Raw Organic Coconut Oil
Simple to use, easy to access since I always have a stash in my kitchen and bathroom, smells awesome, and makes me feel like I'm on a tropical vacation. (My favorite coconut oil and products on the planet.)
Dr. Alkaitis Organic Nourishing Treatment Oil
One of my favorites; this oil has a sultry and hypnotic smell that I cannot get enough of! I will be featuring a lengthy review of their products soon.
Miessence Belly & Breast Balm
Smells nice and it's specifically for pregnant gals. I will be featuring a lengthy review of some of their products soon.
Sprout Wellness All-Over Cream
Super emollient, which I love. I will be featuring a lengthy review of some of their products soon.
Raw Organic Almond Oil
What can I say? It was in my kitchen so I used it a few times - lol. Smells awesome.
100 Percent Pure Lemon Shea Body Butter
This is decadent and emollient too, and was very happy with it. It's not in the picture, because I used it up during the earlier months of pregnancy.
Although this post is dedicated to how I'm trying to prevent stretch marks, you can check out information on other eco / animal friendly beauty products I use here. UPDATE! By the way... if I do end up with stretch marks, I will be rockin' them proudly. No worries about that here!
What products do you like for helping to prevent stretch marks?
Stretch marks are TOTALLY genetic. If you don't have 'em you're one lucky gal, but it means your mom probaby didn't either...I don't know how much products would really help!
ReplyDeleteWow! Thanks! That was a quick answer to my question Kristen :) You're awesome!!!!
ReplyDeleteEmelai
Another June momma here...
ReplyDeleteI've been trying some of these products for my growing belly too. Maybe I'll get stretch marks anyway, but at least the oils help to relax my belly on "tight feeling" days! Love all the suggestions.
I am pretty sure "coco-butter" is natural! My mom always used the sticks on us as children when we had a sunburn. I love coconut oil and sprout wellness rockes!
ReplyDeletePure cocoa (cacao) butter works wonders...it's super healing for stretch marks & scars as well...Sunfoods has raw, certified organic cocoa butter :)
ReplyDeleteHi Lilly! You're right, I've heard that, too. I bought some from Navitas Naturals. I'll probably rotate that in as well... but I have to melt it first and in our cold temps, it won't stay melted so it's kind of "work" to use it. ;)
ReplyDeleteHI Whitney,
ReplyDeleteI've seen mixed opinions on whether they're genetic or not. ;)
I'm not sure who asked me this, but it was about ways to help stretch marks if they've already happened.... I've heard the following help via testimonials: Dr. Alkaitis Nourishing Treatment Oil, Cacao Butter, and Vitamin E (applied topically) are possible options.
ReplyDeleteI used coconut oil. I had some tiny lines towards the end of pregnancy on my belly, then HEAPS on my breasts suddenly. Heh. They're gone now, no traces. I think they were invisible by 6 monthsish? Ali is 11 months old now. I had stretch marks for years as a teen after a growth spurt, too! Better diet + coconut oil has worked well for me, apparently. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks K!! :))
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say stretch marks aren't really genetic ... I think massage, eating well, and staying hydrated can prevent most or all of them, regardless of DNA ... and those are the things a lot of us aren't doing, hence, the epidemic of stretch marks ... I LOVE coconut oil!
ReplyDeleteHey K
ReplyDeletedon't worry about stretch marks, you look like you are doing a perfect pregnancy. I did not get any, so I guess I was lucky with my DNA. I do know now that my belly button area is a little crinkly looking.. but I was WAY older than you and not raw at all!
love you and your cute bump
deb xo
Hi Deb! Thanks for stopping by. I actually quite enjoy the ritual of rubbing goodies onto my belly. :) It feels good, too, especially the days where it feels extra stretched and tight (and dry in our climate). Love you!
ReplyDeleteI love putting food on my body! If not jojoba oil, I use coconut or olive oil as moisturizer. I've also been experimenting with cocoa salt body scrubs and cucumber avocado face masks!
ReplyDeleteYou probably won't get stretch marks anyway since you eat well and hydrate, and I do think there is a genetic factor that you can't control.
ReplyDeleteBut regardless of whether you get stretch marks and whether these products help, it definitely feels really good as your belly starts to stretch! Plus the baby will enjoy a nice massage.
Ok - I tried coconut oil and various other natural stretch mark creams. I also lotioned up about 2-3 times a day and drank plenty of water to hydrate my skin. I thought I was out of the woods, but then the last month hit and I got stretch marks. I don't know about them being genetic, as my mom had them almost from the beginning and I went ALMOST my entire pregnancy without any.
ReplyDeleteWell, I guess it is too late for me because I'm all stretch marked up. Mine didn't come until the last few weeks of my pregnancy. It seemed like everytime he gave me a good kick, another one showed up. If those things work good for you and you don't get any stretch marks then I will be so happy for you. Unfortunately the next time around it won't matter for me b/c I already have stretch marks! Oh well, a mother's love I guess.
ReplyDeleteBtw since using MMI have you noticed more oil in your hair? I have and so now I use the boar bristle brushes but it is still hard. My hair doesn't feel as "clean" as it did when I used other products. Just because of the sebum. What was your experience?
ReplyDeleteHi Capt'n Amazing's wife,
ReplyDeleteRE: Stretch marks... I totally agree - a mother's love. I told my husband that if I get them, I'm considering myself a part of the Na'vi from Avatar (they have groovy marks on their bodies). ;) That being said, I've heard the following as helping them, after the fact, via testimonials: Dr. Alkaitis Nourishing Treatment Oil, Cacao Butter, and Vitamin E (applied topically) are possible options
RE: MMI
How long have you used it? That can happen while your hair detoxes, which could take a month depending, a couple weeks, or a couple of months. For me, I detoxed using Terressential's mud wash and had many weeks of ick hair. So, by the time I went to MMI, it was smooth sailing for me.
