Stretch marks occur when the skin expands, weakening its elasticity. This is a completely normal occurrence when the body goes through sudden changes like pregnancy or weight loss. However, you can use one of the best creams for stretch marks to reduce their appearance.
Not that there is anything wrong with having stretch marks on the body – keeping it or not is based on your choice – but you can work on reducing the visibility of stretch marks if you want to.
Nonetheless, getting a product that does the best it can to aid your skincare goal can be hard. And when you use a product that doesn’t provide a result as touted, it can be heart-wrenching.
To avoid one disappointment or another, I have streamlined the best creams for stretch marks to provide a solution to your colored streaks. These products were chosen based on expert feedback and research on sales data metrics on e-commerce stores.
1. Best overall cream for stretch marks
Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy
This cream contains essential ingredients like cepalin botanical extract and Centella Asiatica extract to reduce the appearance of stretch marks on the skin. Meanwhile, hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin.
Furthermore, the cream is known to soften the texture of your skin, making it easy for the firmness to tighten. You can use the cream to improve new skin cell regeneration with its collagen-stimulating properties.
This formula can be used to prevent and reduce visible stretch marks on your body. Plus, it is moisture-balancing.
2. Best cream for old stretch marks
Rilastil Stretch Mark Cream
The renewing cream helps to reduce the appearance of tough old scars on the skin. The formula is simple and intense, and leaves a fast result on the skin.
Additionally, the cream moisturizes the skin; it leaves a smooth texture. You can use this cream to improve the elasticity of your skin. Moreover, it improves the flexibility of your skin, making it soft-textured.
3. Best anti-stretch mark cream
Sebamed Anti-Stretch Mark Cream
The formula has a high tolerance rate that helps to prevent stretch marks from appearing on your skin. This is especially good for women in the early stages of pregnancy or people about to embark on a weight loss program.
The cream is restorative. It works by correcting the tissue on the delicate areas of your skin. Additionally, it is gentle on the skin. The cream is suitable for all skin types and tones.
4. Best cream for stretch marks during pregnancy
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion for Stretch Marks
This product sets itself apart with its effective formula in renewing the areas of stretched skin. The formula is lightweight and contains hydrating ingredients that keep the skin supple.
In addition, the cream contains vitamin E to improve the skin’s surface. Meanwhile, argan oil and coconut oil serve as occlusive that keeps the moisture in.
The hypoallergenic cream effectively reduces the appearance of stretch marks and retains the elasticity of your skin to keep it looking plump, smooth, and glowing.
5. Best cream for stretch marks after pregnancy
TriLASTIN Maternity Stretch Mark Prevention Cream
This effective cream works for the improvement of your skin before and after pregnancy. For a delicate period when the skin is healing, the cream treats the skin, firming it. This also enhances the softness of the skin.
Furthermore, the cream gradually reduces the scars on the skin. It works by infusing the skin with renewing natural-based extracts and moisturizing properties that soothe the skin. In addition, the cream strengthens the elasticity of the skin.
You can use the cream to improve collagen production, thereby enhancing skin cell rejuvenation.
6. Best natural cream for stretch marks
Mustela Maternity Stretch Marks Cream
This cream has natural ingredients that revive your skin. It contains peptides, and natural avocado extract to moisturize and firm the skin surface. Besides this, the formula helps to reduce the appearance of red lines on your skin.
Moreover, the intense cream does not irritate the skin. It effectively treats the skin without harming your skin. The cream is fast-absorbing and versatile. You can fall back on this product if you need a reassuring product to soothe your skin.
7. Best moisturizing cream for stretch marks
Windsor Botanicals Stretch Mark Cream
The cream contains natural ingredients to prevent and moisturize your skin. It also helps to soothe with its shea butter ingredient by moistening the skin and keeping it supple.
Additionally, the cream fits any skin type and protects the skin, including the baby. The moisturizing cream for stretch marks provides the necessary hydration and maintenance to always keep your skin nourished.
8. Best cream for stretch marks and scars
Beautivity Stretch Mark & Scar Cream
This formula contains rosehip oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, collaxyl, and elastonyl to hydrate and firm the skin. The cream is also peptide-rich to protect the moisture barrier of the skin. You can use the cream to stimulate collagen production for new skin cells.
Furthermore, the cream reduces the appearance of scars on the skin. Whether deep or light, it fades the scars with consistent use. You can also use the product to prevent future stretch marks on the skin.
9. Best cream for stretch marks on belly
Burt’s Bees Mama Belly Butter
This buttercream contains shea butter and vitamin E to hydrate and soften the skin. The moisturizing formula increases the balance of your skin, nourishing and treating it. This helps to reduce the marks on your belly.
This jojoba and cocoa butter-rich formula also recover your skin’s smooth texture. In addition, it is natural. It does not contain any harmful ingredients. You can use this belly butter cream to diminish the appearance of stretch marks on your belly.
10. Best cream for stretch marks on breasts
Atopalm Maternity Care Stretch Mark Cream
This cream comes with a rich ceramide formula designed to keep your skin smooth and moisturized. The cream enhances the lipid barrier strength of your skin, helping to improve and care for your skin texture.
Besides this, the cream is highly soothing. It keeps the skin supple and free from irritations and itching. Moreover, it does not contain any harmful ingredients. Consequently, it is safe for you and your baby.
