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How Do I Choose the Best Stretch Mark Creams?

A. Pasbjerg
A. Pasbjerg

With many different stretch mark creams available on the market, there are a number of factors to consider when choosing one. Obviously, the most important consideration is whether or not a cream is effective for reducing your stretch marks. You may want to look for a cream that only contains natural ingredients, particularly if you are pregnant. In all cases, you will want to look for a product from a reputable source. Other factors you may wish to consider include the cost of the cream, whether or not it comes with a money back guarantee, and cosmetic properties such as odor and texture.

Simply stated, the best stretch mark creams for you will be the ones that work well at reducing your stretch marks. There are many ingredients that are considered to work the best at clearing these unsightly marks. Natural botanicals like shea butter, aloe vera, and cocoa butter are all known to soften, heal, and nourish the skin. Retinyl palmitate improves the skin's metabolic rate, while certain peptides can encourage production of collagen and other components of healthy skin. You may need to test a number of products containing some or all of these ingredients before finding one that is effective for you.

Female abdomen with stretch marks.
Female abdomen with stretch marks.

If you are only interested in stretch mark creams containing natural ingredients, be sure to read labels before buying. This may be especially important if you are pregnant. You will be applying these creams to your skin, where they may get absorbed into your bloodstream and absorbed by your unborn child. If you find any products questionable, you may want to check with your doctor before using them.

Many pregnant women use cocoa butter to prevent stretch marks.
Many pregnant women use cocoa butter to prevent stretch marks.

No matter which stretch mark creams you are considering, make sure they are produced by a reputable company. This will ensure that you are getting only high-quality products that offer the best chance of reducing your stretch marks. It also decreases the chances that any ingredients in the creams might be harmful.

In addition to effectiveness and safety, your personal preferences may play a part in deciding on the right stretch mark creams. Some products can be quite expensive, and therefore may not be reasonable choices for you. Since you may not know ahead of time if a cream will work for you, one with a money back guarantee that allows you to test it out may be a good idea. You may also prefer a cream that you find pleasant smelling or does not leave your skin feeling greasy.

Discussion Comments

discographer

@fBoyle-- There is a scar cream sold at the pharmacy that works great for stretch marks. I've been using it for three weeks, and my stretch marks are less apparent. All the other creams are a waste of money.

serenesurface

@fBoyle-- I think that creams with natural oils like olive oil, coconut oil and vitamin E oil are the best for stretch marks. If you apply a cream with these ingredients daily, it should slowly help fade the stretch marks.

My sister also said that she has had good results with a cream containing caffeine. Apparently, cream with caffeine improves blood circulation and helps heal stretch marks more quickly. You might want to look into it.

fBoyle

I've been using a cocoa butter lotion for the stretch marks on my belly and thighs post pregnancy. It definitely moisturizes my skin, but I'm not seeing much of a difference in the appearance of stretch marks.

Does it take a while for cocoa butter to work? Or do I need a different kind of cream? Please suggest me a good cream that will fade my stretch marks.

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    • Female abdomen with stretch marks.
      By: Leo Lintang
      Female abdomen with stretch marks.
    • Many pregnant women use cocoa butter to prevent stretch marks.
      By: ftlaudgirl
      Many pregnant women use cocoa butter to prevent stretch marks.