I guess I've been using MMI for about a month now. I probably need a good haircut too. I don't know anybody that will have a pure shampoo to wash my hair with when I get one though so I'm a little nervous about getting it all chemically yucky again when I go to the salon.
ReplyDeleteI so thought that stretch marks are irreversible. Hmm I guess I could try out one of those things. Is the cacao butter the same kind that you would use in raw food prep?
I hear ya! I'm getting my hair trimmed on the 19th (according to MMI's lunar hair chart) and I'm going to go in with it already wet so she doesn't have to wash it. :)
ReplyDeleteAlso... are you washing twice (I shampoo twice and condition once). Also... you can do a little vinegar water rinse once in a while and see if helps. So, you'd shampoo twice. Then, skip the conditioner and instead get a mason jar with 1/3 apple cider vinegar, 2/3 water (maybe 1/3c : 2/3c).
That's probably a good idea. Maybe I'll try to get mine trimmed on the 19th too! I always shampoo twice and don't always condition because my hair doesn't get tangled anymore. Well, actually lately I've been using the spray in ones, if that counts.
ReplyDeleteSo with the apple cider vinegar/water mixture, would I just dump it all over my head or massage some of it in each time after I double shampoo?
I use pure organic cocoa butter. I let it melt in an aromatheraly oil holder thingy while I shower and then rub it on. :)
ReplyDeleteBaby #3 coming in 8 weeks and no stretch marks yet. (knock on wood)
Great cacoa butter melting tip! thanks for sharing!!!! It must feel so amazing all warm and gushy! :)
ReplyDeleteI've been using cocoa butter and coconut oil throughout my pregnancy. I have no stretch marks, however, I think it ultimately depends on your personal body type and genetics.
ReplyDeleteCapt'n - that's for a single use, and if it's too much, simply use less, like 1/4 cup acv with 1/2 cup water and dump on head, massage in, rinse. :)
ReplyDeleteAs I'm sure everyone's already said, stretch marks are largely genetic but also a function of how much weight you gain and at what rate. If you gain 20 lbs in a month, it doesnt matter if you have the genetics of an Oil of Olay model :) you will get stretch marks and conversely, keeping the skin lubricated and moist is never a bad thing. I used a few different products but honestly, Palmer's Cocoa Butter from the drugstore is and always has been my go to. I know it's not perfect, it's not organic but it works and it's inexpensive. That said your diet is also obvi helping to keep your skin & cells regenerating and happy!
ReplyDeleteI am not using any yet, but this is going on my list of things for future references.
ReplyDeleteWell, I have had five (5!) bouncing vegan babies so far and NOT ONE stretch mark! And I grow BIG ones, too -- like 9-10.5 lbs! I don't know if I can attribute my stretch-mark-free body to my super healthy vegan diet, or to genetics :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't use lotions or potions on my belly unless it felt tight and itchy, and despite rarely moisturizing it, I never did develop stretch marks in any of the 5 pregnancies.
You know, it is said that stretch marks are a "medal of motherhood". So if you do develop stretch marks, wear them proudly! Because we mamas have a lot to be proud of when it comes to what our amazing bodies can do :)
Ah, what a great post! I'm sure that many mommies to be are thanking you for a natural alternative :)
ReplyDeleteMy stretch marks make me smile because they remind me of the four wonderful children who grew in my womb. I don't remember if mine came from my twins, my other two pregnancies, or being overweight well into adulthood. Doesn't really matter because I love my body for what it is. Enjoy your pregnancy and the sleep you're able to get. =-)
ReplyDeleteI didn't get stretch marks in my last pregnancy, yet got terribly big ones when being overweight as a teen (and they are still there, on my hips). So not sure how much genetics have to do with it. I used cocoa butter on my belly, and I love it! I love the smell of it, and apparently it helped. I did get one little mark in my last week (!), but it quickly disappeared after having baby. I'm now 16 weeks along with #2 and got cocoa butter straight away!
ReplyDeletelooking forward to your lengthy review about 'sprout wellness' products
ReplyDeleteThe adage "Buyer Beware" is so true when it comes to selecting skin care products. While your use of raw coconut oil is healthy for your skin and your body, some companies make products that hide a host of synthetic ingredients especially preservatives and make false claims such as the following: "The #1 reason why our products do not require harsh chemical preservatives is because you need two things for bacterial growth: water and air. Since we never use water in the first place, this eliminates the use of harsh chemical preservatives." I'm sorry, but hydrosols, aloe vera juice and cucumber juice (listed in the 100% Pure Red Wine Resveratrol Hydrate Concentrate) are all water containing ingredients and act EXACTLY the same way as plain water in an emulsion and are subject to mold and bacterial growth. Furthermore, many of 100% Pure's products contain Japanese Honeysuckle, a preservative that is a highly processed and concentrated paraben extraction that may or may not be contaminated with synthetic parabens as exposed by Eliza Moriarty in her article "More on Parabens: Greenwashing with Honeysuckle Extract", from the Organic Consumer's Association's website. This would be ok if 100% Pure would disclose the true use of their ingredients. I don't even see Japanese Honeysuckle listed on their Ingredients page. I don't know how companies get away with such blatant lies: in this case by suggesting their products do not contain preservatives and then misleading consumers into thinking their product do not contain water when it does and hence needs a preservative!
ReplyDeleteInteresting info, Maggie. Thanks for your thoughts.
ReplyDelete