11. Best cream for stretch marks on shoulder
Clarins Body Partner Stretch Mark Cream
To get a smooth and firm shoulder, use this hydrating and body cream. The gentle formula restores the firmness of your skin by hydrating it. In addition, it contains Centella Asiatica and green banana extract to improve elasticity.
It is a softening cream that keeps the skin nourished and smooth. You can effectively remove the stretch marks on difficult parts of your skin.
12. Best cream for stretch marks on butt
MAËLYS Cosmetics B-TIGHT Lift and Firm Booty Mask
This skin-tightening cream contains natural extracts like hyaluronic acid, guarana seed, and pink pepperslim to smoothen and tighten your skin. The complex formula puts the skin in a restorative cycle that includes contouring, microcirculation, and texture reformation.
Furthermore, the cream helps to soften the skin. You can use this to smoothen the creases of your butt skin.
13. Best oil for stretch marks
Bio-Oil Skincare Oil
This multipurpose oil provides your skin with the needed nutrition it needs in restoring smoothness to your skin. It does this by improving the hydration of your skin’s surface.
The oil repairs and restores the damaged areas of the skin. It can be used to reduce the appearance of C-section scars, aging, and new and old stretch marks. Additionally, the oil is moisture-retaining. This makes it the go-to for secured skin.
14. Best retinol cream for stretch marks
Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment
The cream firms the skin, smoothing the extra crease on it. The anti-aging cream helps restore the skin and hydrate the skin with its 1% retinol formula. It also contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and peptides to soften, brighten, and protect the lipid barrier.
Moreover, its retinol is gentle on the skin and safe to use. You can use it to treat all skin types and categories of skin conditions, from wrinkles to stretch marks.
15. Best cream for stretch marks and cellulite
HoneyBull Anti-Cellulite Oil
This multitasker serves as a massage oil and a stretch mark remover. It contains essential oils that remove unnecessary cellulite in problem areas like the thighs, butt, and belly.
In addition, the natural formula keeps the skin supple. It also helps keep it firm, restoring the youthful texture of your skin. You can use the oil for any skin type.
16. Best cream for fading stretch marks
Botanic Tree Cocoa Butter Stretch Mark Cream
This cream helps to remove fading stretch marks on the skin. It uses its hydrating formula containing cocoa butter and vitamin E to renew the skin’s surface. The resulting plumpness reduces the appearance of fading scars.
Additionally, the creams firm the skin, restoring its elasticity, even with a baby bump. You can use the natural cream to rejuvenate and soothe your skin back to its clean and clear suppleness.
17. Best cream for stretch marks on men
Honeydew Coconut Cream
This butter cream is a versatile product that works for all skin types and textures to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. The formula contains a combination of coconut oil, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, and avocado oil to hydrate the skin.
Besides this, the cream pumps the skin, flattening the wrinkles, fine lines, and marks. You can use this formula to nourish your skin, firming your red lines.
18. Best drugstore cream for stretch marks
Body Merry Stretch Marks & Scars Defense Cream
The moisturizer keeps your skin in a hydrated and supple state. It works in a cycle that starts by moisturizing your skin, and then it firms it and builds its original elasticity to look firm on the skin.
The formula contains natural ingredients that absorb fast into the skin, providing a solution to your stretch marks.
Furthermore, the moisturizing cream is gentle on the skin. It does not irritate it, rather it keeps it healthy and protected with enough vitamins and nutrients.
How to pick creams for stretch marks
Ingredients are the solid foundation for a good product. This is most especially the case for stretch mark creams. When picking a stretch mark cream, look to ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, shea butter, cocoa butter, aloe vera, peptides, ceramides, and retinol.
Oils are also essential in moisturizing the skin. Coconut oil, rosehip oil, argan oil, and jojoba oil are good moisturizing ingredients for firming the skin. However, if you are pregnant, avoid creams with any form of retinol (or vitamin A in general).
FAQs
Do stretch mark creams work?
Yes, they do.
However not as fast as you would expect. Stretch mark creams, to an extent, help in reducing the appearance of stretch marks.
Due to the active ingredients in the products, the skin gets infused with nourishing properties that prevent or reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
When should you start using creams for stretch marks?
Before it appears.
If you are an expectant mother, you should start using creams for stretch marks from the beginning.
Preventive creams would slow down the appearance of the streaks. And when they do occur, use formulas that clear and hydrate the skin.
Can creams for stretch marks completely stop them from appearing?
No, they cannot.
Unfortunately, creams for stretch marks can only prevent and reduce the appearance, but they cannot stop stretch marks from appearing.
There would be stretches and changes in the body that would weaken the elasticity of the skin. The creams are designed to treat the skin while that happens, but they cannot stop the causes of the weakening. That is why there are preventive creams instead.
Conclusion
If you are looking for creams to reduce the appearance of your stretch marks, lean on products with a proven track record. For instance, I would recommend Clarins Body Partner Stretch Mark Cream and Sebamed Anti-Stretch Mark Cream for preventive measures.
Meanwhile, Mustela Maternity Stretch Marks Cream and Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion For Stretch Marks are great for pregnant women with visible stretch marks.
On the other hand, Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy provides the essential treatment for all kinds of stretch marks. It also hydrates your skin, protecting its suppleness.
This, however, should not be a race to get perfect skin but rather to accept your skin as it is. Plus, these marks do diminish on their own over time. However, you can use one of the best creams to get your process started, no matter what type of mark you have.
Thanks for reading.
Get more skincare recommendations here on MBGON.