Why do stretch marks happen? Stretch marks usually happen for pregnant women due to the stretching of their skin to accommodate their baby’s growth. Their severity is affected by several factors, including your genetics and the degree of stress on the skin. Your level of the hormone cortisol also might play a role.
Though there have been mixed reviews on the effectiveness of stretch mark creams, these creams do help to keep your skin from itching and getting dry, which are common factors that causes wrinkles and marks to appear more visibly.
Here are the best stretch mark creams you can get in Malaysia.
Table of Contents
Overview
Mama’s Choice Stretch Mark Cream moisturises your skin as well as soothes itches you may have! The reasons for it to be our top pick? This product is made of natural ingredients, is fairly affordable and also suitable for those with sensitive skin - everything a Malaysian mother loves.
Formulated with Lipobelle soyaglycone and aloe vera, both ingredients contributes towards skin elasticity and better hydration for your skin. Meanwhile, its shea butter, olive oil and jojoba oil aids in collagen-building.
It is recommended to start applying the cream from the second trimester of pregnancy and continue on until at least 6 months after pregnancy. Whereas for other forms of stretch marks, you can use use it twice a day for 6-8 months. Simply massage the cream in a circular motion onto the affected area, this helps to promote blood flow. Do avoid applying cream on the nipple area while breastfeeding.
Details
- Contains natural ingredients including aloe vera, shea butter, olive oil and jojoba oil
- Halal-certified
- Suitable for multiple use on the body including hips and breasts
Who is this for?
From reviews, Mama’s Choice Stretch Mark Cream has been said to help mothers with dry skin as a result of their belly stretch. Several users mentioned that the white stretch marks do slowly fade after applying the cream. It is also a good cream for itchy skin!
The Halal stretch mark cream is also rated safe during pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding. It provides comfort not just to your breasts but also your stretching belly and hips.
Overview
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Cream is deemed a Godsend in improving skin elasticity, effectively reducing the appearance of stretch marks. The ingredients in this cream include Pure Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter, Natural Oils, Collagen, Elastin and Lutein. All of them work seamlessly to keep your skin moisturised and gently accommodate your belly stretching out.
Other than the belly, this cream can be used for other stretch mark prone areas. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Cream is particularly recommended for stretch marks that pop up during pregnancy, post-pregnancy, and/or change in weight.
Details
- Can be used for stretch mark prone areas such as tummy, hips, thighs and buttocks
- Keeps your skin moisturised
- Helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks
- Free of mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, fragrance allergens and dyes
- Hypoallergenic, suitable for users with sensitive skin
Who is this for?
Users have recommended Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Massage Cream for Stretch Marks not just for pregnancy stretch marks, but also for weight fluctuations. A user even mentioned using this product for weight gain on their arms, legs, and belly. While this cream does not remove stretch marks, but it makes them much less noticeable, giving the appearance of smoother skin.
Overview
Mederma’s Stretch Marks Therapy Cream has been shown to reduce the appearance of existing stretch marks. This cream has been advertised to not only use for stretch marks caused by pregnancy, but all stretch marks overall hence it is suitable for men as well! The product works to keep your skin hydrated and soft, which helps to prevent stretch marks.
This cream is made of a mix of botanical ingredients, and it also includes Cepalin botanical extract, Hyalluronic Acid, and Centella Asiatica. With that, the triple action formula contributes towards collagen production, cell renewal, as well as keeping your skin moisturised.
It is recommended to use the cream twice a day. Just massage the cream onto the affected area in circular motions! However, this cream cannot be applied to wounds, bites, or serious burns.
Details
- Made of botanical ingredients including Cepalin botanical extract, Hyalluronic Acid, and Centella Asiatica
- Works to aid in collagen production, cell renewal and skin-moisturisation
Who is this for?
Though this cream is unable to remove stretch marks completely, it helps in making the appearance of stretch marks less visible. A user mentioned that the cream helped to get rid of sheen and dark shades caused by the marks, resulting in their skin having a more even tone.
Overview
Pureen’s Stretch Mark Lotion helps to prevent and reduce the visibility of stretch marks. This lotion is paraben-free, making it suitable for sensitive skin. Aside from the belly, this can be used on the abdomen, upper thighs and waist.
Formulated with a luxurious list of moisturising ingredients, the cream aids in moisturising your dry skin and/or itchy skin while improving its elasticity. It also contains vitamin E, which provides antioxidant protection.
The cream is recommended to start using from the first month of pregnancy (before stretch marks pop up) and continue up to 3 months after delivery. Simply massage the lotion on the stretch mark prone area of your body, two times a day.
