10 Best Stretch Mark Creams Reviewed in 2024
Eighty percent of women in the United States have stretch marks; they’re natural, and pretty difficult to avoid. Stretch marks occur when skin is expanding faster than the body can lay down the nutrients to build normal, smooth skin. Stretch marks are not an inherent sign of poor health, and many women love their tiger stripes. But if you just don’t like the way they look, there are measures you can take. Most stretch mark creams simply moisturize the skin, and aren’t proven to actually treat or remove them. Creams with retinol or retinoid in them have the data to back up their claims of success, but aren’t healthy for pregnant mothers to use, so choose wisely and read the ingredients when you’re browsing. Below, we’ve compiled the most popular options, and laid out the pros and cons for you to make your research just a little bit easier.
In a Hurry? The test winner after 23 hrs of research
Helps to heal uneven skin tones
Moisturizes and soothes skin
Dermatologist recommended
Helps to fade scars
Winner of over 224 skincare awards
10 Best Stretch Mark Creams Reviewed
1. Bio-Oil Multi-Use
Helps to heal uneven skin tones
Moisturizes and soothes skin
Dermatologist recommended
Helps to fade scars
Winner of over 224 skincare awards
Recent customers claim a change in the consistency and scent; check Target’s website for the same brand if you’re concerned
This formula is clinically proven and dermatologist-recommended when it comes to treating scars and stretch marks. It helps to smooth over the appearance of uneven skin tone, as well as dry and aging skin.
Read moreEffectiveness
Non-greasy, it’s carefully crafted to moisturize without clogging your pores. Bio-Oil is hypoallergenic and ideal for every skin type. It’s easily absorbed and guaranteed not to agitate even the most sensitive skin. Calendula oil helps promote cell regeneration, lavender oil calms and soothes the skin, rosemary invigorates, conditions, and soothes skin while providing mild antiseptic properties, and chamomile oil works as an anti-inflammatory.
Ease of Use
This formula is multi-purpose. It can be used as a measure to prevent new stretch marks or moisturize and soothe old ones, and it helps to reduce the uneven skin tones often caused by scarring. It’s a highly natural solution. The ingredients are chiefly natural oils with healing properties, so it smells nice, doesn’t contain weird chemicals, and feels amazing on the skin without being greasy, heavy, or clogging any pores.
Materials
It’s the #1 selling scar and stretch mark product in 18 countries and has won 224 skincare awards. Once a scar’s surface is healed, simply apply this cream topically. This formula is retinol-free, and thus safe to use during pregnancy as a preventative measure, as well as post-pregnancy when you’re looking to reduce stretch marks. It’s easily absorbed and guaranteed not to agitate even the most sensitive skin.
2. LilyAna Naturals Retinol
Has several organic ingredients
Does not leave an oily residue behind
Absorbs quickly without a sticky or heavy feel
Has a pleasant light scent
Is not tested on animals and is gluten-free
Some did not see any results from using this cream
Because of the container you cannot tell when you are low on product
Improving skin texture, uneven tone, and overall appearance, this terrific moisturizing cream from Lilyana will not leave any oily residue behind. It can be used morning and night and has a pleasant light scent from green tea and Aloe Vera.
Read moreEffectiveness
Other wonderful ingredients include jojoba oil, shea butter, vitamin, sunflower seed oil, horsetail extract, organic dandelion extract, and wild geranium extract. This product has not been tested on animals and does not have any parabens or artificial fragrances added in. it will fade stretch marks and absorb quickly without a sticky or heavy feel to the skin. This fabulous cream will restore, improve, and repair the life back to your skin and will not cause breakouts, pimples, or blackheads or clog pores. It is also gluten-free.
Ease of Use
This cream absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave behind any sticky or oily residue. It won’t clog pores or irritate your skin. It’s gentle enough that you can even use it in close proximity to your eyes.
Materials
Plenty of natural ingredients went into this cream formula to help nourish the skin. Most of them are organic or plant materials to improve the texture and appearance of your tummy.
3. Mommy Knows Best Vanishing
Organic ingredients
Non-greasy and absorbs quickly
Revitalizes skins from the pores up
Retinol-free
Tones and tightens
Creams are not scientifically proven to reduce or prevent stretch marks; some users saw no improvements or results
Mommy Knows Best is a pregnancy-safe cream that the company claims is clinically proven to reduce the appearance and depth of stretch marks. The formula is retinol-free, so safe for your baby, and also better for your skin, as retinol often prompts irritation and dryness.
Read moreEffectiveness
This body butter swaps out retinol for high-quality essential oils and vitamins that seep into your pores and revitalize skin from deep levels. It absorbs quickly, tones and tightens, and fades existing scars and dark marks in addition to stretch marks. Premium ingredients mean smooth, supple skin. Vitamin E, jojoba, cocoa, shea, and mango butter work with other natural, organic ingredients to give you a safe, pleasant experience each and every time you lather up.
