The Best Products for Stretch Marks, From Creams to Oils

Stretch marks are a common concern when it comes to body skincare. Despite the fact that they are benign lesions, stretch marks have a visual impact on the appearance of the skin, which not everyone finds pleasant. Keep reading to learn about the best products to prevent and correct stretch marks!

How stretch marks form

Stretch marks often appear during puberty, pregnancy, and other periods of rapid weight gain or loss. But how, exactly, do they form? And how can we prevent their appearance?

Stretch marks appear due to a disruption in the normal elastic fibers of the skin following mechanical stress. These skin fibers work like a rubber band, stretching and going back to their original size, but when they are overstretched, the collagen fibers break and there is inflammation followed by a scarring process.

These lesions initially present themselves as pink-to-red flat bands, usually parallel to each other. At this stage, it’s relatively easy to revert the situation, as there are still functional blood vessels and there is no scar tissue formed yet. Over a period of months or years, however, these bands tend to whiten and become hypopigmented, turning into scar tissue which can also lack density (which is why some stretch marks feel hollow and sunk in). Keep in mind that, at this stage, stretch marks become more difficult to treat. In short, it is important to begin your anti-stretch mark routine with prevention, so you won’t have such a challenging time trying to minimize stretch marks once they’ve turned white.

Our best creams for stretch mark prevention

Now that you know how stretch marks form and develop over time, you have a good understanding of when and how to tackle them. If you are pregnant, going through puberty, or about to embark on a diet (whether for weight gain or weight loss), we recommend focusing on stretch mark prevention first and foremost.

The best way to avoid stretch marks it to guarantee that the skin is hydrated and very well nourished. All nourishing creams help to prevent stretch marks, to a certain degree, but the best way is to use formulas that are prepared to give your skin all the needed nutrients to make the skin firmer and more elastic.

Although it has been popular for decades to use cocoa butter or olive oil to prevent stretch marks, research has yet to find significant evidence in favor of these ingredients. Instead, you should opt for anti-stretch mark products that contain Centella asiatica extract, bitter almond oil, hyaluronic acid, or retinol.

Mustela Maternité Stretch Marks Cream 3-in-1

This 3-in-1 cream from Mustela is specially formulated to prevent the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy. With natural ingredients such as avocado oil, this cream moisturizes and improves the elasticity of the skin, hence preventing the appearance of stretch marks. The creamy texture provides a feeling of immediate comfort and immediately offers relief to skin that feels “tight” and over-stretched.

This version of the cream is delicately scented, but you can also opt for a fragrance-free version if you prefer.

Safe during pregnancy? Yes

Elancyl Stretch Marks Intensive Correction Gel Cream

Especialized in body targeted treatments, Elancyl comes with this cream-gel, designed to correct the appearance of visible stretch marks during vulnerable periods such as puberty, weight fluctuations or hormonal changes. Formulated with chemical exfoliants, bakichiol and panthenol, this gel strengthens the skin’s connective tissues and prevents the appearance of stretch marks on particularly vulnerable areas such as the breasts, abdomen, hips, and buttocks.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, Elancyl does not recommend using this gel. You can resume the application on the postpartum, after nursing.

Safe during pregnancy? Not recommended.

ISDIN Woman Anti-Stretch Marks

Previously known as Velastisa, this famous anti-stretch mark lotion has an intensely hydrating formula with 89% ingredients of natural origin–including the all-important Centella asiatica to help stimulate collagen synthesis, and musk rose oil.

This is one of our best selling stretch marks products here at Care to Beauty, and it’s no wonder: clinical studies have found that ISDIN Woman Anti-Stretch Marks can prevent the appearance of stretch marks on 94% of women over the course of 8 months.

Safe during pregnancy? Yes

Klorane Stretch Mark Oil Prevention & Correction

This anti-stretch mark oil by Klorane prevents the appearance of stretch marks by moisturizing and giving elasticity to the skin. At the same time, it repairs tight and stretched skin. The formula contains safflower and evening primrose oils, which provide hydration and elasticity, and camelina oil, which offers repairing benefits.