Details
- Made of a triple action formula to moisturise, improve and protect the skin
- Formulated with many natural ingredients including cocoa butter, shea butter, olive oil and rose hip seed oil
Who is this for?
Pureen’s Stretch Mark Lotion has an oily texture in comparison to other screams. Despite its oily texture, it dries off quickly after application. Users mentioned that this lotion has a pleasant smell. Some also pointed out that the lotion is able to relieve itchiness for them, although some didn’t get that relief.
Overview
Mustela’s Stretch Mark Cream helps in moisturising, skin elasticity, relieves itches, and limits the appearance of stretch marks throughout pregnancy. This cream can be applied throughout pregnancy. Utilising on natural ingredients such as Maracuja (Passion Fruit) Oil concentrate, Avocado oil and Avocado peptides; the skin is soothed and strengthened due to the boost in moisture.
The cream can be applied on the belly, thighs, bum, and breasts, though it is not 100% safe for a baby to consume if applied on the nipples.
Details
- Consists of a lot of natural ingredients
- Helps in skin elasticity, keeping your skin moisturised
- Aids in restoring and maintaining the skin's hydrolipidic film that weakens during pregnancy
Who is this for?
Users have praised this cream for its moisturising component. This cream does have a slight fragrance (a sweet/flowery scent), which some users who are sensitive to smells might not be used to.
Overview
Clarins’ Body Partner Stretch Mark Cream helps to improve your skin’s elasticity, firmness, as well as soothes your skin. The cream is made of a lightweight formula which helps to prevent stretch marks and lessen their visibility through weight fluctuations.
Aside from the belly, this can be applied on the thighs, hips, and breasts.
Details
- Improve skin elasticity
- Minimising the look of stretch marks by visibly reducing them on length, width, depth, and colour
Who is this for?
Users highlighted mainly on this cream’s effect in keeping their skin hydrated. Wearing it will leave a texture that is more on the sticky side.
While a fairly safe to use product for new mothers, it is recommended for all to check with their GP before using this, as some moms reported breaking into a rash from it.
Still, from an actual study done by the brand; 81% of new mothers mentioned that their stretch marks turn out less deep after applying this cream for 3 months.
Overview
Sebamed’s Anti-Stretch Mark Cream is made of a triple soft formula that contributes towards skin elasticity, which prevents stretch marks from occurring during and after pregnancy. It contains a friendly pH value of 5.5 which helps to maintain the health of your skin’s natural hydro-lipid barrier.
In the cream, avocado oil and shea butter are combined with other lipids to provide effective skin care and protection of the upper skin layers. Together with centella asiatica (Tiger Grass) extract and peptides, the formula is supported by the liquid-crystalline lipid structure of an olive oil derived complex to allow a better adaptation of the connective tissue with less structural damage.
Details
- Free from animal ingredients
- No mineral oils, phtalate, alcohol and bisphenol (BPA)
- Helps to reduce existing stretch marks
- Helps to restore the connective tissue
- Unique Triple Soft Formula supports the skin`s elasticity
Who is this for?
Users have mentioned that this cream has improved their skin’s elasticity and reduced the amount of stretch marks since using it. Though it did not work for some, this is still a soothing cream nonetheless.
Overview
Burt’s Bees’ Mama Bee Belly Butter is focused on keeping your belly soft, smooth, and comfortable before and post-pregnancy. This belly butter aids in moisturising and nourishes your belly’s stretching skin.
The ingredients included in the formula are Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Cocoa, and jojoba butters. Thus, it is no surprise that it is labelled fragrance-free, but has a natural smell. Moreover, the Mama Bee Belly Butter has no phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, or SLS.
To use, simply massage the butter onto your belly. A reminder: Do wipe the butter off your breasts before breastfeeding.
Features
- Contains Belly butter with shea butter: natural fat that reduces wrinkles and improves skin elasticity
- Doubles as a lotion that softens your skin with naturally hydrating cocoa, shea and jojoba butters
- Fragrance-free
- Made without phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, or SLS
Who is this for?
Users constantly praised Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter for its soft, creamy texture. It did not leave a sticky residue, and has helped with itchy skin.
Overview
Botanic Tree’s Stretch Mark Cream is a vegan cocoa butter belly cream that focuses on hydrating while being gentle on your skin. It essentially helps to improve the skin’s elasticity while lightening the appearance of stretch marks post-pregnancy.
Rest assure that this cream is made of ingredients that are safe not just for pregnant moms, but also for other skin types. Moreover, the product is made cruelty-free, and free of parabens and sulfates.
