Menu Close

10 Best Stretch Mark Removal Cream, Oil & Lotion Review

Best Stretch Mark Cream

If you’d like to make your stretch marks a little less noticeable, there are plenty of products around to help. Stretch mark removal creams are deeply hydrating topical products that encourage elastin and collagen production to prevent and reduce the appearance of stretch marks. In this article, we’re going to help you decide which is the best stretch mark cream for you.

Why trust us? We’ve spent over 60 hours researching, testing and reviewing these topical treatments. We evaluated hundreds of stretch mark creams, oils and gels before selecting the most impressive products, which we then tested rigorously. In this article, we have narrowed down our selection of the best stretch mark removal creams on the market.

Best Stretch Mark Cream Overall: Botanic Tree

Botanic Tree Stretch Mark Cream
Amy Tribe

Editor’s Choice: This is an organic cream created to reduce and prevent both stretch marks and scars. Clinical tests found that it helped 93% of customers in two months, and we decided that it is the best overall stretch mark cream.

The intensely hydrating formula is 100% vegan, paraben-free, and you can use it while pregnant. You can apply it to your growing belly twice a day starting from your first month of pregnancy and continue for several months after you give birth.

Its nourishing formula contains natural ingredients like:

We love its delicate but fresh, fruity smell. The thin cream spreads easily and absorbs well, leaving your belly feeling soft and smooth. Of all the creams we tested, we loved this fragrance the most, so we feel it is the best stretch mark cream overall.

Pros

Cons

Best Budget Stretch Mark Cream: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula

Palmers Cocoa Butter

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula is a well-known brand of skin care. It is a popular drug-store option that performs extremely well, with 98% of women experiencing improvements in their skin elasticity, texture and tone!

Its blend of cocoa butter and shea butter with  vitamin E, lutein, argan oil, sweet almond oil and coconut oil is a dermatologist-approved, hypoallergenic formula suitable for all skin types.

This lightweight lotion spreads very well but as it is designed for massage, it takes a little longer to absorb than some others. It leaves your skin feeling beautifully dewy and isn’t shiny at all. It has a very delicate, fresh aroma, so it’s a great choice if you want a product without a strong smell.

Pros

Cons

Best For Pregnancy: Mustela Stretch Mark Prevention Cream

Mustela Stretch Mark Prevention

The Mustela Stretch Mark Prevention Cream is a hypoallergenic formula free from parabens, phthalates, phenoxyethanol, bisphenols A and S, caffeine and alcohol. It was developed with healthcare professionals and is clinically tested to ensure the safety of mother and baby.

The natural ingredients, including avocado peptides and shea butter, nourish and protect your skin and in turn prevent stretch marks.

The cream spreads very well on your skin. A little goes a long way, making it perfect for your pregnant belly. It absorbs very nicely into your skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth. It has a slight shininess, which disappears after about five minutes. The smell is very clean and fresh, almost soapy, and its delicate fragrance lingers gently on the skin.

We particularly love how much thought was put into creating a stretch marks cream specifically for pregnancy and the post-partum stage. We believe the Mustela Stretch Mark Prevention Cream is the best stretch mark cream for pregnancy.

Pros

Cons

Best For Old Stretch marks: Deux Derme

Deux Derme Stretch Mark Cream

Deux Derme is an intensive stretch marks removal cream that is free from harmful ingredients, chock full of healing botanicals and is safe to use if you are pregnant. It is also vegan and cruelty-free.

The concentrated hydrating formula blends vitamin E, cocoa butter, shea butter and plant extracts to give you a treatment that packs a punch.  It is free from phthalates, hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid and retinoids.

The cream spreads well, although it doesn’t go as far as other creams did in our tests. It absorbs well into your skin, leaving it bright and silky with a pleasant, clean smell.

Deux Derme Stretch Marks Intensive is suitable for men and women, and is a good option for body builders to help prevent stretch marks. Apply it twice daily for a minimum of three months to get the best results.

Pros

Cons

Best Stretch Mark Prevention Cream: Clarins Stretch Mark Minimizer

Clarins

As a manufacturer of luxury skincare and cosmetics, Clarins is a brand you can trust. That’s why we have confidence in their Stretch Mark Minimizer, a targeted and effective treatment for the reduction of stretchmarks due to pregnancy, puberty or weight changes. It increases your skin’s suppleness and fades discoloration, gradually reducing the appearance of stretch marks whilst soothing and comforting your skin.

The cream spreads well and the whiteness disappears quickly, absorbing fast into your skin without leaving any residue. It isn’t sticky but feels soft and silky. It leaves a slight glow, but isn’t too shiny.

