As an expectant mom, dealing with stretch marks during pregnancy can be frustrating. These marks are a natural part of the pregnancy process, caused by skin stretching, and can be difficult to prevent or treat (1). However, using stretch mark creams can help reduce their appearance. These creams come in various forms, from thick cocoa butter-based products to oils.
Read on to learn about the ingredients to look for and avoid, and check out our selection of the best stretch mark creams for pregnancy, recommended by dermatologists.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall Stretch Mark Cream: Mustela Maternity Stretch Marks Cream
- Best Stretch Mark Prevention Cream: Body Merry Stretch Marks and Scars Cream
- Best Stretch Mark Belly Oil: Belli Elasticity Belly Oil
- Best Stretch Mark Lotion: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion
- Best Fragrance-Free Stretch Mark Cream: Earth Mama Belly Butter
- Best Drugstore Stretch Mark Cream: Burt’s Bees Belly Butter
- Best Organic Stretch Mark Cream: Glow Organics 100% Organic Belly Butter
- Best Lightweight Stretch Mark Belly Oil: Pipette Belly Oil
- Best Stretch Mark Cream For Sensitive Skin: TriLASTIN Maternity Stretch Mark Cream
- Best Postpartum Stretch Mark Cream: Mommy Knows Best Stretch Mark Cream
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Stretch Mark Creams For Pregnancy Picks
Mustela Maternity Stretch Marks Cream – Best Overall Stretch Mark Cream
- The texture is in between lotion and cream so its smooth and easy to apply
- Dries fast/gets absorbed fast
- Has avocado peptides which is great for healing stretch marks
- Thin but great coverage at the same time
- More pricey compared to other brands
With no alcohol or caffeine, this fast-absorbing lotion is completely compatible with nursing. Packed with plant-based ingredients like Shea Butter, Galactoarabinan, and Avocado Peptides, it provides long-lasting hydration and nutrition, leaving skin feeling smooth and supple.
What’s more, it’s fragrance-free and free of phthalates, phenoxyethanol, and parabens, making it perfect for those with sensitive skin. With precise formulation and hypoallergenic properties, it reduces the risk of allergic reactions. Plus, it’s EWG VERIFIED compliant, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of safety and effectiveness.
Body Merry Stretch Marks and Scars Cream – Best Stretch Mark Prevention Cream
- Leaves your skin feeler softer
- Similar to lotion
- Feels nice to the touch
- Smells good
- Sticky
This luxurious cream is packed with powerful nutrients and vitamins that work wonders to hydrate your skin, while also improving elasticity and reducing the appearance of stretch marks.
Say goodbye to dry and dull skin with the nourishing blend of organic Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, and pure plant oils. But that’s not all – this cream also contains plant stem cells, seaweed extract, and green tea extract, all of which are known to work wonders for your skin! Moreover, it’s made right here in the USA with natural and organic ingredients.
Belli Elasticity Belly Oil – Best Stretch Mark Belly Oil
- It works well as a moisturizer
- The hydration is really good
- Smells relaxing
- Feels Amazing on the skin
- Takes time to absorb
This nourishing belly oil is packed with natural goodness for expecting mothers. One of its star ingredients is gotu kola, a herb known for its remarkable anti-scar and stretchmark properties. Additionally, the presence of vitamin E in this concoction can help lighten marks on a mother’s belly, breast, butt, and hip.
This body oil has a relaxing lavender scent that helps keep mama’s belly refreshed, promotes relaxation through aromatherapy, and can also alleviate morning sickness and nausea. It is also safe for expectant mothers as every ingredient has been carefully chosen to avoid any history of causing birth abnormalities or interfering with nursing.
The oil is specifically formulated to deeply hydrate your belly skin, preparing it for pregnancy-related growth and providing stretch mark protection and prevention.
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion – Best Stretch Mark Lotion
- Helps with itching
- Helps fade stretch marks
- Does not feel sticky on the skin after use
- A bottle should last a couple of months
- Keeps moisturized for 24 hrs
The natural cocoa butter in this stretch mark cream is safe to use on your skin during pregnancy, and it aids in the reduction of stretch marks as your baby grows.
