I am officially 33 weeks pregnant! It’s crazy to me that 8+ months have already gone by and soon I’ll be welcoming our daughter into this world.
Up until this point, I have gained around 23 or so pounds, and my belly has definitely started to stick out, but not nearly as much as I assumed it would by this point. I’m almost 6 feet tall, so it’s going to take longer for that pronounced bump to show up. Either way, my skin has been itching a bit and I have been diligent with putting on creams and oils at least once daily to relieve the itchiness and hopefully keep stretch marks at bay.
I truly believe that stretch marks have a lot to do with someones size and how much they grow during pregnancy, genetics, and efforts to moisturize regularly. I don’t think its just one of these items but rather a combination of things. However, I would have to assume like so many other things in pregnancy, that genetics plays a large role in whether or not one gets stretch marks or pronounced stretch marks. Either way, the discomfort from itchy dry skin is reason enough for me to find the most moisturizing oils and body butters I can find. Below are a few I have tried and really loved.
1: Matana Oil. I was gifted this oil in order to try and see how I liked it. I have been gifted a lot of items, and often times will never mention them because I didn’t really care for them or felt strongly enough about the product to recommend to my friends. I really liked this body oil though and the ingredients are quality which makes me feel good when putting it on. The oil is moisturizing but not too slick or wet to where it’ll stain or absorb into my clothes, which is key. It’s dewy and makes my skin feel so hydrated but it’s not physically cold to put on, so I use this when I’m not wanting that shock of cold after a shower.
2. Jose Maran Argan Body Butter- My girlfriend Stella uses this and highly recommended it and she is in her second pregnancy. She loves it, and I trust her recommendations so I also got it. It truly feels so good in the skin and is cooling and soooo moisturizing. I got a four pack of different scents and I have to say, I ran out so fast because I used it all over all the time. It’s a great product and your skin feels ultra soft from using it.
3. Mutha Body Butter- My friend Mandy, who is a skin EXPERT, recommended this body butter to me and it’s SO MOISTURIZING. The only down side would be that it’s pricey, but it does come in a large tub and lasts a long time. It also is super clean and smells amazing. I absolutely love it.
At the end of the day, stretch marks can happen to the best of us who are diligent about our daily routines, but I know that if they were going to happen, at least they will be minimized by using quality products that are highly nourishing throughout my pregnancy. After all we don’t know for sure if they are preventable for sure or are genetic, but I like to always do my part!
I believe in doing the best you can do with what you have and what you know. After that, we gotta roll with the punches! If I was genetically predisposed to stretch marks, regardless of my size, hydrating routine, and healthy eating, then I’ll have peace of mind knowing I did my part and my belly will look better than if I didn’t do those other things. Stretch marks are not the end of the world, in fact I have a bunch on my inner thighs and sides my booty from growing six inches in junior high in one summer. However, I always believe in doing my best for the results I want, and then go from there.
I really enjoyed these three products and linked them plus a couple others that came highly recommended by trusted friends. Check them out below and as always, you can shop the post.
Stretch Mark Moisturizers
Let me know if you have tried any of these and which one you love!
xo, Kim