With a non-sticky and non-greasy texture, this oil is perfect to create a feeling of more comfortable skin throughout the day. It can be used from the third trimester, and all the way through the course of the pregnancy and postpartum period, including during breastfeeding.

Safe during pregnancy? Yes

Rilastil Smagliature Stretch Marks Cream

With a rich and creamy texture that lends itself perfectly to a relaxing massage, this anti-stretch mark cream provides emollient, moisturizing, and elasticizing benefits. The formula contains essential amino-acids, rice brain oil, and a specialized vitamin complex to improve the appearance of stretch marks and prevent the appearance of new ones.

Suitable during both pregnancy and breastfeeding, this cream may be used not only as an intensive treatment, but also as a maintenance treatment.

Safe during pregnancy? Yes

Clarins Body Partner Stretch Mark Expert

This plant-powered cream targets provides a powerful double action, as it prevents and corrects stretch marks at the same time. With an all-new [PhytoStretchComplex] made from organic green banana extract and Centella asiatica, this innovative formula prevents and reduces the appearance of stretch marks on four levels: width, length, depth, and color.

Suitable for women in every stage of life, this expert cream is particularly indicated for pregnant women, due to its minimal and high-tolerance formula.

Safe during pregnancy? Yes

Creams to minimize and correct old stretch marks

Prevention bets correction, every time, but that doesn’t mean we can’t offer you some options to try to minimize established stretch marks. Here are some of our stretch marks correction creams and lotions:

Sesderma Estryses Anti-Stretch Lotion

Sesderma refers to this product as an intensive treatment, ideal to prevent as well as to fight established stretch marks–that’s right, even those that have already turned white. With glycolic acid, and vitamin C and Asian pennywort, this cream has repairing, regenerating, exfoliating, protective and moisturizing properties.

With ingredients that revive the skin’s elasticity by stimulating the synthesis of collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans, this lotion will help you restructure the skin and minimize old stretch marks.

Safe during pregnancy? Yes

StriVectin SD Advanced Plus Intensive Moisturizing Concentrate

Designed specifically not only to reduce the appearance of stretch marks but also to smooth wrinkles, StriVectin SD Advanced Plus Intensive Moisturizing Concentrate boosts skin elasticity and contributes to visibly repairing the skin.

Featuring Collagex-CE complex together with NIA-114™ and Copper Tripeptide, this unique treatment targets 10 types of collagen to restore elasticity, density, and strength to the skin tissue. If you find uneven texture on the skin, whether it be wrinkles or stretch marks, you’ll find visible results in four weeks. Apply it consistently for results that last!

Safe during pregnancy? Yes

Lierac Phytolastil The Concentrate Stretch Marks Correction

For over 45 years, the Lierac Phytolastil range has shown promising results in the correction of stretch marks. The star of the range is this Stretch Mark Correction Concentrate, a highly concentrated solution made with 98% of components of natural origin. Formulated with a restructuring plant complex of mantle, ivy, and horsetail, which are rich in flavonoids and tanoids, this serum boosts the production of collagen and elastin fibers, therefore improving the structure and elasticity of the skin.

Clinical studies have shown this serum can promote the regression of existing stretch marks when applied twice a day for a period of eight weeks.

Safe during pregnancy? Yes

Mustela Maternité Stretch Marks Serum Fragrance-Free

This serum from Mustela targets recent stretch marks, so it can be a great choice if you’re looking to reduce some newly-appeared marks. Made with 96% ingredients of natural origin, this serum harnesses the power of maracuja oil to strengthen and restore skin elasticity. As a result, it helps improve the appearance of stretch marks by reducing their length, width, color, and texture

The gel-like texture is easy to apply and quick to absorb, so it creates a pleasurable moment of application.

Safe during pregnancy? Yes

Rafaela Ferreira

Beauty Writer & Editor