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion is a daily body lotion that is specially formulated to make stretch marks less noticeable and improve skin elasticity. This lotion contains pure cocoa butter, shea butter, natural oils, collagen, elastin, and lutein, which work together to keep your skin hydrated and supple for 24 hours. It is non-greasy and recommended for use on your whole body.
Earth Mama Belly Butter – Best Fragrance-Free Stretch Mark Cream
- Smells great
- Easy and quick to slather on
- Lasts for a couple of months
- Spritzer is convenient and doesn’t allow you to spray too much or too little
- It is a little greasy when first applied and you need to give it a few minutes to dry
Earth Mama’s Belly Butter is not only a skin-nourishing lotion, but it’s also eco-friendly! This belly butter is free of petroleum, synthetic preservatives, and artificial fragrances, making it a safe and natural option for moms-to-be.
The belly butter is certified by Oregon Tilth to meet the NSF/ANSI 305 Standard for Personal Care Products Containing Organic Ingredients. The blend of calendula flower, jojoba, shea butter, and borage seed oils work together to provide intense hydration and nourishment for dry skin, while also treating stretch marks.
With a refreshing fragrance of orange blossoms and new petals, this belly balm is perfect for massaging into your tummy, breasts, and thighs to soothe and comfort stretched skin. It’s even suitable for all types of dry skin!
Burt’s Bees Belly Butter – Best Drugstore Stretch Mark Cream
- It does moisturize pretty well
- It’s a very thick butter that absorbs well into the skin
- It’s truly unscented even though it contains almond oil
- Makes skin super soft
- Leaves skin sticky
Indulge in the goodness of Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter, a nourishing cream that will hydrate and care for your stretched skin. Packed with the richness of cocoa, shea, and jojoba butter, it helps condition your expanding belly with the added benefits of Vitamin E.
This 99% natural, fragrance-free product is gentle and safe for use during pregnancy, keeping your skin supple and smooth even after the baby is born. Rest assured that you are using a product that is free of harmful substances like phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, and SLS, ensuring that your skin is not irritated.
Glow Organics 100% Organic Belly Butter – Best Organic Stretch Mark Cream
- The smell is light and sweet
- Application is easy
- Consistency is as expected (thicker cream due to the oils it contains)
- Smooth and not grainy
- Smidgen greasy but that’s to be expected from the richness of the oils
This belly butter is packed with all-natural ingredients that are perfect for moms-to-be who want to relieve the discomfort of stretched skin and itching. Glow Organics has you covered with organic, vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free ingredients that will keep your pregnancy belly healthy and comfortable.
The formula is free of parabens, synthetics, dyes, phthalates, sulfates, and artificial fragrances, making it ideal for sensitive skin. And, for those who prefer unscented products, this scent-free formula is perfect.
Pipette Belly Oil – Best Lightweight Stretch Mark Belly Oil
- It’s very moisturizing
- Not too heavy on the smell
- Good quality
- Does not feel incredibly oily
- Thin
Designed specifically for expectant and new mothers, this belly oil features a special blend of natural and extra-pure ingredients, including nourishing calendula and winter cherry extract, to soothe and calm your sensitive skin. It is also very lightweight. This pregnancy-friendly formula is perfect for nourishing and relieving dry, itchy skin during and after pregnancy.
Not only does this belly oil help lock in moisture, but it also features antioxidant vitamin E to support healthy skin. Plus, it contains squalane, a renewable and sugar-cane-derived hydrating component that provides weightless and balanced hydration to your skin.
TriLASTIN Maternity Stretch Mark Cream – Best Stretch Mark Cream For Sensitive Skin
- Great smell
- Not sticky or greasy
- Moisturizes well
- Good ingredients
- Expensive for the amount you get
This stretch mark cream is hypoallergenic and completely free of parabens, making it gentle and safe for your delicate skin. Apply it regularly to your belly to increase skin suppleness and collagen synthesis. The formula is infused with a blend of soothing plant oils that will keep your skin healthy and nourished throughout your pregnancy.
