When you get pregnant, it’s hard to not think about whether or not your ever-changing body is going to also end up with stretch marks. Many expecting mamas develop stretch marks and they can develop on your belly, booty, breasts, thighs or hips and can look different on everyone. Applying stretch mark treatments in the form of belly oils, belly butters or belly creams or even belly masks is an excellent form of self-care during pregnancy, regardless of the outcome. It allows you to connect with your growing bump and changing body and give you a moment of appreciation during your daily AM or PM routine.

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Importance of stretch mark treatments during pregnancy

From what I have read, stretch marks are going to be largely based on genetics, so you may or may not be predisposed to them from your family history. Everyone’s body and each pregnancy is so unique. I didn’t get stretch marks my first pregnancy, but the jury is still out on my second one. I have definitely gained weight faster this time around and been way less diligent with my belly oil application, so I am interested to see what happens! Either way, your body is creating LIFE and it is truly amazing, and hydrating your ever growing and stretching skin is still so important to nourish it both during pregnancy and postpartum! 

When to start applying belly oils/creams in pregnancy

Usually sometime throughout the first trimester is a good time to start applying stretch mark oils or creams! The goal is to keep the skin hydrated and nourished before your skin starts to expand. I started using stretch mark oil and stretch mark cream around the 12th week or so of pregnancy each time, but you can absolutely start earlier!

Ingredients to avoid in stretch mark oils or stretch mark creams

Similar to most other beauty products, I look for paraben free, phthalate free/artificial fragrance free, petroleum and mineral oil free as well. Avoiding any hormone disruptors and petroleum derived ingredients that could be contaminated with potentially cancerous substances! Yuck! 

Ingredients to look for

I typically look for tons of nutrient dense oils and butters, essential oils, ones known for hydration and healing! Almond oil, Jojoba oil, Coconut oil, Shea butter, Cocoa butter, to name a few.

Brands I’ve tried and loved their pregnancy stretch mark treatments:

Evereden

What’s great about Evereden brand is that they are founded by moms in medicine, and create science-backed, nutrient dense, and super safe formulas for mom and baby. Every Ever-Eden product is formulated without phthalates, parabens, sulfates, chemical sunscreens, or petrolatum. 

They have the following certifications as well: 

Made Safe cert 

EWG certified 

Accepted by National Eczema Foundation 

USDA certified biobased products 

Evereden Golden Belly Serum: Why I love it

Evereden Golden Belly Serum

Per the product description, it is “a multi-correctional targeted treatment that helps to restore stressed, fragile skin during pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. Clinically proven to reduce stretch marks by 62% in just 8 weeks*. It also smells super light, a little floral, and just relaxing! It applies super light, not oily/greasy at all. It also has such a lux bottle and dropper you truly feel so luxurious applying it and it looks so beautiful on your bathroom vanity. They also have a floral version that is light pink and floral and looks so amazing I just haven’t ordered it yet because I haven’t needed a refill yet! 

Key ingredients:

Marula Oil to rejuvenate

Passionfruit Seed Oil to restore the feeling of skin elasticity

Camelina Sativa Oil to strengthen

Centella Asiatica to brighten and combat stretch marks

Full ingredient list of Ever-Eden Golden Belly Serum:

Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil,Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Seed Oil,Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Coco Caprylate, Passiflora Edulis (Passion Fruit) Seed Oil,Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, TocopherolVitamin E, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Flower Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit (Rosehip) Oil. 

Efficacy: According to their studies

62% Clinically proven to reduce stretch marks by 62% in just 8 weeks.*

95% of women saw clinical improvement in the size of stretch marks in 8 weeks *

82% of women saw a clinically measured improvement in skin firmness, smoothness and brightness in just 4 weeks **

Evereden Golden Belly Serum Bottle

How to apply Evereden Golden Belly Serum?

Warm and activate one full dropperful into hands,  massage onto belly, hips, thighs and breasts. Use morning and night for maximum results. Safe for daily use during pregnancy and postpartum. 

Other products for mama from Evereden:

They also have Soothing Belly Masks and Nourishing Stretch Mark Cream to use in conjunction with their Golden Belly Serum. I actually used a bunch of the Soothing Belly Masks in my last trimester during my first pregnancy and plan to do it again – especially if your skin gets dry and itchy as it’s stretched to its max capacity. They feel like cool gel aloe and it’s just a really fun and unique way to pamper yourself and belly during your pregnancy! I haven’t tried their stretch mark cream yet! 