Ease of Use
This cream, at the very least, will be HIGHLY moisturizing and smell delicious. All of the ingredients are certified organic, and it’s retinol-free, so safe to use while baby is kicking away. It promises reduced visibility of stretch marks, and similar scars and discoloration.
Materials
At worst, it’s a nice lotion. Plenty of users claimed they saw significant improvement with use, and even those who didn’t still said that it smelled nice and made their skin feel moisturized and silky soft. Most users saw visible results within the first month of using it; some reviewers even provided before and after pictures in their Amazon reviews if you’re curious.
4. Bella B Honey Butter
Prevents stretch marks
Soothes tummies that are itchy
Will sink into the layers of skin
Has a natural mild cocoa butter scent
Can be used twice a day for best results
Some buyers said it left their skin sticky and greasy
A few developed rashes after use
Bella B Tummy Honey Butter is an oil-based thick formula that will sink deep into the layers of skin and not leave it greasy or sticky on the skin. It does not contain water or petroleum but will prevent stretch marks because it keeps skin very elastic.
Read moreEffectiveness
This fabulous product soothes tummies that are itchy with the anti-itch ingredients including shea and cocoa butter. It has a natural mild cocoa butter scent and can be used two a day for the best results. This butter can be used twice a day for the best results in helping your skin. As your skin stretches, you must add moisturizers and softeners to help prevent tearing.
Ease of Use
Some of the natural ingredients include jojoba seed oil, beeswax, vitamins E and D, avocado, almond, sesame, and olive oils plus Aloe Vera gel. The extracts of eleven other flowers and fruits are used in this item too to maximize the overall health of the skin. Because stretch marks are tears in the skin, this butter gives your skin its best elasticity, so the skin will stretch and not tear.
Materials
The list of natural ingredients in this wonderful skin butter is incredible! Many flower and fruit extracts were used in the creation of this product to bring you something that is effective and pure.
5. Earth Mama Body Butter
Calms the stretching of the skin
Has a natural light scent
Comes in a pump dispenser
Does not irritate morning sickness with the scent
Eases dry skin and comforts itchy stretching skin
Product was a thin lotion and not butter-like
The smell of the orange ingredient bothered a few
From Earth Mama, we highlight this terrific body butter for your stretch marks that comes in a pump dispenser. It eases dry skin and comforts itchy stretching skin, plus will not irritate morning sickness with the scent.
Read moreEffectiveness
This fabulous butter contains naturally hydrating essential organic oils, organic herbs, and shea butter that ease stretch mark appearances. It calms the stretching of skin in the areas of the thighs, breasts, hips, and belly. Some of the other natural ingredients include raspberry, borage, calendula, jojoba, orange, oats, sunflower seed oil, Aloe Vera, and olive fruit oil.
Ease of Use
This wonderful butter comes in a lotion form that is dispensed in a pump bottle. The remaining supply stays untouched each time you use it, unlike the tub containers of buttercreams.
Materials
As a highly rated cream, this is a special blend of mostly organic fruit and flower ingredients that are not supposed to upset the user, even with morning sickness. It does have a mostly orange odor because that is one of the more powerfully scented ingredients.
6. Palmer's CocoaButter
Faint, pleasant smell
Moisturizes skin
Restores tone and elasticity
Absorbs quickly
As of Spring 2018 there seem to be some issues with quality control
New formula appears to contain mineral oils and other counterproductive ingredients
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula is the #1 brand used for stretch marks in the United States of America. This lotion works quickly, is comfortable to wear and reverses and reduces several types of damage to the skin. Palmer’s has been around for over 175 years and continues to sell some of the top skincare products.
Read moreEffectiveness
Women who used Palmer’s in an eight-week home trial saw improvements in skin elasticity, skin tone, and skin texture. It helps to smooth out blemishes and keep your skin moisturized for up to 48 hours.
Ease of Use
This stretch mark cream comes in pump bottle so you can easily squirt it straight onto your stomach and rub it in.
Materials
Ingredients in this formula include cocoa butter, shea butter, lutein (a natural antioxidant), Vitamin E, and a blend of argon, almond, and coconut oil.
7. Mama Mio The Tummy Rub
Great to use twice a day in all body areas
Safe to use during nursing and pregnancy
Is omega-packed and super-elastic
The founders are the product creators
Product is free from harmful ingredients and chemicals
Some said it does not smooth on very well
A few complaints about the amount for the price paid
The Mama Mio company was established in 2004 and was one of the originators of skincare for pregnant women. The founders are four mothers who created the products in search of efficient, high-quality products for themselves when they were pregnant with their own children.
