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When it comes to pregnancy, stretch marks can come with the territory. While they are certainly well earned and shouldn’t be anything to be ashamed of, most women I know would rather avoid them, if at all possible. (Myself included.)
Stretch marks may be inevitable if they run in your genetics, but I do think they can be helped with diet and some special skin care. As it happens, stretch marks do run in my genetics– my mom got them during her pregnancies and I developed plenty of them around my hips in my early teens while I was going through puberty. Naturally, I expected to get more of them during my first pregnancy, but to my happy surprise, I didn’t.
I think my skin care routine might have had a lot to do with it, because goodness knows my diet wasn’t perfect. While pregnant with my son, I craved junk food for nearly the whole 9 months… and though I tried to eat plenty of salads and smoothies, I certainly gave into my cravings pretty often, too. Luckily, my cravings haven’t been quite as crazy with this pregnancy, but I’ll still be using a nourishing skin cream as a preventative measure.
What stretch mark cream should you use? I think the following ingredients are key:
- Vitamin E oil: Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that can help protect the collagen fibers in your skin. It promotes skin elasticity, which is important when your skin is rapidly stretching and growing.
- Coconut Oil: Coconut oil naturally contains some vitamin E, which enhances its skin-nourishing properties, and it also contains proteins that can contribute to cellular health and tissue repair.
- Shea Butter: Shea butter is ultra-moisturizing thanks to its vitamin content, along with oleic, stearic, palmitic and linolenic acids which help prevent drying. It’s great for smoothing and softening the skin, and also promotes collagen production.
I personally prefer to make my own cream, so I know exactly what I’m putting in my body. As you know, everything we put on our skin gets directly absorbed into the body– hence why nicotine and birth control patches are so effective– so I prefer making my own lotions with 100% nourishing ingredients.
For best results when using this cream, or any cream for that matter, it’s important that your skin is already moist– ideally, you’ll rub it on while your skin is still wet from taking a shower, before even toweling off. Creams like this “lock in” moisture, so it’s important that there is moisture there to begin with! You’ll notice that some moisturizing creams have water as the first ingredient (which I’ve always felt is a little bit of a rip-off), but as soon as you add water to a homemade lotion it will require an added preservative– which is an extra step and ingredient I’d prefer to avoid. Instead, just rub this thick, emollient cream into wet skin and gently pat dry to remove any remaining moisture.
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DIY Stretch Mark Prevention Cream
Makes about 8 ounces
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (4 ounces) unrefined shea butter
1/3 cup extra-virgin coconut oil
4 droppers full of vitamin E oil (about 4 teaspoons)
Directions:
In a double boiler, melt together the shea butter and coconut oil until completely liquified.
Remove the bowl from the heat and let it cool for 10 minutes, then add in the vitamin E oil. Pour the mixture into a glass storage jar and store it in the fridge to cool completely. The resulting mixture should be thick and creamy, but its texture will vary depending on the temperature of the room its stored in. (It will be firm in a cold room, and softer in a warm room.) For best use, apply to wet skin immediately after getting out of the shower, then gently pat yourself dry.
This lotion should keep well for up to 6 months, if you don’t use it all before then. Be sure to keep it free of excess moisture for best shelf life.
Note: This cream has no added scents because several essential oils are not considered “pregnancy safe.” If you would like to add an essential oil to this lotion to create a more pleasant scent, be sure to research which oils are safe to use during pregnancy.
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Reader Feedback: Have you used a homemade stretch mark cream before? Many of my friends have simply used coconut oil with great results, but I think this version is even better. My skin has never felt so soft!
All lotions have water as the first ingredient, that doesnt make it a ripoff. If it doesnt have water, then its just a body butter. The water is actually very helpful! It draws the other ingredients down into the skin, instead of just sitting on top. Adding water creates an emulsion so you’ll need an emulsifier. And you’re correct that you’ll need a preservative as well.
Did it help your stretch marks? Mine gone from white to pink/purple cos weight gain. Not from pregnancy though. Got them behind my legs, I want them fade a bit.
Awesome!
You could also add Helichrysum essential oil which helps in healing stretch marks or grapefruit essential oil which lightens old scars.
I am very allergic to everything commercial, but my skin is super dry in winter. It seems a very good nourishment cream. I am hoping to not get a reaction! I will try this recipe today and let you know.
I hope it works for you!
I made it and didn’t give me allergies , but I find it a bit oily ! I like it and I will used it . I look around and some peoplo use beeswax will this make it more creamy ?
I was in my second month, and throughout the whole pregnancy I used the Somaluxe Stretch Mark Cream because its 100% chemical free. I used it twice a day, and three times per day during the last trimester. I continued to use it for one more month postpartum. I don’t have stretchmarks at all! It works perfectly. (I also drank a lot of water during my pregnancy (at least 10-12 glasses per day), I read it also helps you with stretchmarks and swolleness.
I wanted to thank you for this amazing recipE. I’m pregnant for the second tiMe. I didn’T get any stretch marks with my first about 4 years ago and i didn’t use anything, but about ten weeks ago i saw my first stretch mark. I freaked out. I had seen thiS recIpe Before so as soon as i got that first mark, i ordered what i needed and made the cream. The tiny atretch marks that i got didn’T disappear but they got fainteR and i dIdn’t get anymore. I love how much this lOtion helps with the itchiness and dryness too. I have none of It! I just made my second baTch for the 6 or so weeks I have left carrying thia baby. Thanks again!!!
Mine is pretty liquidy. Is that ok? I added some raw cocoa butter but its the same consistency as shea butter so i didnt think it would change anything .
I’ve had terrible stretch marks for years now and nothing really works that well. I think dermalmd stretch mark serum is a good product, i do think it’s not for people with sensitive skin. i’ve notice little red bumps/ a slight rash every time i apply. but nothing terrible.
Hey Megan,
I have a quick question. I ordered the vitamin E oil you linked to on Amazon (the Grest Full Skin Vit amin E Oil). The recipe states “4 droppers full of vitamin E oil (about 4 teaspoons).” I went ahead and measured my droppers and it took 4 full droppers to make 1 teaspoon. Which measurement should I go with, the 4 full droppers or the 4 teaspoons?
Thank you!
I’d go with the droppers! I think the bottle I used said 1 full dropper = 1 teaspoon, but I don’t think I took the time to actually measure them out.
Hi Megan,
I made this cream last night and I love it. I had a question for you: I am two years postpartum and while I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight through healthy diet and exercise, I continue to have significant loose skin in my belly area. Do you happen to have a recommendation for a homemade cream that would target this issue specifically? I figured the stretch mark cream would not hurt, but if you have any ideas specifically to target the loose skin issue, I would appreciate it.
My Mom and I are huge fans of your website and your two cookbooks. We always enjoy talking about your new recipes, ideas, etc. Thanks for being a great resource for all of us!