9 stretch mark creams that will soothe your growing belly

Support for the entire birth experience, from preparation to postpartum.

Thicker than regular lotion but not as heavy and greasy as most body butters, Earth Mama Organics Belly Butter is a top-rated favorite among pregnant and postpartum mamas. (It’s also been a go-to brand for decades for both mamas and babies. In fact, their “down there” spray practically saved my life postpartum.) The all-natural formula contains organic herbs and oils like shea butter, calendula and olive oil which are traditionally used to help soften skin and encourage skin’s natural elasticity. The emollient lotion absorbs quickly and easily, leaving behind a light citrusy scent that’s gentle on morning sickness sensitivities and we love the convenience of the pump top for easy application.

Reviewers say: “AMAZING!! I bought a bottle early on in my pregnancy and started using it daily when I was 4 months pregnant. I didn’t really start showing until the end of the 5th month, but I wanted to prep for stretch marks as much as I could. I’m currently 8 months pregnant and have ZERO stretch marks. I put it on my boobs too and they have not been itchy in months. The smell doesn’t bother me and there isn’t lasting residue like oil. My belly skin hasn’t been irritated (itchy or hurting from stretching) and I give all credit to this butter! Do yourself a favor and buy! 100/10 would buy forever!”–AC

When it comes to pregnancy, it’s always a good idea to keep your products as natural as possible. That’s one reason we recommend the organic herbal Pregnant Belly Salve from Motherlove–but it’s not only! The emollient and moisturizing balm is made with just nine ingredients (non-GMO apricot oil, beeswax, shea butter, lavender essential oil, rosehips, lavender flower, marshmallow root, chamomile and calendula) to help prevent stretch marks and soothe the itch that comes with an expanding belly. Because it’s a salve (as opposed to a butter), it’s a little on the greasier side, but for super dry and stressed or rashy skin it’s a fantastic consistency. We recommend using it after a shower to help it better absorb and waiting a few extra minutes before getting dressed. It’s worth it!

Reviewers say: “I had a belly rash halfway through my pregnancy. It was so uncomfortable and itchy. I tried about 5-6 different belly creams. This was my last hope. Immediately, it was soothing and calming. Within a day, the rash appeared less angry. Within a few days the rash was gone. I continue to apply this salve on my belly because it feels so good and moisturizes great. Will be reordering.”-J. Safakish

From the price to the efficacy to the dreamy cocoa butter scent, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks is a long-time favorite for good reason. The OG stretch mark lotion (which also happens to be Amazon’s #1 best-selling maternity skin care product) is made from a blend of rich cocoa butter and shea butter to soften, smooth, and plump skin along with the requisite Vitamin E to support moisture retention and help repair damaged skin. It’s also packed with lutein to prevent damage as your skin stretches, and argan, almond and coconut oils to moisturize and pamper your expanding belly. Together, this symphony of powerhouses can treat as well as prevent the stretch marks that come from pregnancy or otherwise! And because it’s so wallet-friendly, you can slather it everywhere from your boobs and belly to your butt and thighs without blowing the budget.

Reviewers say: “LOVE this lotion!!! Not only does it deeply moisturize my growing pregnancy belly but it is a perfect all-over moisturizer as well. I have zero issues with stretch marks and itchiness when I use it. This lotion has a medium consistency thickness that is NOT greasy, spreads and absorbs well, and has a nice very, very light scent. Also a little bit goes a long way. Since using this all over I have noticed better skin tone on my legs along with less noticeable leg pores (which has been a long time problem for me). It also has helped my dry heels and edges of big toes more than any other lotion I’ve tried. I have also tried the “cream” version of this lotion and honestly I don’t notice much of a difference between the two other than thickness. I’ll be sticking with this lotion!”–ThatOneGirl

Mustela, the French family-owned skincare brand, always delivers when it comes to clean, non-toxic products for mamas and babies. Their EWG-Verified Stretch Marks Cream cream is packed with plant-based ingredients like avocado peptides to comfort skin, shea butter to moisturize and nourish and galactoarabinan, an effective plant collagen that is extracted from harvested larch trees to help promote skin elasticity. It’s velvety and fast-absorbing and safe to use even while breastfeeding. (There’s also a fragrance-free version!)