What does Evereden Golden Belly Serum cost?

$39 for 1.7oz 

It does instruct to use one full dropper per application. I find sometimes I need more than that as it is a super fast absorbing oil and I find it doesn’t go as far as I’d like it to with just one dropper. It’s definitely lasted me a few months but you can see I am running low and likely will run out before the end of pregnancy. I also have not been as religious with application daily or twice a day as I would like to be! 

Erbaviva

What’s great about the Erbaviva brand is that they are organic, paraben and sulfate free. 

They also have the following benefits: 

Farm to bottle 

Cruelty free

Certified B corporation 

100% vegetarian 

Made in California 

Erbaviva Stretch Mark Oil: Why I love it

Erbaviva Stretch Mark Oil

EverI used this belly oil and their stretch mark cream religiously during my first pregnancy starting around 12 weeks, and didn’t have any stretch marks that time! I loved how nourishing and hydrating it was, and loved having that as my AM and PM ritual (cream in morning, oil at night). It smells very earthy and calming with the lavender. 

Key Ingredients:

Organic carrot seed oil: boosts elasticity allowing skin to stretch smoothly

Rosemary, rosehip and vitamin E aid as anti-inflammatory skin rejuvenators. 

Organic Almond Oil: rejuvenates skin and reduces appearance of scars

Organic Lavender Essential Oil: aromatic and calming 

Full Ingredients list for Erbaviva Stretch Mark Oil:

*Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, *Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, *Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, *Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, *Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, *Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, *Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, *Santalum Spicatum (Sandalwood) Oil, *Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, *Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, *Rosa Damascena Flower Oil

*denotes certified organic ingredient.

How to apply Erbaviva Stretch Mark Oil:

For greatest benefit, massage oil on belly, breasts, thighs and hips at nighttime; supplement with Erbaviva organic stretch mark cream in the mornings.

What is the cost of the Erbaviva Stretch Mark Oil?

$16 for 2oz

$32 for 4 oz

$96 for 16oz 

During my first pregnancy I started using this oil (and the cream below) around 12 weeks. The 4oz bottle lasted me the entire time with nearly daily application! 

Erbaviva stretch mark cream: Why I love it

Erbaviva Stretch Mark Cream

This nutrient packed cream has tons of delicious ingredients and absorbs really nicely into skin in the morning and doesn’t feel sticky or tacky. It smells light and earthy similar to the oil, and I found it was nice to have something different and lighter under my clothes in the morning compared to bedtime with the heavier oil. 

How to apply Erbaviva stretch mark cream?

For best results use in conjunction with Erbaviva Stretch Mark Oil. 

Key Ingredients:

Organic Carrot Seed Oil: boosts elasticity allowing skin to stretch smoothly

Organic Sea Buckthorn Extract: rejuvenating, reduces appearance of scars and skin damage.

Organic Cocoa Butter: High in fatty acids and hydrates the skin, preventing the appearance of scars and stretch marks. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that are known to fight free radicals and protect skin.

Erbaviva Stretch Mark Cream full Ingredients:

Water, *Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, *Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Algin, *Rosemarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, *Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Fruit Extract, *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Kernel Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, *Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Oil, *Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, †Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Oil, *Santalum Spicatum (Sandalwood) Oil 

*denotes certified organic ingredient.

Erbaviva stretch mark cream cost:

$16 for 2oz

$30 for 4 oz

$90 for 16oz

Again similar to the oil, I started using this around my 12th week of pregnancy and it lasted nearly the rest of the pregnancy!

Other products for mama by Erbaviva that I haven’t tried:

They also make a Belly Butter to go in conjunction with their Stretch Mark Oil or Cream however since I had/have the oil and cream, I felt this was enough for me! 

Other stretch mark treatments I would trust but haven’t used:

Earth Mama Belly OIl

Hatch Mama Belly Oil

Pipette Belly Oil

Patyka Anti-Stretch Mark Body Oil

100% Pure Stretch Mark Butter

Weleda Stretch Mark Massage Oil

What products have you used during your pregnancy or a friend has used and loved? Let me know! 

Xo- Sarah