Also, this is specially made with shea butter and natural plant ingredients, so you can feel good about what you’re putting on your skin. Plus, it won’t leave any greasy or sticky residue and has a light scent that will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Mommy Knows Best Stretch Mark Cream – Best Postpartum Stretch Mark Cream
- Moisturizing
- Smells good
- Super rich and creamy
- Not overpowering
- Relatively expensive due to size
Mommy Knows Best’s lotion is specially designed to help reduce the appearance and depth of stretch marks. This body butter lotion is formulated without retinoids, which can cause irritation or dryness, and instead contains high-quality essential oils and vitamins to renew your skin at the pore level.
Not only does this lotion helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks, but it also lightens scars, black spots, and blemishes while toning and firming your skin and tummy. With the power of Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil, Coco, Shea, and Mango butter, and other natural ingredients, this cream deeply nourishes your skin, leaving it smooth and supple.
What To Look For In A Stretch Mark Cream?
You want to make sure the cream contains ingredients that are known to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. These ingredients might include the ff:
- Vitamin C
- Hydraulic acid
- Nut butter (such as cocoa, shea, or jojoba), especially for dry skin (2)
- Non-retinoid
- Coconut, argan, or rosehip oil
What Ingredients To Avoid For Stretch Marks?
Some ingredients to avoid in stretch mark creams include retinoids, which are commonly found in anti-aging products but are not safe for use during pregnancy; hydroquinone, a skin-lightening agent that can cause skin irritation and is not recommended for use during pregnancy; and parabens, which are preservatives that have been linked to hormone disruption (3).
Do Pregnancy Stretch Mark Creams Work?
There is no magical cure for stretch marks, but there are some treatments that may help to improve their appearance. Topical creams and lotions can help to moisturize the skin and make stretch marks less visible (4). However, the efficacy of these products is limited, and the likelihood of developing stretch marks is largely determined by genetics (5). But maintaining skin moisture may encourage skin suppleness, which may reduce your risk of developing stretch marks.
What Are The Differences Between Oil, Cream, And Balms For Stretch Marks?
Stretch mark oils are usually made with a blend of oils and are applied to the skin to help moisturize and nourish it. They are often lightweight and easily absorbed.
Stretch mark creams, on the other hand, are thicker and more viscous than oils. They often contain a combination of ingredients, such as cocoa butter, shea butter, and vitamin E, that are known to help improve the elasticity and texture of the skin.
Stretch mark balms are similar to creams but are usually even thicker and more solid in texture (6). They are often made with natural butter, such as cocoa butter and shea butter, which are known for their moisturizing properties. These balms are ideal for those with dry or sensitive skin, as they provide a more intense level of hydration.
Do Stretch Mark Creams Work On Old Stretch Marks?
It is important to understand that stretch mark creams will not completely get rid of stretch marks. However, they can help to make them less visible and improve the overall appearance of your skin. Using these creams early is your safest best but if you have old stretch marks that are very visible, you may want to consider using a stretch mark cream to help camouflage them.
What Week Of Pregnancy Is Most Common For Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are most common in the third trimester of pregnancy. This is when the skin is stretched the most, and the hormones that relax the skin are at their highest levels.
How Long Do Stretch Marks Take To Fade?
The appearance of stretch marks depends on several factors, including the location of the marks on the body, the color of the skin, and the texture of the skin. In some cases, stretch marks may take months or even years to fade away completely.
Additionally, laser treatment has been shown to reduce scarring, with the most effective type of light treatment being red light. This non-invasive and chemical-free treatment is usually performed in dermatology offices (7).
How To Prevent Stretch Marks While Pregnant?
Stretch marks are a common occurrence during pregnancy, but there are things you can do to help prevent them.
- Make sure you’re staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water every day (8). This will help keep your skin moisturized and less likely to develop stretch marks.
- You can try using a topical cream or oil to help keep your skin supple. Apply it generously to areas where you’re most likely to develop stretch marks, like your stomach, breasts, and hips.
- Make sure you’re getting enough protein in your diet and following pregnancy food guidelines. This will help keep your skin strong and less likely to tear as it stretches during pregnancy.
- Avoiding rapid weight gain during pregnancy will also help reduce your risk of developing stretch marks.