Details
- Contains natural ingredients like cocoa & shea butter, as well as avocado and olive oil derivatives
- Utilises Moringa with Vitamin A to help with collagen production
- Formulated with Vitamin E for anti-inflammatory component, and Vitamin B5 for skin healing
Who is this for?
Users commented that the smell of this product is pleasant. It also has a decent moisturising ability. There are, however, mixed reviews about its effectiveness on stretch marks, but it is a soothing cream nonetheless.
Overview
If all you want is to focus on lessening visible marks, try Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Tummy Butter which aids to improve skin elasticity and reduce the visibility of stretch marks. Made of luxurious ingredients such as Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter, Natural Oils, Collagen, Elastin, and Lutein, the formula focuses on keeping your skin moisturised.
The tummy butter is recommended for stretch marks that pop up during pregnancy, post-pregnancy, and/or changes in weight gain.
Details
- Helps in reducing the appearance of stretch marks
- Free of mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, fragrance allergens and dyes
- Hypoallergenic, suitable for users with sensitive skin
Who is this for?
Users have mentioned following the recommended usage (twice a day) and this tummy butter has helped to keep their belly hydrated and moisturised. This tummy butter can also be used post-pregnancy.
Overview
Earth Mama’s Belly Oil is a cruelty-free product that moisturises your skin with herb-infused oils. Rest assure that it is easily absorbable, keeping your skin hydrated without any tackiness. This belly oil also contributes towards better skin elasticity.
Upon application, the oil has a soft fragrance, so it may even be suitable for those who are sensitive to smells! In fact, the belly oil is recommended to be used even post-pregnancy.
For this product, it has no petroleum, mineral oil, parabens or artificial fragrance.
Details
- Contains organic ingredients such as calendula, jojoba oil, borage oil and orange blossom pure essential oil
- Free of petroleum, mineral oil, parabens or artificial fragrance.
- Easily absorbed
Who is this for?
Users have commented that this belly oil has a pleasant smell, easily applied, and it does not leave an oily or sticky residue. It is all in all hydrating and soothing as it helps with itching.
Overview
Bio-Oil’s Skincare Oil is a notable skincare product that helps to improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone. Lo and behold; Bio-Oil’s Skincare Oil is also primed to treat stretch marks not just for pregnant women, but also body builders, adolescents undergoing sudden growth spurts and individuals who experienced rapid weight gain.
With its PurCellin Oil ingredient, it is also useful for other conditions such as ageing and dehydrated skin. It contains ingredients such as vitamin E and sunflower seed oil which helps in hydrating your skin. This product can be used on the face and the body.
Details
- Helps to improve the appearance of scars. On new scars, Bio‑Oil should be applied only once the wound has healed, and should not be used on broken skin.
- Improves the appearance of stretch marks. During pregnancy, it should be applied from the start of the second trimester to areas that are prone to stretch marks such as the abdomen, breasts, lower back, hips, buttocks and thighs.
Who is this for?
Bio-Oil helps to hydrate and protect the skin, aside from reducing the visibility of stretch marks (though it does not completely remove them). For an oily, this one is quick-drying, focused on moisturising and softening the skin.
As a bonus, it can also be used as a cuticle oil whenever your nails are feeling dry.
FAQ:
- Ingredients to look for in a stretch mark cream:
When you’re looking for a stretch mark cream, you should first scan the ingredients list to rule out anything you might be sensitive or allergic to. You can also choose between a cream that is scented or fragrance-free. While pregnant and/or breastfeeding, it is advised that products that contain retinoids should be avoided.
These are some ingredients present in stretch mark creams that you can look out for:
- Nut butter (such as cocoa, shea, or jojoba): Shea butter is an ingredient that helps with skin health. Though it cannot completely remove stretch marks or prevent them, shea butter can reduce the redness of new stretch marks, strengthen the damaged skin, and provide UV protection.
- Vitamin E: It is known for skin regenerating benefits, and it can help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and scars.
- Hyaluronic acid: This ingredient will help to hydrate your dry skin, keep upper layers of the skin supple, and make the stretch marks appear less noticeable.
- Coconut, argan, or rosehip oil: Though coconut oil is not able to completely remove stretch marks, it may improve the overall appearance of skin which could reduce the look of stretch marks.
- Aloe vera: Though there is little evidence of aloe vera being a cure for stretch marks, its skin-repairing properties can help to soften and heal your skin.
- Peptides: These can help with the unevenness of skin tone which can appear with darkened areas or rough patches of skin. Peptides that help to build collagen or restore elasticity to skin can also help reduce the appearance of stretch marks or scars.
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