Belly Balm Stretch Mark Cream

Combination of top rated, high end/cost product ingredients for a supreme belly balm/stretch mark cream. My lovely step-daughter came to visit to share she is pregnant. One of her first questions was advice on reducing stretch marks. I wanted her to have the best without the cost of the "celebrity" and/or high cost & highly rated products. Thus I created this Belly Balm. Now I would love to share it with you!

Ingredients: cocoa butter, aloe vera, aloe butter, herbal plant blend, collagen, elastin, shea butter, pantothenic acid (B5), & absorbable magnesium. Oils: vitamin E, vitamin C, argan, grapeseed, jojoba, rosehip, avocado, squalene, & meadowfoam with a natural preservative.

Use (see tips at the bottom):

Cocoa butter: helps visibly improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of stretch marks from pregnancy and/or weight fluctuation. Cocoa butter helps stretch marks by seeping into the dermis (middle layer) and not just the epidermis (top layer),  When the butter is absorbed into the dermis, it is able to retain even more moisture reducing and preventing stretch marks.

Aloe vera/Aloe butter: pure aloe is both a natural healing agent and a skin softener.  Collagen production is essential for the healing of scars and wounds. Aloe increases collagen production and also boosts collagen cross-linking for a stronger skin foundation.

Herbal plant blend: healing botanical herb/plant blend with plentiful benefits. It is perhaps best known for it's skin-healing and soothing properties which is why you'll see it incorporated in healing balms.

Collagen: collagen formation is necessary to improve skin elasticity. Absorbing high quality collagen will reduce your chances of stretch marks.

Elastin: a protein present within your body's connective tissues and allows skin to regain shape after stretching while increasing elasticity and your skins' firm foundation.

Shea butter: rich in vitamin A which helps to increase skin elasticity. If you regularly apply this butter across your tummy during pregnancy, it's possible to reduce formation of stretch marks. The moisture and rejuvenating properties help to smooth the skin surface and make it look and feel youthful.

Pantothenic acid (B5): promote skin elasticity which minimizes new stretch marks when the belly expands during pregnancy while reducing redness and itching. Topical B5 cream helps with skin elasticity to provide more prevention for stretch marks.

Magnesium:  most important mineral to  support normal, healthy tissue stretching. 

Vitamin E: with more elasticity, your skin will be less susceptible to tears and stretch marks. To help heal and fade new stretch marks,  topical vitamin E supports new skin cell growth and increases cell regeneration.

Vitamin C: evens skin tones, fades discoloration, and provide san overall brightening effect. It is an component of building collagen.

Argan oil: made from argan tree kernels. It’s one of the newer skin care oils on the block. According to a 2016 source, argan oil helps increase skin’s elasticity. Researchers believe it may help prevent or reduce stretch marks

Grapeseed oil: able to repair damaged and stressed skin tissues, especially skin that needs toning and restoration. Because of grape seed oil's restructuring qualities, and its ability to help the skin retain its normal structure of epithelium cells and nerve cells, it can reduce the look of stretch marks. Grape seed oil is also high in Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Omega 6 and 9, and Beta-Carotene which makes it a wonderful emollient to eliminate stretch marks.

Jojoba oil: similar properties to skin's natural sebum, it’s easily absorbed with a nice texture and feel. Regenerative and firming, it is useful for improving the tone and condition of skin. It provides important nutrients, i.e. Vitamin E and B group, minerals and essential fatty acids.

Rosehip oil: hydrating and high in linoleic and linolenic fatty acids, which encourage regeneration and repair of skin tissue, even out skin tone and reduce the redness and appearance of scars.

Avocado oil: contains a lot of skin supporting vitamins such as Vitamins A, D, and, E. These vitamins are important for skin healing processes and repair. In addition to vitamins, Avocado oil also contains Omega-3 Fatty Acids which are used to tackle skin aging, and repair damaged cells of the skin, hair and nails. The oil also contains unsaponifiables which have been proven scientifically to reduce age spots, soften the skin, and heal scarring. It is for this reason that the moisturizing properties of Avocado oil are very significant in tackling stretch marks. Using Avocado oil can stimulate the production of collagen in the skin, thereby strengthening the skin, and ultimately preventing stretch marks.

Squalene oil: help skin cells to regenerate due to its ability to produce more oxygenation. Squalene is very similar to human sebum (Natural Skin Oils) and when it is applied to the skin, it acts much like a natural protector and stimulates regeneration of the skin surface. Because of those amazing abilities, squalene oil has been used for treatment for scars, and yes! stretch marks.

Meadowfoam oil: extracted from the seeds of Limananthes Alba, a Pacific Northwest native plant. Long –chain fatty acids structure of meadowfoam seed oil are closely to human sebum. It delivers good barrier formation to the skin and prevents trans epidermal water loss. The remarkable ability to lock moisture in the skin makes it a good oil to use to help fade stretch marks.

Use Tips:

With persistent self-care including restorative massage, stretch marks can be minimized. Massage increases circulation with more blood available to tissues ensures cellular nutrient delivery while increasing waste removal. Additionally, massage promotes healthy tissue growth while decreasing stretch marks. Scar tissue including stretch marks have limited lymph return and blood supply. Thus the skin is benefited by circulation by regular massage. Research demonstrates massage encourages new blood vessel development, followed by temporary inflammation and healthy skin remodeling. Excellent skin care can diminish the appearance of stretch marks from any cause. Hydrating butters, creams, and oils can nourish the scarred skin.