Read moreEffectiveness
This rub butter is great to use twice a day on all areas from the bust to the thighs, as it gives maximum protection to prevent itchy skin and stretch marks. It is safe to use during nursing and pregnancy and is an omega-packed super-elasticity base of shea butter and a mixture of organic oils. A few of the organic natural ingredients are coconut oil to build skin elasticity and strength, avocado oil to soothe and hydrate skin, and shea butter to provide the protective barrier to build elasticity and keep in the skin’s moisture. This product is cruelty-free, plus free from phthalates, PEGs, xenoestrogens, colorants, petroleum, and parabens.
Ease of Use
Perfect to use before, during, and after pregnancy, this fabulous rub butter states that it is great to use during nursing as well. This would be important, especially for those mothers that breastfeed their babies.
Materials
This is a product for women made by women, so it has plenty of heart involved in the making of it. The founders are all women who began the company as a search for a product for themselves while they were pregnant.
8. Era Organics Natural
Repairs, nourishes, and moisturizes your skin
Will help your skin expand while you are pregnant
Makes the skin supple, stronger, and healthy
Use on all parts affected during pregnancy
Great to give a boost to any damaged dry skin
The scent bothered a few people
It did not prevent stretch marks for some women
Rich in the essential vitamins of B, C, D, E, and K in addition to Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, this terrific cream repairs, nourishes, and moisturizes your skin. Use it at all stages of pregnancy and afterward too because it is made with organic ingredients that are USDA certified.
Read moreEffectiveness
It naturally prevents and reduces stretch marks from pregnancy and makes the skin supple, stronger, and healthy. This outstanding cream from Eraorganics will help your skin expand while you are pregnant and recovering after childbirth. Use it on all parts affected during pregnancy including breasts, thighs, hips, and tummy. It will give a boost to any damaged dry skin and is a cruelty-free product. This fabulous cream will strengthen the fibers of the skin, improve elasticity, and give skin a warm healthy glow by reducing visible stretch marks and scars. It contains no hidden toxins, parabens, petrolatum, or mineral oil.
Ease of Use
This wonderful cream does not contain any hidden harmful ingredients to hurt your body or skin. It is also cruelty-free because the manufacturers did not use animals to test or produce this item. The organic and natural ingredients include apricot seed oil, borage oil, rosehip seed oil, extra virgin olive oil, orange oil, and sunflower seed oil. Because of the natural oils in this formula, it will penetrate the skin quicker than other stretch mark products.
Materials
Many women love this! To prevent stretch marks during pregnancy, this is one of the best creams on the market. It is so full of vitamins and essential organic oils that you will feel the difference on your skin from other products.
9. Burt's Bees Mama Bee Butter
6.5 oz included
Absorbs quickly and fully
Unscented formula
Natural ingredients, free from harmful chemicals
Can be used during and after pregnancy
The new formula contains shea butter instead of cocoa butter and some moms don’t like the change in consistency
Burt’s Bees made a name for itself with its dedication to all-natural products. This belly butter is a 99% natural formula that softens and moisturizes your skin both during and after pregnancy. It’s unscented and works gently on the skin to give you as much pampering and comfort as possible.
Read moreEffectiveness
Keep your skin moisturized and pampered to feel great, look great, and avoid stretch marks. This lotion absorbs well into the skin without feeling too thick or oily. One user recommended combining it with a few drops of Bio Oil, claiming she did this and never had stretch marks.
Ease of Use
It comes in a tub instead of a pump bottle, so keep that in mind if you prefer the alternative. That being said, it does absorb into the skin quickly and completely and it’s unscented so you don’t have to worry about agitating sensitive noses. The tub is also large enough that you can get through an entire pregnancy on one purchase if you’re economic about its application.
Materials
Safe and nontoxic, the Burt’s Bees formula is free from phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, and SLS. The ingredients include a blend of cocoa, shea, and jojoba butters. You can get it as an individual tub of cream or you can buy the pregnancy package which includes a matching chapstick and leg/foot cream for ultimate relief.
10. Mustela Prevention Cream
Works well on babies and mothers
Safe to use even during breastfeeding
Includes Shea butter and avocado
Free from harmful chemicals
Tested under the guidance of doctors
The smell was a complaint of some women
It may be greasy
From Mustela, we highlight their wonderful prevention cream for stretch marks. It is best applied thinly each morning and night from the beginning to the end of your pregnancy. It prevents the appearance of unsightly stretch marks in expectant mothers and even works well for hydrating the baby’s skin and keeping it soft.
Read moreEffectiveness
This is a special formula that is fast-absorbing and non-greasy that you will love to put on each day. It is safe to use even during breastfeeding because it is hypoallergenic and free from phenoxyethanol, phthalates, and parabens.
