Which anti-stretch mark cream to choose?

How to choose your anti-stretch mark cream

Different criteria come into play when choosing a good anti-stretch mark cream. If the offer is plethoric, the quality is not always there. Here are some tips to be sure to choose an effective and quality product.

1- Composition

This is probably themost important criterion, especially if the anti-stretch mark cream is to be used by a pregnant or breastfeeding woman. To choose the right cream, you must focus on:

• Natural care: if natural active ingredients are at the top of the list of ingredients (often under their Latin name), it’s a good sign. Some natural ingredients are particularly effective on stretch marks, such as natural vegetable oils, vegetable butters, Aloe Vera.
• The active ingredients: their dosage must be high. For information, conventional cosmetics mainly use water (excipient representing 60 to 90% of the treatment) and synthetic active ingredients. Also, for a high dosage of natural active ingredients, it may be interesting to go for natural or organic cosmetics.
• Allergens: they take different forms – chemical (perfumes, preservatives, emulsifiers) or natural (propolis, pigments, essential oils, resins, oils from nuts). It is therefore essential to test the cream on a small area of skin before applying it more generously to the body.
• Unnecessary ingredients: dyes, texture agents and perfumes are all ingredients that bring nothing in terms of care. You might as well avoid products that are loaded with it.

2- The price, a non-criterion

A high price is absolutely not synonymous with greater efficiencytag. The price of a cosmetic depends on the composition, but also on the marketing surrounding the promotion of the product. Also, some inexpensive products may be particularly beneficial to the skin. This is the case with certain natural vegetable oils. However, avoid going for a low-end product: there is a good chance that it will contain mineral oils or poor quality ingredients that are useless and sometimes harmful to the skin.

3- Texture

More than a quality criterion, the texture of an anti-stretch mark cream is above all a matter of tastetag. Some users prefer thick, balm-like textures, while others like creamy textures or more fluid lotions. The application and the finish on the skin are different. Also, do not hesitate to find out beforehand before buying your anti-stretch mark treatment, even if it means testing in a drugstore or store.

4- User reviews

If you doubt the effectiveness of a stretch mark cream, it may be worthwhile to refer to user reviewstag. They are accessible on the sites of manufacturers or retailers, in the specialized press (for example the women’s press or magazines dedicated to consumers). In addition, it is sometimes possible to find reviews on anti-stretch mark products (video, blog). They can be reliable sources of information, for an informed choice.

How effective are anti-stretch mark creams?

Again, the effectiveness of a stretch mark cream will be strongly determined by the composition of the producttag. A cream essentially composed of water and adjuvants cannot have the same impact on the skin as a cream formulated with natural ingredients, known for their nourishing, regenerating and protective properties. Also, prefer creams made from natural vegetable oils and/or vegetable butters. Some components are particularly effective in preventing stretch marks and healing skin lesions:

• Sweet almond, jojoba, macadamia, avocado, argan, coconut, wheat germ oils.
• Oily macerates such as borage, hibiscus or rosehip oil.
• Vegetable butters such as shea, cocoa, kombo.
• Essential oils (except for pregnant and breastfeeding women): Italian helichrysum, true lavender, ladaniferous cistus, verbenone rosemary, Ho wood, rose geranium, etc.

But the effectiveness will also lie in the assiduity of the applicationtag. If the stretch mark cream is used once “in passing”, it is unlikely to produce positive effects on the quality of the skin.Anti-stretch mark treatments require daily application , on all the areas concerned (neckline, belly, buttocks, thighs). 

A few tips for use

• To use your care properly, always refer to the advice provided by the manufacturer.
• Beforehand, test your anti-stretch mark cream on a small portion of skin (for example the fold of the elbow), to avoid any risk of allergic reaction. Today, most cosmetics are hypoallergenic, but prevention is better than cure!
• If you know you are allergic to one of the components of the treatment, avoid applying it to your stretch marks.
• Some ingredients are not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women: essential oils, preservatives and adjuvants – which act as toxicants or endocrine disruptors that can harm the development of the baby. Among them: paraben, phthalates, ethanolamine, BHA and BHT, retinol, PEG, sulfates, oxybenzone, triclosan, hydroquinone, phenoxyethanol…
• To make the most of the benefits of your anti-stretch mark cream, the application must be daily.
• The application of your cream can be accompanied by a massage, to accelerate the penetration of the product and stimulate the skin and microcirculation.
• In general, the application of an anti-stretch mark care is done on clean and dry skin.
• Avoid using your anti-stretch mark care on mucous membranes and on purulent wounds and lesions.