10 Best Oils for Preventing Stretch Marks

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As a mom that’s been through 2 pregnancies, I have battled my fair share of stretch marks. Even before pregnancy, I got stretch marks on my thighs just from normal growing as a human.

While I was insecure about my stretch marks when they first appeared, I religiously treated my skin as an attempt to make them disappear.

Unfortunately, they never go away; they only fade.

Now I try to prevent them from happening in the first place by moisturizing my skin and making sure I’m prepared for what life throws at me.

Over the years, I’ve collected a list of oils that help prevent stretch marks, and some can even help them fade quicker than normal.

How to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy click here

Best Oils for Stretch Marks

1. Bio-Oil

Bio-oil is a brand of skincare oils that is targeted to improve skin health.

They put their top-selling skincare oil through clinical trials where the oil improves the appearance of scars and stretch marks.

In 2020, they released a new, natural formula for their skincare oil that includes a concoction of oils meant to hydrate and heal your skin.

The clean ingredients in Bio Oil include:

Soybean Oil
Sunflower Oil
Safflower Seed Oil
Jojoba Oil
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Punica Granata Seed Oil
Wheat Germ Oil
Rosehip Oil
Lavender Oil
Rosemary Oil
and various alcohols

2. Almond Oil

Almond oil is used in various holistic medicine practices to treat dry skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

Some clinical experiences find that almond oil reduces post-op scars, smoothes, and rejuvenates the skin.

Studies show that applying almond oil on developing stretch marks prevents severe lesions on the skin.

Like most of the oils listed, almond oil also helps moisturize the skin. Furthermore, using it topically has no negative effects, so much so, that doctors can safely apply it on preterm infants to prevent the development of some skin conditions.

3. Olive Oil

While the consumption of olive oil has its benefits, applying it on the skin treats wrinkles, dry skin, and itchy skin.

Like many natural oils listed here, olive oil contains molecules that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

The use of olive oil dates back to ancient Egypt when they would use it to make creams. Also, olive oil contains substances that protect the skin from harm including sun-induced cancer.

Although olive oil hasn’t been proven to prevent stretch marks, it will certainly provide many benefits that can protect the skin from them.

4. Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E is found naturally in vegetables, vegetable oils, and nuts. Although studies remain inconclusive on whether vitamin E prevents scar formation, it has proved to heal wounds.

There’s also proof that this vitamin slows melanoma growth.

Vitamin E combined with other ingredients like hyaluronic acid and rosehip oil have proven to prevent new stretch marks from forming on women who are not prone to them.

5. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has benefits similar to mineral oil without adverse side effects. It moisturizes the skin well enough to prevent dryness and flaking.

We’ve seen coconut oil delay the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin which are common signs of aging.

According to dermatologist Maria Robinson, coconut oil supports skin healing, therefore, aiding in the reduction of stretch marks.

6. Jojoba Oil

Jojoba Oil is classified as non-toxic and has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Furthermore, you can safely use it on wounds, and burns, and to remove stretch marks.

One benefit of Jojoba oil over any others listed is that it usually absorbs quickly without leaving any oily residue.

7. Hatch Belly Oil

This belly oil has a combination of oils that help tackle stretch marks all over the body. The main benefit of this oil is that it dries quickly so that you can immediately put clothing on without worrying about getting residue everywhere.

The ingredients include:

Isopropyl Myristate,
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil,
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene,
Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil,
Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil,
Raphanus Sativus (Radish) Seed Extract,
Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Oil,
Tocopherol,
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract,
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil,
Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil,
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate,
Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract,
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil,
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

The list of ingredients isn’t as clean as Bio-oil, but they help with keeping this formula fast-drying.

8. Rosehip Oil

Rosehip oil has anti-aging properties along with vitamins that we know keep skin healthy. Since it helps maintain healthy skin, it’s also beneficial for preventing stretch marks.

It shows capabilities to reduce scars including stretch marks and acne marks.

9. Shea Butter

Shea butter originates from trees grown in Africa. Its powerful benefits stretch anywhere from pain relief to stretch mark treatment.

The butter, which is extracted from the nut of the fruits, is rich in vitamin A and vitamin D, which help heal the skin.

10. Argan oil

Studies show that argan oil has a positive effect on skin elasticity which suggests it helps prevent stretch marks.

During these studies, they discovered that organ oil has little to no adverse side effects when applied topically.

How to choose the right oil

Beware of allergies

This one may be obvious if you’re allergy-prone but always look at the ingredients list of the oils you’re thinking of purchasing to make sure they don’t include something you’re allergic to.

For example, I would not be able to use Hatch belly oil because of its use of sweet almond oil since I’m allergic to almonds.

Most oils on the market contain more than one ingredient and most are all-natural. The problem with that for allergy-prone people is that most allergies are from natural sources like plants, nuts, and fruits.

Scented or unscented

If you’re anything like me, scented products are a no-go. Fortunately, most of these oils are unscented, but some companies like to add ingredients for a fresh smell.

Bio-oil for example has lavender and rosemary oil which naturally has a scent we can detect.

I prefer unscented oil, which is why products like Ancient Greek Remedy Oil are perfect for someone like me.

My preferred unscented oil is Cococare Vitamin E Oil. It has no scent when I apply it and it can be mixed with your favorite lotion.

Ingredients list

Always make sure to check the ingredients list on any oil that you decide to purchase. If you are going for pure oil, the only ingredient should be the oil that you’re purchasing.

Oils like Hatch Belly Oil contain more than just the oil ingredients, it also has some quick-drying agents in them.

Conclusion

Preventing stretch marks is a hard feat when you know you are at risk for them. Fortunately, there are plenty of oil products on the market that can help us along the way.

The body oils listed aren’t your last hopes for preventing and reducing the appearance of stretch marks though. There are many factors to consider when trying to prevent them, such as genetics and nutrition.

Products such as body butters, lotions, creams, and even prescription topical steroids can help with stretch marks as well.

Be sure to choose the right option for you.

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