Ease of Use
Everyday creams like these for stretch marks should be non-greasy and absorb fast. No one wants to have skin that never dries from such products. This one will dry quickly and absorb well into the skin fast.
Materials
This fantastic cream for stretch marks can be used from the first month of pregnancy all the way to childbirth and beyond. You can use it while breastfeeding and even on the baby. This terrific prevention cream is formulated to decrease the risk of allergies, plus it was tested under the guidance of pediatric, gynecological, and dermatological doctors. It includes shea butter for nourishment and moisture and avocado to leave skin comfortable and smooth.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Effectiveness
Whether they are in a tub-like container or a pump-like bottle, each cream we feature is easy to rub into the skin wherever the skin needs to expand. They are most effective if use starts before stretch marks occur, thus preventing them from happening. If the skin has the elements it needs to stretch, then the marks will not appear.
Ease of Use
If the marks are already seen in the skin, then by using these creams, it will prevent them from becoming worse, prevent others from happening, and possibly decrease the visibility of the ones that are already there. It will then be able to handle the stressful stretching required in the months of pregnancy. Use them all during the pregnancy to keep the skin in shape and from tearing.
Materials
Each item listed here is a top-rated product that was chosen because it had the most reviews online and the highest ratings among online customers who were overwhelmingly satisfied with their purchase. These items are made of high quality materials with proven, well-reviewed results. These are the best in this category analyzed for your shopping experience. We search through the reviews, feedback, and product descriptions to bring you all of the details of each product, plus what is best and worst about it as well. We hope to save you time with our concise, well-informed paragraphs loaded with information just for you.
These creams will rejuvenate the skin in these areas to help prevent these marks from happening. They are made with natural ingredients that will restore, soften, and supply the skin with what it needs at this particular time in your life.
Use them all during the pregnancy to keep the skin in shape and from tearing. After pregnancy, these can still be used to make any marks fade and to tone the skin as your body regains its shape and form.
Retinol-based products are high in Vitamin A and believed to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven tones in the skin by encouraging the production of collagen. Retinol can degrade and lose its potency when exposed to sunlight or air, so they’re best worn at night and purchased in opaque packaging.
When taken orally, retinoids can cause birth defects. Applied topically, the amount absorbed by your body is so minimal, studies suggest your risk for complications doesn’t go up but many pregnant mothers avoid using retinol during pregnancy all the same.
Other Factors to Consider
Adjustability
Anyone can use these stretch mark creams, even if they are not pregnant. Water retention from periods or just weight gain in anyone can cause stretch marks in the skin. These creams can be used for any of those times or just to prevent stretch marks from happening. Use these when you are trying to get pregnant or have just learned that you are pregnant for preventive care of the skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: Which products are in a container where the cream must be taken out using the fingers? This is quite messy, and I want to avoid contaminating the supply.
LilyAna’s Natural Retinol Cream, Mommy Knows Best Vanishing Formula, Bella B Tummy Honey Butter, Mama Mio Tummy Rub, and Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Butter all come in tubs and will need to be scooped out for application. Thicker butters tend to clog pump systems due to their heavy consistency which is why you’ll find so many of them in tub containers.
q: Do these all have a scent or smell to them?
Yes, even the ones with no scents added have a slight natural scent of aloe vera or cocoa butter. The smells are all-natural and should be pleasing to the nose. They are natural ingredients to enrich the skin and make it respond better to the changes from pregnancy.
q: Do any of these go on dry or non-greasy?
Most of them say they are non-greasy, but some oiliness should be expected because they do have natural oils and butter in them that would apply to the skin as a bit oily or creamy. If they are rubbed in well and not much is used, then greasiness should not be a problem for the skin.
q: What body areas can these creams be used on?
The recommended areas by manufacturers are the bust, hips, thighs, and tummy areas for pregnancy. Applications of these creams can begin before any signs of stretch marks occur to avoid them. Once they appear, then the cream will be used for making the marks not as noticeable. Preventive care is best before the tearing of the skin happens.
q: What causes stretch marks?
Stretch marks are the tearing of the skin that is trying to stretch but growth or expanding is happening faster than the skin can stretch. The results are stretch marks, which is the skin layer just under the outer layer that has torn.
q: How long should these be used?
You can use stretch mark cream for as long as you have the threat of the marks occurring. If you become pregnant or are just trying to become pregnant, you can use the cream then to prevent the skin from tearing in your months of pregnancy. Preventive care will condition the skin with the natural supplements it needs so stretch marks will not appear. As the body sections become larger, the skin will be able to stretch along with it.
Sources
- When to Start Using Stretch Mark Cream During Pregnancy, Pregnancy Skin Care Advice ,
- Pregnancy Stretch Mark Cream: How to Use It, Pregnancy Tips ,
- How To Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy, Online Article ,