Despite the lack of proper evidence, these creams tend to work anecdotally (1). These topical creams are enriched with skin-nourishing ingredients that improve the skin’s elasticity and soothe the skin. These also have other skin benefits like moisturization and skin toning. This article has listed a handful of the best stretch mark creams and oils that you can try for effective results. Keep scrolling to read more!
The Top 15 Stretch Mark Creams And Oils of 2022
Note: Pregnant women should consult a doctor before using any topical products.
1. Best Overall:Bio-Oil Skincare Oil
Product Claims If you are looking for that one product that can be used as a massage, leave-in, and moisturizing agent, your search ends here. Womenswear by Bio-Oil because it does loads of things, like reducing stretch marks and wrinkles, evening out the skin tone, offering sun protection, and nourishing the skin. It is a lightweight formula with a faint but pleasant smell. Pros
Clinically proven Dermatologist recommended Non-greasy Non-comedogenic Hypoallergenic Suitable for all skin types
Cons None
2. Best Fragrance-Free:Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter
No products found. Product Claims This anti-stretch marks lotion is an excellent choice for those who want to provide extra nourishment to their skin. This lotion contains a blend of the most hydrating ingredients, like shea, cocoa, and jojoba butter. It contains 99% natural belly butter to keep the skin comfortable during pregnancy. Pros
Paraben-free Phthalate-free Petrolatum-free SLS-free Non-irritating Unscented
Cons None
3. Best Vegan:Body Merry Stretch Marks And Scars Defense Cream
Product Claims Body Merry Stretch Marks And Scars Defense Cream is a blend of cocoa butter (for hydration), shea butter (for nourishment), and other essential fatty acids, plant-based oils, and vitamins that improve your skin’s elasticity reduce the appearance of stretch marks, and soothe your skin. This video will give you a better insight into the product. Pros
Unscented Cruelty-free Vegan-friendly 90-days manufacturer guarantee
Cons None
4. Best Scented:Weleda Mama Stretch Mark Massage Oil
Product Claims This oil is enriched with vitamin E, sweet almond oil, wheat germ oil, and arnica extracts. The Weleda Mama Stretch Mark Massage Oil keeps the skin hydrated and prevents new stretch marks. It also contains a blend of essential oils that gives this product a soothing and refreshing fragrance. Pros
Paraben-free Phthalate-free No synthetic preservatives Not tested on animals Certified natural and organic ingredients
Cons None
5. Best Affordable:Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion For Stretch Marks
Product Claims Apart from stretch marks, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula works on all kinds of skin issues, like discoloration, dullness, and dryness. It nourishes and improves the overall quality of your skin and allows the skin to stretch easily without leaving any marks. Watch this video for a thorough understanding of the product. Pros
Non-greasy Contains collagen and elastin 48 hours moisturization Paraben-free Mineral oil-free Phthalate-free No fragrance allergens
Cons None
6. Best Even-Looking Skin:Mommy Knows Best Stretch Mark Vanishing Cream
Product Claims This is both a stretch mark cream and a scar treatment cream. Along with stretch marks, the cream claims to reduce age spots and skin pigmentation to give you smooth and even-looking skin. It is formulated without retinol and contains essential oils and vitamins to revive your skin and prevent stretch marks. Pros
Natural ingredients Suitable for all skin types Clinically tested Ethically sourced ingredients Non-GMO Gluten-free
Cons None
7. Best Dermatologist Recommended:Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy
Product Claims Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy is one of the most sought-after stretch mark creams. This thick but readily absorbent lotion hydrates your skin and diminishes those stubborn stretch marks in no time. This nourishing cream contains cepalin and Centella asiatica extracts, along with hyaluronic acid that improves the moisture content of your skin and prevents stretch marks. Pros
Paraben-free Botanical extracts Dermatologist recommended Clinically tested
Cons None
8. Best Cruelty-Free:Honeydew Coffee Caffeine Firming Cream
Product Claims This is a firming and toning cream that helps to reduce the appearance of cellulite. It contains coconut oil, shea butter, sunflower oil, and other skin hydrating components that keep your skin moisturized and firm. A few users claimed that it helped reduce their stretch marks. Pros
100% natural ingredients No artificial fragrance Cruelty-free
Cons None
9. Best Skin-Friendly:Tetyana Naturals Scar Removal Skin Repair Cream
Product Claims If you want a cream that works for all types of scars, go for this one. Stretch marks, surgeries, C-section, cuts – this cream claims to work on all. It is gentle enough not to irritate your skin and contains skin-loving ingredients. Pros
Contains herbal extracts Suitable for all skin types Irritation-free
Cons None
10. Best With Natural Ingredients:Botanic Tree Simple Organic Stretch Mark Cream + ReduxCell Anti-Stretch Marks Massage Oil
Product Claims Botanic Tree’s stretch mark removal cream is an enriching formula that contains high-quality ingredients, like cocoa butter, shea butter, vitamin E, moringa, and avocado with Centella Asiatica. It not only reduces the appearance of stretch marks but also prevents new ones. The ReduxCell Anti-Stretch Marks Massage Oil contains beta-carotene and a blend of essential oils that reduce the appearance of existing stretch marks and prevent new ones. Pros
100% organic Not tested on animals paraben-free
Cons
The oil contains artificial fragrance (as per user reviews). The cream may cause skin irritation (as per user reviews).