It has a fresh, clean smell, although as you massage it in it changes into a slightly more chemical or clinical aroma. However, overall this is a good choice for someone who doesn’t like scented products. It is also worth bearing in mind that although you can use this for stretch marks caused by pregnancy, it is not clear whether it is safe to use during pregnancy or while nursing.

Pros

Cons

Best For Thighs: Amar Botanica

Amar Botanica Cream

In contrast with the Clarins cream, Amar Botanica is strongly scented, especially when you first open it! It smells strongly of sweet almond and cherry, although after a while the intensity decreases. Its sweet almond fragrance won’t appeal to everybody, but we loved it! Its ingredients include super-hydrating hyaluronic acid and moisturizing shea butter to prevent and remove stretch marks.

This is a thick body butter rather than a cream, so you need to spend time massaging more it into your skin. We recommend using it at bedtime, not when you are in a rush!

Despite being thick, it feels luxurious and leaves your skin very soft. It doesn’t look shiny, but it leaves your skin feeling a little tacky. It comes in a large BPA-free pot that should last you a long time.

Pros

Cons

Best For Stomach: Earth Mama Belly Butter

Earth Mama Belly Butter

This moisturizing belly butter is a dermatologist-tested, organic emollient stretch mark lotion that is created for use during pregnancy. It is free from petroleum, mineral oil, parabens and artificial fragrances.

It boasts organic herbs and essential oils that both encourage skin elasticity and smell divine, and claims that it “won’t aggravate occasional morning sickness,” although this is rather subjective! It does, however, smell delicious. Its luxurious, delicate aroma is clean, sweet and slightly orange-flavored.

We would describe this belly butter as more of a lotion as it is thinner, but it feels lovely on your skin. It absorbs well and is quick to apply. Although it leaves your skin slightly shiny, it is not greasy.

Pros

Cons

Best Multi-tasker: Bio Oil Multiuse Skincare Oil

Bio Oil

Arguably one of the most well-known stretch marks products, Bio Oil’s Skincare Oil is extremely effective for new and existing scars and stretch marks, and you can use it starting from your second trimester of pregnancy. You can also use it to reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone and dry skin.

The distinctive blend includes lavender oil, rosemary oil and PurCellin Oil, considered a ‘breakthrough ingredient’ that acts as an emollient and thins the formulation, making easier to absorb. There is little evidence about what PurCellin Oil actually is. Some brand it ‘snake oil’ while others say it is a synthetic form of the oil produced by ducks. Regardless, it is an award-winning product with excellent results from clinical testing.

The oil is intensely moisturizing and feels silky on your skin. It spreads very well and a little goes a long way. Because it’s an oil, it is shiny and it can take a while to rub in, but it isn’t wet or greasy. It is also non-comedogenic and is suitable for sensitive skin.

Pros

Cons

Best Stretch Mark Oil: Health Priority Oil

Health Priority Stretch Mark Oil

One of the key vitamins for skin health is vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that hydrates your skin and strengthens its natural barriers against damage. Health Priority’s Vitamin E Oil is a highly concentrated, hydrating blend of vitamin E with jojoba oil, avocado oil and rice bran oil, offering calming benefits of aromatherapy as well as improved skin elasticity and resilience.

This oil is available in scented and unscented versions. Both are very silky and spread extremely well, meaning you only need a little each time. We preferred the scented version, which smells fresh and floral, while the unscented one still has a weak aroma that is similar to a wheat bag.

Overall, we love this stretch mark oil, although it may not be suitable if you are pregnant. Please speak to your OB/GYN to ensure it is safe before trying it.

Pros

Cons

Best For Sensitive Skin: Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter

Burts Bees Mama Bee

The Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter is is a silky belly butter made with moisturizing shea butter and vitamin E. It’s free from parabens, phthalates, petroleum and SLS, is cruelty and fragrance-free as well as 99% natural.

Although it is called a belly butter, it is thinner than the other butters we tested, so we would describe it as more of a cream. It spreads very well and absorbs nicely, leaving your skin soft with a slight glow. Its non-irritating blend, which includes cocoa butter, sweet almond oil and shea butter, is specially designed for mums, from those just starting, to those recovering from their pregnancy journey!

We love how gentle it is on your skin and that it doesn’t have a fragrance; it’s perfect for mums-to-be who are struggling with a heightened sense of smell! The Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter is part of a range that also includes nourishing oil, leg and foot crème.

Pros

Cons

Products To Avoid

Finally, we don’t recommend Body Merry products due to their extremely poor customer service. We placed a large order with them, which included their Stretch Mark Defense Cream, but despite them taking the payment, we never received the products. We have contacted them many times but have not received a response.

