond Oil | 3.4 oz, 5.1 oz, 6.8 oz | $19.99 for 5.1 oz | Buy On Amazon | |
 |
Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter | Fragrance-free | Sunflower Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Butter | 6.5 oz | $18.00 | Buy On Amazon | |
 |
Paula’s Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment | Fragrance-free | Retinol, Evening Primrose Oil, Grapeseed Oil | 4.0 fl oz | $29.00 | Buy On Amazon | |
 |
Bio-Oil Skincare Oil | Scented | PurCellin Oil, Chamomile Oil, Lavender Oil | 2.0 fl oz, 4.2 fl oz, 6.7 fl oz | $16.49 for 4.2 fl oz | Buy On Amazon |
1. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks
- Retail Price: $5.19 for 8.5 fl oz (Click here to save up to 48%)
- Available Sizes: 6.5 fl oz, 8.5 fl oz
- Key Ingredients: Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Argan Oil
- Fragrance: Scented
One of the most popular baby shower gifts ever is Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion. Expecting moms love that it smells like chocolate and has a thick, luxurious consistency that never feels greasy. It reduces the appearance of stretch marks as it hydrates—you won’t need a separate moisturizer. Once you apply it, your skin will remain supple for 48 hours to allow it to stretch without strain.
Palmer’s combines the ultra-nourishing powers of cacao seeds and shea nuts to boost your skin’s protective barrier. Argan oil, rich in essential fatty acids, is added to soften and tone the skin. Antioxidants like vitamin E and lutein repair damage and help plump the skin for a smoother look.
2. Mederma Quick Dry Oil
- Retail Price: $19.99 for 5.1 oz (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Available Sizes: 3.4 oz, 5.1 oz, 6.8 oz
- Key Ingredients: Cepalin, Sunflower Oil, Sweet Almond Oil
- Fragrance: Fragrance-free
Mederma Quick Dry Oil fades scars and stretch marks with a unique blend of botanicals and complex oils. A gentle massage at least once a day will make your skin recover its glow while erasing the telltale signs of pregnancy or growth spurts. It also treats uneven skin tone and dryness. Every highly concentrated drop absorbs in a blink of an eye, delivering a cornucopia of skin-loving ingredients.
The secret lies in Mederma’s proprietary botanical extract Cepalin. It’s a closely-guarded recipe, but we do know that this product contains sunflower seed oil to help the skin retain moisture. Sweet almond oil reverses sun damage and blurs the appearance of scars and stretch marks. In addition, it has rosehip oil, a natural skin brightener. There’s also chamomile and ginger root extracts to calm down redness and blotchiness.
3. Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter
- Retail Price: $18.00 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Available Size: 6.5 oz
- Key Ingredients: Sunflower Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Butter
- Fragrance: Fragrance-free
“Be good to your bump,” exhorts Burt’s Bees. Their Mama Bee Belly Butter is specially formulated to soothe the skin throughout mama’s nine-month waiting period. It’s 99% natural and doesn’t have any ingredients that could irritate sensitive skin. It’s also fragrance-free so it won’t exacerbate morning sickness. With regular use during and after pregnancy, you can relax in the knowledge that you’re keeping stretch marks at bay.
This rich cream is made with coconut oil to improve skin elasticity and protect it against premature aging. The fatty acids found in coconut oil can also heal wounds and prevent bacterial infection. It’s enhanced with jojoba, an anti-inflammatory ingredient that tames chafing and dryness. These natural oils help to nourish tired and stressed skin, leaving it baby-soft and comfortable.
Gentle on Delicate Skin
A baby’s skin is 20-30% thinner than adult skin, which is why our baby products are made with extra care.
Safely Soothing
Burt’s Bees Mama Bee products help nourish tired and stressed skin during and after pregnancy.
Carefully Formulated
All Burt’s Bees products are formulated without parabens, phthalates, petrolatum and SLS.
4. Paula’s Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment
- Retail Price: $29.00 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Available Size: 4.0 fl oz
- Key Ingredients: Retinol, Evening Primrose Oil, Grapeseed Oil
- Fragrance: Fragrance-free
Stubborn stretch marks usually need to be taken care of by a dermatologist. However, Paula’s Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment gives you the option of dealing with them at home. This product is packed with anti-aging elements that are typically only found in face creams. It lets you treat your whole body with intense moisturization while alleviating rough and bumpy patches.
Retinol, a form of vitamin A, is proven to lessen skin discoloration and uneven texture with its exfoliating action. It helps your skin shed dead cells and dirt to reveal a fresh new complexion. Moreover, this lightweight body lotion is infused with evening primrose oil that can minimize skin imperfections. Grapeseed oil fortifies the skin’s barrier and locks in moisture for a velvety look and feel.