11. Best For Skin Elasticity:Mama Mio The Tummy Rub Butter
Product Claims The products by this brand are dedicated to pregnancy skincare. This tummy rub butter by Mama Mio contains super hydrating ingredients that improve the elasticity of your skin so that you do not get stretch marks during pregnancy. Pros
Paraben-free Petrolatum-free Phthalate-free No PEG No xenoestrogens No colorants
Cons None
12. Best For Soft Skin:Mustela Stretch Mark Prevention Cream
Product Claims This is a stretch mark prevention cream containing plant-based ingredients. It keeps your skin hydrated during pregnancy and makes it resilient to prevent stretch marks. It keeps the skin soft and comfortable. Pros
100% safe for everyday use Developed with healthcare professionals SLS-free Paraben-free Phenoxyethanol-free Hypoallergenic Alcohol-free
Cons None
13. Best Clinically Tested For Allergens:Body Boost Stretch Mark Butter
Product Claims Body Boost Stretch Mark Butter contains collagen and elastin, i.e., the proteins that our skin tends to lose, which causes stretch marks. It also contains Gotu kola or Centella asiatica extracts that strengthen the connective tissue in your skin, tightening it and reducing the appearance of stretch marks and scars. It also contains other ingredients like rosehip, grapeseed, jojoba, and borage oils that nourish your skin. Pros
Clinically tested for allergens Paraben-free Phthalate-free Mineral oil-free Non-greasy
Cons None
14. Best For Sensitive Skin:TriLASTIN-SR Intensive Stretch Mark Cream
Product Claims This is a maximum strength stretch mark cream that claims to deliver results for all types of stretch marks within three weeks. This is a hydro-thermal accelerator cream, which means it is self-warming. The warming effect maximizes its effect on your skin and helps the ingredients penetrate your skin better. Pros
Hypoallergenic Non-greasy Safe for sensitive skin Paraben-free Cruelty-free
Cons
Takes a long time to show results.
15. Best Lightweight:Clarins Stretch Mark Minimizer
Product Claims A good stretch marks cream will first smoothen out your scars and marks before reducing them. Clarins Stretch Mark Minimizer claims to do exactly that. Its formula is effective and works on all kinds of marks. The formula of this cream contains PhytoStretchComplex, which is a blend of Centella asiatica, licorice-derived glycyrrhetinic acid, and hazelnut oil. It keeps the skin soft, smooth, and healthy. Pros
Fragrance-free Colorant-free Lightweight Fast-absorbing
Cons
Contains SLS Contains alcohol
These creams, oils, and lotions are among the widely preferred and top-rated products available for stretch marks. However, not all creams or oils may work for all skin types and stretch marks. You will either have to go by the trial-and-error method or follow the tips below to find out what suits you.
How To Choose The Best Stretch Mark Cream
Pick Oils: Just like creams, oils are great for preventing water loss and maintaining hydration. They are easily absorbed compared to heavy creams. However, if you do not prefer oils, you may go for creams. Go For A Hypoallergenic Cream/Oil/Lotion: During pregnancy, your skin may become sensitive to a lot of ingredients. Hypoallergenic products usually do not contain any kind of allergens, like essential oils and fragrances, and will not irritate your skin. Pick Hydrating Ingredients: Preventing stretch marks is all about keeping your skin hydrated and making it elastic to stretch without marks. Go for products that contain humectants, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. Pick Soothing Ingredients: A few ingredients, such as cocoa and shea butter, can help calm down your skin. This is important for healing and preventing stretch marks. Know What To Avoid: This is crucial. You should know which ingredients your skin hates and which to avoid during pregnancy. The topical use of retinoids during pregnancy is widely debated, and there is not enough evidence to claim the safety of using them (2). Hence, it is better to avoid retinoids during pregnancy.
If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before using any of these products. If you aren’t and want to use these products for stretch marks, pick a product that you know your skin can tolerate. Also, you have to be extremely patient when dealing with stretch marks. You will not see overnight results and may have to use the product for at least a couple of months before you see any difference.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Shiboli Chakraborti, is a certified skin care coach. She applied her expertise and research skills to curate this list of the best stretch mark creams out there. She has considered and compared the products’ formulation, efficacy, and user reviews before handpicking them. To help our readers, the author has included the pros and some possible cons along with details about the products in the shortlist. The stretch mark creams listed here can help reduce and prevent stretch marks while hydrating and toning the skin. Do creams get rid of stretch marks? Yes, stretch mark creams help make the scars unnoticeable and fade to a great level. Can Vaseline remove stretch marks? Yes. Massaging your stretch marks with vaseline will fade them effectively. Can old stretch marks be removed? No. Old stretch marks can fade but not be removed entirely from the body. How long do stretch marks take to fade? Usually, stretch marks can take around a year to fade. However, with proper treatment, they can also appear mild and less noticeable within 8-9 months, depending on severity. Is vitamin E good for stretch marks? No. Vitamin E helps boost collagen production and treat aging signs. Therefore, it will not have any direct impact on stretch marks. Can coconut oil remove stretch marks? No, coconut oil cannot remove stretch marks. It can only nourish the skin and make it look more healthy.
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