Best stretch mark creams

Run out of this rich cream and you might just go into withdrawal. It's chock full of shea butter, wheat germ oil, sweet almond oil, and borage oil. Breathe in the delicious scent of the rub's patented "Gravida" fragrance, comprised of 10 pregnancy-specific essential oils like patchouli, bergamot, and vanilla. “The shea butter and oils provide moisture, while vitamin E may serve as an antioxidant to improve the appearance of stretch marks,” Dr. Garshick says. 

Heads up

The brand also offers a fragrance-free optionOpens a new window for those with sensitive skin, as well as a lavender/mint scent. 

Parents say:

“I really like these products, they absorb well and a little goes a long way.”

“The belly butter helps with the itching and I really do love the smell!”

Specs

• 4.1 ounces
• Choose from two scents or fragrance-free

This non-greasy formula feels silky on skin and smells great too, thanks to a mix of lavender, rosemary, and chamomile oils. The blend of oils, vitamin A, and vitamin C nourish and moisturize skin to minimize the appearance of stretch marks, and it can improve skin’s overall texture too, Dr. Garshick notes. 

Heads up

This oil is non-comedogenic, so it works for oily skin too. 

Parents say

“I used it with both pregnancies, and have had very minimal stretch marks, I swear by it!”

“Love Bio Oil. I've used it in the past and in about 3 weeks they were gone.”

Specs

• Choose from 2, 4.2, or 6.7 ounces

Dr. Garshick is a fan of this fast-absorbing, fragrance-free cream. “It contains maracuja oil which helps to improve skin elasticity as well as avocado oil and avocado peptides to keep the skin healthy, hydrated and nourished throughout pregnancy,” she says.

Heads up

The brand recommends starting using the cream from the first month of pregnancy. 

Parents say

“Mustela is amazing! No single stretch mark during pregnancy! And my mom had them and I had them before on my thighs. It works!”

“I use Mustela cream. It's not cheap, but it worked with my first pregnancy so I'll try it again!”

Specs

• Choose from 5.7 or 8.45 ounces

If you already love the Burt's Bees line of beauty products, pamper your growing belly with shea butter, cocoa butter, and jojoba extract in this fragrance-free balm. It helps your skin retain water, which will assist it to bounce back after pregnancy.

Heads up

Some users complain the butter has a slightly sticky feel. 

Parents say

“I've used Burt's Bees for both my pregnancies. For me it takes all the itching away. I never got stretch marks, but that's probably mostly due to genetics.”

“My first pregnancy I used Burt's Bees Belly Butter and their Belly oil alternatively (butter in a.m., oil in p.m.)....was pregnant for 41w 1d and only got one inch long stretch mark.”

Specs

• 6.5 ounces

Dr. Garshick calls this budget-friendly lotion a tried-and-true classic for stretch marks. “This is formulated with cocoa butter, shea butter, vitamin E, and bio-c-elaste, which combines collagen, elastin, and centella asiatica to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks and improve skin elasticity,” she says. 

Heads up

Some users complain of developing a rash after trying this lotion, so do a patch test before putting it on your entire belly.  

Parents say

“My best friend swears by it. She put on 50 pounds her first pregnancy and used it religiously the entire time. She has zero stretch marks.”

“I did use Palmers, not every day but often. Ended up with one tiger stripe on my hip during the week I was overdue.”

Specs

• 8.5 ounces

The rich herbal scent of this oil – a blend of rose, neroli, myrrh, and frankincense – feels like a true luxury experience. And the combination of sweet almond oil and wheat germ oil help to keep your skin hydrated and elastic.

Heads up

Most users love the heady scent, but some find the aroma overpowering. 

Parents say

“I’m on my fourth bottle of this Weleda oil and amazed that I actually haven’t gotten any stretch marks so far (I’ll be 37 weeks in a couple days and already gained 25 pounds).”

Specs

• 3.4 ounces

Here, you’ll find some of the few ingredients that have been clinically proven to help fight stretch marks. “It contains centella asiatica, vitamin E, and collagen-elastin hydrolysates which are considered safe for pregnancy and can be used daily,” Dr. Garshick says. The formula is hypoallergenic too. 

Heads up

Not every user agrees that this cream is worth the price. 

Parents say:

“I ordered Trofolastin after reading it's one of the only treatments that showed any sign of actually working in studies.”

Specs

• 8 ounces

Vaseline in any form can be effective for locking in moisture and reducing dryness, which can potentially reduce the appearance of stretch marks and prevent itching if marks do form, Dr. Garshick says. This blend also contains hydrating cocoa butter in a spray-on form that’s easy to apply and doesn’t feel greasy. Spray it on right out of the shower and it absorts into your skin in seconds.

Heads up

Some users say you need to reapply several times throughout the day.

Parents say

“I have been using a cocoa butter lotion by Vaseline that seems to help with my itchy, dry skin all over my body.”

Specs

• 6.5 ounces
• Choose from a single bottle or a 6-pack

This product has a cult following with many women who swear by its organic herbal ingredients and essential oil emulsions. The shea butter-based salve with chamomile and lavender keeps skin soft and elastic. It's great for everyday hydration or giving your regular moisturizing routine a boost.

Heads up

The butter has a slightly oily feel. 

Parents say

“I used Motherlove Pregnant Belly Salve, recommended by a co -worker and I also didn't get any stretch marks. I itched so much at times and would scratch, until I would apply this.”

“I use Motherlove Pregnant Belly Salve...so far so good.”

Specs

• 4 ounces

Stretch mark creams definitely aren’t a must. If you see your stripes as a badge of honor instead of a nuisance, let them be! (Using a regular moisturizer can help if they’re itchy though.)  In addition, some women never develop stretch marks. It’s thought to be genetic. 

“They’re normal and not inherently harmful, so it’s not medically necessary to prevent them and it’s important not to feel pressure to treat them or cover them up,” Dr. Garshick says. Creams and oils are only worth using if you want to try to keep stretch marks at bay or make the ones you have less noticeable. 

You’ll have the best chances for success if you apply a cream or oil early – at the first sign of stretch marks – thoroughly, and often. “Massage the product into the skin to boost efficacy and be consistent,” Dr. Garshick says. 

Using a product early on is more likely to yield results, the AAD notes. But if you’re trying to fade older stretch marks, creams and oils containing hyaluronic acid or retinoids may be helpful for making them less noticeable, Dr. Garshick says. (Again, avoid using retinoids while pregnant or breastfeeding.) 

If OTC options aren’t getting the job done, you can also talk with a board-certified dermatologist to discuss other treatment options like prescription topicals, microneedling, or laser treatments, she adds.