Important: Do not use this product or any kind of retinoid if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
5. Bio-Oil Skincare Oil
- Retail Price: $16.49 for 4.2 fl oz (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Available Sizes: 2.0 fl oz, 4.2 fl oz, 6.7 fl oz
- Active Ingredients: PurCellin Oil, Chamomile Oil, Lavender Oil
- Fragrance: Scented
Bio-Oil Skincare Oil caused quite a stir when it was launched in 1987. At the time, it was the only oil product being marketed to reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks—all the others were either creams or lotions. Since then, it has won hundreds of skincare awards. Doctors and pharmacists recommend it, not just for dealing with bothersome marks on the skin, but also as a moisturizer and skin softener.
This multi-use product owes its healing powers to a fusion of natural plant oils and antioxidants. At the forefront, there’s Bio-Oil’s trademarked Purcellin Oil, a fast-absorbing emollient that makes skin soft and supple. Vitamins A and E are incorporated to restore the skin’s tone and texture. They also prevent further damage from environmental factors.
Stretch Marks
Bio-Oil helps to improve the appearance of existing stretch marks formed during pregnancy, teenage growth spurts or periods of rapid weight gain. Our unique formulation combines vitamins, plant extracts, and oils which help to increase the moisture content of the skin, reducing itchiness caused by stretching and making the skin appear more smooth and supple.
Scars
Bio-Oil helps to improve the appearance of new or old scars, whether from surgery, accidents, burns, scratches or conditions such as acne or chickenpox. Vitamin E increases the moisture content of the skin, improving the overall texture and tone of the scar and surrounding skin. Lavender and rosemary oils also act as a mild antiseptic assisting in the effective healing of the injured skin.
Uneven Skintones
Bio-Oil helps to improve the appearance of uneven skin tone, caused by hormonal changes, overexposure to UV radiation, and other skin conditions, with regular application. Vitamin A and E increase the skin’s thickness and provide antioxidants while chamomile provides soothing and calming benefits.
Stretch Marks: What They Are and How to Get Rid of Them
The American Academy of Dermatology defines a stretch mark as “a type of scar that develops when our skin stretches or shrinks quickly.” The sudden change causes the collagen and elastin in the dermis to rupture. In other words, they are tears underneath the upper skin layers. As the area heals, it leaves behind stretch marks. To find out why this happens, read on.
What Causes Stretch Marks?
Studies suggest that some people are genetically predisposed to having stretch marks. Others get them because of fluctuating hormone levels or from medication. For instance, long-term treatment with a corticosteroid could eventually cause marks to appear.
You’re more likely to develop stretch marks during these periods:
- Growth spurts in puberty
- Pregnancy
- Rapid weight gain
- Rapid muscle growth
What Can Get Rid of Stretch Marks?
Unfortunately, stretch marks are permanent just like any scar. It’s possible, however, to minimize their appearance. Sometimes, it takes a combination of different treatment methods to achieve the desired results.
1. Using Creams, Lotions, and Oils
Over-the-counter products work best if you use them early. That’s why pregnant women are encouraged to start applying them even before their bellies start growing. If you anticipate a lifestyle change that could affect your skin within a short period—for example, weight training to build muscles—then a stretch mark product can pre-empt scars.
2. Applying Prescription Medicine
Clinical research shows that hyaluronic acid and retinoids offer some benefits. Hyaluronic acid, a powerful humectant, traps moisture and plumps the skin to make it look smoother. Retinol and tretinoin, commonly used types of retinoid, help fade marks by exfoliating dead skin cells.
3. Consulting a Dermatologist
If treating your marks on your own doesn’t seem to produce great results, it’s probably time to see a doctor. Board-certified dermatologists can offer the following procedures to reduce scar prominence:
- Chemical peel
- Laser therapy
- Microdermabrasion
- Radiofrequency
- Ultrasound
Your doctor will tell you which treatment is most suitable for you based on your medical history. In addition, they’re always up-to-date and can introduce you to new products that may make a difference.
There’s Hope for Your Stretch Marks
Now that you know about the different options for managing stretch marks, there’s no need to despair. The five stretch mark removing products we just mentioned will surely help your skin recover its silky, bump-free appearance. Just remember to apply the cream or oil as soon as the marks begin to show. Take the time to gently massage the product into your skin for maximum effectiveness. Do this every day and you’ll notice dramatic improvements in a few weeks.