Reviewers say: “This is the best stretch mark cream I’ve used throughout my pregnancy. My husband bought me a variety of items to try and most of them were so greasy and thick that my belly would get so hot at night I couldn’t sleep. This cream goes on smooth and is thin but great coverage at the same time. It has helped me although my doctor said that stretch marks are more genetics than cream. I’ve continued to use this cream throughout my pregnancy and I like it it’s so smooth and light. I’ve purchased multiple refills and recently purchased other postpartum care from them as well. I love the brand and would highly recommend this to all other expecting mothers!”–Jennifer

Like a prenatal vitamin for the skin, this botanically-charged cream is packed with powerful ingredients to nourish and protect while your body changes. The gentle but powerful formula includes everything from organic shea and cocoa butters to Vitamins E, C, B3, and B5 to hydrate and firm skin while reducing the appearance of marks and scars. It’s thicker than a regular moisturizer so a little goes a long way. It also dries up quickly and is not sticky, so you don’t have to wait too long to get dressed after applying.

Reviewers say: “After researching stretch mark prevention cream for pregnancy, I decided to purchase the Body Merry Cream. I love that it is all natural and there are no chemicals in the cream. The cream itself is very thick and moisturizes really well. The smell is interesting- it almost has a chocolate/coconut smell but I don’t mind it. If you are looking for something super moisturizing and all natural- I highly recommend this cream!”–Amazon Customer

While some body butters leave skin feeling greasy and slick, the Stretch Mark Relief Restorative Butter from Matrescence is an exception. The avocado-oil based formula feels lightweight, goes on smooth and sinks right in. The addition of sunflower seed and coconut oil nourish and repair stressed skin, leaving skin soft and hydrated all day long.

Reviewers say: “I’ve been using the restorative butter and scrub at night (the scrub before shower & butter after shower), and my husband and I have both seen a noticeable difference in the appearance of my stretch marks from pregnancy – they’re all but gone!”-Corinne S.

Natural, unscented, and inexpensive, it’s no wonder Burt’s Bees Mama Belly Butter is a favorite among moms. The luxe and creamy texture helps soothe itchy bellies while nutrient-rich moisturizers like shea, jojoba and cocoa butters deeply hydrate parched and stretching skin.

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Reviewers say: “This is my first pregnancy and my itchy stomach was KILLING me! I tried a couple lotions before looking for one specifically for pregnancy, and I tried a couple that had good reviews, but this is by far my favorite! I keep one at home and one at work, but luckily it’s not something you need to keep reapplying because it works! Feels great and helps a bunch so that I’m not scratching (trying to keep the stretch marks to a minimum). Love it!”–Jessi211

Mutha’s sexy, indulgent skin care, clad in its signature violet chrome packaging is marketed to mamas but found favor with celebs and beauty mavens of all kinds. The whipped body butter is (not to sound gross), kind of Crisco-like in consistency thanks to the hardworking trifecta of shea, cocoa, and mango butters, along with vitamins, fatty acids, and pure seed extracts. It’s thick and a little goes a long way to help hydrate and lock in moisture which, as we know can help prevent stretch marks to begin with. The citrusy scent is light but pleasant and makes the whole process feel like a luxe ritual.

For an extra dose of belly love and care, we have to mention the Evereden Soothing Belly Masks. The serum-drenched sheet masks are packed with oils, calendula and collagen to hydrate and soothe your belly whenever it’s in need of any extra boost. (Um, that’s all the time, thank you.) And not only do the superstar ingredients help give your belly a smooth glow, the cool sheet also feels amazing on those days you don’t think you could get any hotter. (For an extra special treat, pop them in the fridge for a bit before using!) Of course you can use them solo, but you can also pair it with their rich, mango butter and jojoba-based stretch mark cream for some super-charged pampering!