Being pregnant can be such a joy and it really is amazing what the human body can do but over nine months, growing a tiny human can certainly have its downsides too. From aches and swollen feet to constantly needing to pee and struggling to tie your own shoe laces, an ever-growing bump can be troublesome at times.
I’m currently pregnant with my second child and as well as all the above, I’ve found that stretch marks are something that I’ve had to battle with from early on. Don’t get me wrong, I know that tiger stripes on our tummies aren’t anything to be ashamed of, they are massively common and many see them as a badge of mummy honour but I can’t help but grimace when I see another purpley-red wiggly line appear on my hips or belly. I know they will fade with time but I’ve been determined to do what I can on a daily basis to keep them at bay as best as I can.
I’m lucky in my job that I have access to a whole range of amazing skincare goodies designed to keep stretch marks away, and over the last few months, I've worked my way through plenty of tubs and bottles of lotions and potions, all promising to keep skin hydrated and clear of marks.
I’ve rounded up some of my faves for any other mums-to-be out there. Here are my honest thoughts…
SHOP: The best bump products 2022
1 of 7Palmers Tummy Butter for Stretch Marks
This has to be my favourite bump product that I’ve tested so far. The cocoa, shea butter and vitamin E-infused butter melts into skin beautifully and a little goes a very long way. The heavier formula takes a while to absorb so I’ve been slathering on before bed, and my skin still feels hydrated when I wake up. I LOVE IT.
2 of 7Aveeno Skin Relief Body Oil Spray
The spray bottle makes applying this light oil easy and mess-free. I found it a genuine relief when my tummy was going through a growth spurt and my skin became a bit itchy. It absorbs well and really eased any irritation.
£8.99
3 of 7Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Body Oil
I'm a big fan of the Burt’s Bees range for mums and babies. It's all very gentle and smells divine. I’ve used this belly oil a lot over the last few weeks and find it brings double the moisture when I rub it onto damp skin, post-shower.
4 of 7The Body Shop Cool Daisy Body Yoghurt
This soft daisy-scented body yoghurt smells like my fave designer perfume and the scent really does linger all day. The light, silky lotion is easy to apply and sinks in quickly. Although I didn’t find it kept my stretch marks at bay quite as well as other products, it was a great daily moisture boost at the beginning of my pregnancy.
5 of 7L'occitane Almond Delightful Body Balm
This rich cream has a luxurious feel to it that feels like a treat to use. The combination of almond butter and oil left my bump feeling silky soft and with a gorgeous sheen that lasted for hours. My skin was definitely kept hydrated too. The only downside is that the tub is a little small – I felt like I got through it quicker than other products. I bought it again though – it’s worth it and I’ve just used it once or twice a week rather than daily.
6 of 7Science of Skin Stretch Mark Defence
This one is very light on skin – it is more of a mist. The spray can makes it easy to spritz over my ever-growing tum and it has a really nice cooling feel. It's filled with green tea and vitamin E and promises to reduce tightness and keep stripes at bay. I prefer something a little more heavy-duty but found this a quick fix when my skin felt irritated and it’s a good simple solution to fight stretching on boobs etc
7 of 7Cowshed Mother Stretch Mark Balm
Everything in the cowshed range smells amazing and thanks to the gorgeous mix of sea buckthorn, and coconut oil in this balm, it felt like I was in a fancy spa each time I applied it! I used it as a weekly pamper treatment for my tum and loved how soft and silky it left my skin.