Buyer’s Guide: How To Choose The Best Stretch Mark Treatment For You

How To Choose Your Stretch Mark Treatment

When choosing your topical stretch mark products, these are the things you should consider:

  • What’s causing your stretch marks? If you are pregnant, you will be more limited in your choice of products; firstly, your skin may be more sensitive during pregnancy and secondly, some ingredients can be harmful to your unborn or breastfeeding child. Make sure you only use products that are labelled as safe for pregnancy and nursing. If, on the other hand, body building, weight gain or body building is causing stretch marks, you have more choice in stretch mark products!
  • What is your skin type? Do you have sensitive, dry or oily skin? Most stretch mark products are suitable for all types of skin, but some may be specially formulated to be extra hydrating or moisturizing, or for sensitive skin.
  • Where are you using it? You may want different types of product for your belly compared to your upper arms or thighs.
  • Oil, butter, lotion or cream? All these options provide hydration, but do you prefer the silkiness of an oil, the smoothness of a body butter, or would you rather use a stretch mark cream that absorbs quickly? Consider this when you think about your skin type, too.
  • Is it cruelty-free? Most of the products we discussed are cruelty-free. However, occasionally some products may be sold in countries where animal testing is mandatory. You can search for cruelty-free products here.
  • The main ingredients: there is some consistency between many stretch mark products. Most include oils like argan oil, nut butters like cocoa butter and shea butter as well as vitamins and essential oils. These can have powerful antioxidant and nourishment benefits for your skin and can help to prevent damage. Other ingredients such as hyaluronic acid can provide intense hydration, and centella asiatica, a plant extract, can boost collagen production. Most stretch mark cream formulas include ingredients that can reduce and remove stretch marks, and prevent stretch marks from forming.

Benefits Of Stretch Mark Creams

Benefits

There are many benefits to stretch mark creams, including:

They Contain Nourishing Ingredients like Vitamin A, E, And D

Vitamins are valuable nutrients that can protect your skin from damage. Vitamin A helps skin healing and helps retain a youthful appearance, while vitamin D generates new cells and vitamin E protects from sun damage and inflammation.

They Are Suitable For All Types Of Skin

There are stretch mark creams for all skin types, including:

Stretch mark creams aren’t just for during pregnancy either, kids can develop the tiger stripes when they undergo a growth spurt, and athletes like body builders can develop new stretch marks when they rapidly increase muscle mass. With this in mind, there really is a stretch mark removal cream, body butter or other topical product for everyone!

They Can Also Soothe Other Skin Conditions

Thanks to healing properties, your stretch marks removal cream can also aid scar removal and reduce the appearance of scars, wrinkles, keloids, uneven skin tone and dark spots.

Can You Permanently Remove Stretch Marks?

It is difficult to fully and permanently remove stretch marks because they are deep scars within your lower skin layers. However, it is possible to significantly reduce their appearance. Prevention is easier than a cure, and you can use all the products featured in our best stretch mark creams review to both prevent and remove stretch marks.

Do Stretch Mark Creams Work In Pregnancy?

Topical stretch mark creams can make a huge difference in pregnancy. They can provide important hydration and nourishment to your skin, encouraging elasticity. This elasticity helps it to stretch without scarring. Topical products may not prevent all stretch marks, but they can certainly reduce the number and the severity of the scars, and reduce the appearance of old stretch marks. Starting earlier in pregnancy will provide important nourishment for your skin as your belly prepares to stretch!

Frequently Asked Questions

Our tests found that the best overall stretch mark cream is the Botanic Tree Stretch Mark Cream. It is organic, suitable for pregnant women and can decrease stretch marks in just 2 months. We also love its fragrance! The best budget stretch mark cream is Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula.

The most effective way to get rid of stretch marks at home is to use specially-created topical products that provide hydration and nourishment and encourage skin healing. Stretch mark creams are available at a variety of prices. You can also treat stretch marks with procedures like microdermabrasion or laser therapy, and you can combine these methods of stretch marks therapy with stretch mark creams to get even better results.

Red stretch marks are new stretch marks. The redness is caused by the visible blood vessels under your skin, so the stretch marks are more responsive to treatments at this stage. Red stretch marks are most apparent on pregnant women. As they become older, the appearance of stretch marks will fade.

Yes, teenage stretch marks will fade. Over time the appearance of stretch marks fades and they will turn from purple and red to silvery white, becoming far less noticeable.

You can start using anti-stretch mark cream to prevent stretch marks at any stage of your pregnancy or other time that you anticipate large changes in your body size and shape occurring, for example due to body building. If you are pregnant, make sure that the cream you choose is safe for use during pregnancy.

Final Verdict

We hope you have enjoyed reading our best stretch mark creams review. Overall, we believe that the best stretch marks removal cream is the Botanic Tree Stretch Marks Prevention Cream. We enjoyed testing these products and we hope that we have helped you to choose the best one for you. Please let us know in the comments below if there are any other skin care products you would like us to test.