I don't know what to make of stretch marks. I've read that they are inherited. I've read that the chances of getting them during pregnancy are completely random. I've read that applying creams, oils, lotions and potions don't help at all. It's all a bit confusing. But there was one thing that was for certain. When it came to getting stretch marks, I was going to be prepared!
Unsure of what was the best product to go for, I went for the tried and tested method of looking on Amazon and finding the cheapest option. If it wasn't going to make a difference, what was the point, right?
The choice best be-fitting for my needs was the Palmers Massage Lotion For Stretch Marks. I didn't know a lot about it, but remembered from my teenage years that Palmers had quite a nice scent to it that hopefully would not become too overbearing! And for under £5.00, I didn't think it could it could do much harm to try.
Clearly marketed towards expectant mothers, the 250ml bottle boasts pretty inoffensive labelling, with an easy-to-use pump top and extensive list of ingredients. All pretty impressive, if they were going to help keep stretch marks at bay. At 5 weeks pregnant, and hardly any signs of being pregnant at all aside from the constant urge to pee it was pretty difficult to tell.
The formulation of the lotion was a happy medium in between thick and watery. It was easy to apply, and soaked into the skin relatively quickly without leaving a sticky or greasy feeling afterwards. Following advice I had been given, I applied the lotion twice daily to my belly, boobs, hips, lower back, upper thighs and bum. The scent wasn't too sweet and sickly to bear for me, but I think if you suffer from a really heightened sense of smell during pregnancy, it may become too much to handle.
After a few weeks of religiously applying the lotion twice daily, it soon became pretty clear that with the onset of tiredness, I just couldn't be arsed to follow this routine anymore, so cut down to applying it just before bed. It just became a bit too much trying to follow such a set pattern and I got really lazy. I'm not sure if it was this cut back, or to do with the consistency of the product, but one bottle lasted my quite a while, so in terms of cost per use, I definitely got my money's worth.
The body lotion's creamy consistency helped a lot to pour moisture back into my skin and alleviate all the itchiness I started to feel once my skin began to stretch a bit more. I remember watching an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians (a viable source I know) where somebody said to avoid scratching at all costs, so, with that in mind, whenever the urge took me, I'd apply an addition soupçon of lotion, which quickly made the discomfort disappear.
Now, at seven months pregnant, I have only just come to the end of my second bottle and have not deviated away from using Palmer's up until this point. My skin feels really soft, and so far I have only got three stretch marks on my hip, with any others unaccountable for. I have been really impressed,. especially because it is just so affordable. It has really shown me that there is no need to break the bank to find things that help give you the results you want.
Of course it all could be just luck. MG said she never really got stretch marks, so is my experience the result of good genes? Who knows. What I do know is that with having the Palmers Massage Lotion For Stretch Marks a part of my mum-to-be beauty routine my skin has stayed soft, happy, and both red and itch-free, and for that, I am incredibly grateful!
Oo I love me some Palmers, I remember using this as a teen too and thinking I was the bees knees when it came to supple and soft skin because of this!
ReplyDeleteSarah :)
Saloca in Wonderland